Design Futures is a programme from LIFT and Capital City College for talented creatives who are ready to take their next steps into work.
The programme has been developed to provide practical work experience and skills training supported by industry professionals, where you will work on real briefs, learn core skills and work with a team on an industry project. After completing the training programme participants will be interviewed for design internships within local businesses.
What will you gain from the Design Futures Programme?
Course dates: 7 September - 2 October 2026. This is a full-time course Monday-Friday 10am-4pm.
- 4-week, full-time course from Capital City College delivered by industry professionals, where you will learn the skills, behaviours and processes required to deliver a creative idea that is fit for purpose.
- Work on briefs set by local design agencies and creative businesses, receive feedback and advice and develop your portfolio.
- The opportunity to work on team projects and develop your skills and network.
- Develop your employability skills to take your job search to the next stage.
- Following successful completion of the course, gain interviews for paid industry placements within local design agencies.
- If successful in gaining an industry internship you will begin a full time 10-week internship where you will work five days a week in the business and spend five further days over the 10-week internship developing your employability skills. Paid at London Living Wage (£14.80 Per hour – 35 hours per week total)
Programme Entry requirements:
- A resident of a LIFT borough (Camden, Hackney or Islington) aged 19+
- Able to attend a full-time course 7 September - 2 October (Monday-Friday)
- We encourage applications from people underrepresented in the creative industries, including people from black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds, women, young people aged 19-25, and disabled people.
All participants will need to have the following starting points:
- A working understanding of graphic design principles and the design process, gained through study, self-directed practice, or paid or voluntary design work (less than 2 years' experience).
- Experience of using creative software programmes including Figma, Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign. Can include equivalent design and digital creation software but not solely online platforms such as Canva.
- Have a clear command of English and be able to write and communicate in English
- The course will be delivered on Apple Mac computers – you must be able to use one of these to join the course.
- Be able to navigate software menu systems and be willing to use problem-solving techniques.
- Have experience of using digital office software such as Microsoft Office, Google Docs or similar.
- Able to work as part of a team
- Be able to attend all sessions on the dates specified.
The course will cover the following practical skills:
- The anatomy of a brief
- Brand guidelines
- Good design practice
- Live briefs & visits
- Ideation
- Presenting and pitching
- Industry experience
- Skills development
- Networking
- Portfolio
- Employability support
Key Dates:
Applications window: 15 July - 17 August (23:59) 2026
Online information session: 4 August 12:00-13:00
In person interview session: 24 & 25 August (*you must be available to attend one of these sessions in person)
Course dates: 7 September - 2 October. This is a full time course Monday-Friday 10am-4pm. You must be committed to completing a full time course to join this programme.
Internship interviews: w/c 5 October
Internship placements: 19 October - 24 December. If you are successful in gaining an internship placement at the end of the course, the internships will be full time 5 days a week (35 hours)
Business partners:
Springetts is an independent brand design agency based in London. For over 50 years, we’ve been creating long-living brands people love. Brands with heart, soul and staying power. We work across brand strategy, identity, packaging, brand worlds, campaigns, social, artwork and production. Our job is to help brands find the idea at their heart, then bring it to life across every touchpoint. We are a designer-led studio. We believe good design starts with curiosity, empathy and clear thinking. We look closely, ask questions, explore ideas and create work that connects with real people in the real world.
Ave is an independent creative agency based in Islington, working with charities, NHS organisations and purpose-led brands. As a certified B Corp, we use strategy, design and digital expertise to create positive impact through thoughtful, inclusive creative work. We’re a small, collaborative team that offers interns hands-on experience across a range of live projects.
f.r.a. is a team of designers collaborating with architects, developers and planners to unlock the full potential of the built environment. Wayfinding, brand, placemaking—our work can be described in many different ways. We’re not too concerned about the labels. What matters is finding ways to use design to add value to a project and elevate experience.
Delivered in partnership with: Capital City College and LIFT
More about Capital City College
Capital City College is the largest further education provider in London, with a history dating back to 1828. Today, it offers a broad range of academic, vocational and adult education courses across 12 campuses, supporting over 25,000 students each year. With dedicated teachers and strong links to employers, the college offers industry-aligned courses in areas such as media production, animation, and IT, supported by state-of-the-art studios, editing suites and specialist facilities—including innovative spaces like its new creative hub in Soho. Our diverse alumni include household names such as renowned chefs Jamie Oliver, Ainsley Harriott and Anthony Worral Thompson, award-winning performer Paloma Faith, actors Jessie Wallace, Zawe Ashton, and Steve McFadden, presenters Maya Jama, Trevor Nelson, and Reggie Yates, and Olympians Lina and Laviai Nielsen.