By Design is an intensive teen artist development and mentoring program at Minnesota Center for Book Arts for beginning and advanced artists ages 15 to 18. The program starts with a ten-week introduction to book arts where students learn the basics of book arts through workshops on topics such as papermaking, marbling, printmaking, silk screenprinting, and zines. The session ends with an exhibit for both introductory and advanced By Design artists. After a student completes the introductory session, he or she is a member of the By Design Teen Co-op. Benefits to co-op members include:

• Access to studios 1-2 days a week on open studio days
• Use of By Design equipment and materials
• Invitations to attend workshops 2-4 times a month
• Opportunities to tour studios, galleries, museums and more
• Eligible to apply for advanced sessions

Opportunities for advanced co-op members include:

Advanced Mentoring Session: Three times a year, graduates of the introductory session are encouraged to apply for a mentorship. To apply, students propose a book arts project and meet with the Teen Programs Coordinator for an interview. A maximum of eight students are chosen from the pool of applicants, based on the merit of their proposal and prior performance in the By Design program. Teens accepted into the mentoring session are then paired with a mentor artist based on the technical and/or conceptual components of their proposal. Students work one-on-one with their mentor to complete sophisticated book arts projects. As a culmination of the mentoring session, students work with the Teen Programs Coordinator to plan, curate and install an exhibition showcasing their accomplishments. Students also prepare an artist statement and a presentation for the opening reception.

By Design Advisory Panel: The BDAP gives students a chance to learn about the workings of non-profit arts organizations, explore careers in the arts and, most importantly, impact the future of By Design and programming for teens and young adults at MCBA.

Teen Fellowship: After a student has completed two mentoring sessions, students can apply for a By Design Teen Fellowship.  This program is designed for students who have a project they would like to make editions of or expand upon. Fellows are able to audit an adult class and receive a $100 stipend to spend on materials. While they don’t work directly with a mentor, students are encouraged to utilize the relationships they have built in By Design, and will take part in three critiques throughout the session.

By Design is supported in part by: