The studio is a creative and inclusive space that encourages collaboration between students, design faculty and staff. In the core studios, students work individually or in teams in studio sections on a shared studio brief within a collaborative environment. In advanced studios in the third year, students work alongside post-professional students from all over the world, collaborating with others with a range of professional experience. History/theory, visual studies, building technology and elective courses offer a diversity of skills, techniques and critical approaches that mutually support the studio. Student-led groups offer opportunities outside of coursework to socialize, generate interdisciplinary conversations, reflect on experiences, and organize around diverse voices and perspectives. The studio model seeks to prepare students for the professional world. Faculty-to-student ratios are maintained to allow for optimal contact hours between student and design faculty. In the First Year core studios, students are further supported by student mentors selected from their 2nd or 3rd year. Each student has their own workspace with a computer installed and maintained by GSAPP IT at collaborative tables and share common resources such as printers and model making space to work together. Students have access to a 24hr maker space as well as on-site plotting (OPS) and a fabrication lab.
The studio encourages an open dialogue between students, faculty, and support staff. Students meet individually with their instructors to discuss their progress. In collective pin-ups active discussion encourages a diversity of voices and opinions in every level of design development within a supportive environment. Design reviews are conducted in the spirit of constructive debate between faculty and students and are open to other students and visitors to the School. The studio environment is a safe place for personal expression while maintaining the highest standards in all aspects of academic integrity and personal well-being of students. A studio “Code of Honor” guides principles of academic integrity. GSAPP adheres to the anti-discrimination and harassment policies established by the university. Students can give feedback through course evaluations that are completed each semester. The Academic and Student Affairs Office and the Finance Office maintain an “Open Door Policy” so that students can visit without making an appointment. The GSAPP Program Council composed of a group of students from each program elected by their peers, act as coordinators and communicators between the student body, faculty, and administration.