Design Lab

We Are Design Lab. We Ideate, Experiment and Dream.

Design Lab is the only design studio in Los Angeles that functions as a collaboration between students, staff, faculty, and external clients. Student designers gain valuable career experience, and our clients connect with emerging talent to meet their creative needs.

Featured Works

Our student designers represent a diverse cross section of majors and design disciplines at Otis College. As a result, our portfolio showcases an expansive spectrum of creativity. This compilation includes illustration, motion design, branding, product design, UX/UI, and other interconnected design fields.

All Projects

Upcycled Tote Bag Project

Japanese American National Museum Gala

Huntington Gardens Retail Project

Huntington Shuttles

Otis College Viewbook

LACMA Signature Product Line

Below Sixty

Tech Style

Why Do Clients Choose Us?

Design Lab isn’t just any design studio. It’s an opportunity to support arts education and access innovative, emerging talent while meeting business goals. Contact us at designlab@otis.edu to learn more and set up a free consultation.

International Design Awards

Satisfied Clients

Projects Completed

At Design Lab

Design Lab functions like an internship at a commercial art and design studio. All projects are overseen and directed by Creative Director Emily Carlson and executed by a team of student designers representing diverse fields of study. Faculty mentors assist on a project-by-project basis.

Genesis Otero holding her award winning Upcycled Tote Bag

Variety of Upcycled Tote Bags designed from recycled pole banner posters

Casual, candid photo of people using Upcycled Tote Bag

Otis Design Lab Wins Graphis Gold Award

The Otis College Design Lab received the Graphis New Talent 2025 Gold Award for student-designed tote bags made from recycled campus pole banners. Inspired by the Otis logo and featuring artwork by alum Genesis Otero (’24 BFA Animation), the bags sold out during their debut at a campus donor event. The project reflects Design Lab’s focus on sustainability, creative problem-solving, and real-world production experience.

Design Lab gave me confidence - there’s nothing like having real client work in your portfolio. It makes me feel like I’ll get a better job when I graduate.

—Bella - Design Lab Student

Design Lab was the first job I had that allowed me to work with clients and create design work that exists in the real-world. Emily has taught me a lot about scheduling, contracts, and has allowed me to make connections with other professionals in the workforce.

—Design Lab Student

While I was in Design Lab I had many chances to present my work to the clients and it definitely improved my presentation skills.. Especially after the presentation practice workshop we did with the Marketing Team.

—Jessica - Design Lab Student

The work environment was the best. I was always provided help when I seek it. I learned new things and became connected to new people, clients, peers that would help me in my future career.

—Design Lab Student

As students, we know what is supposed to await us when we start working in the industry, but to get a glimpse of that while working at Design Lab has been a blessing.

—C.J. Sierra - Design Lab Student

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Join Design Lab

Design Lab takes on projects with external clients year-round. Student designers interested in joining the team can view job openings on Handshake.

Learn More

Keep Exploring

Create your future at Otis College of Art and Design in Los Angeles. Develop your talents and express yourself through innovative programs in a global creative capital.

BFA in Graphic Design

Learning that encompasses research and development, critical thinking, and fearless image making as it applies to work in the 2D, 3D, 4D fields.

BFA in Illustration

Personal style cultivation in multiple contexts for the image-making and communication needs of a variety of industries.

Annual Exhibition

This event celebrates the achievements of our BFA and MFA graduates and showcases their work as a culmination of their student experience.