In architecture education, as in other disciplines of design, design studios stand out as unique environments where architectural design is learned by transforming theoretical and practical knowledge into design knowledge. Design studios, which constitute the core of the architectural education program starting from the first semester to the last semester, are the environments where students seek solutions to design problems - that gradually increase in scope and complexity each semester-, by trial and error, and interact with the studio tutor while seeking solutions, and thus experience the design action. Among all the design studios, first term design studio is the first place, where students encounter the critical, creative and multidimensional way of thinking required by the design action and design process for the first time. The first term design studio has a critical importance as the skills gained and attitudes developed by the students during this period form the basis of their subsequent education. Therefore, it is crucial to question the teaching-learning methods applied in the first term studios and discuss how to provide a more efficient learning environment. On the basis of these questions, the aim of the study is to present and discuss a studio approach that is developed for the first term design studio. For this purpose, firstly, current approaches to the basic qualities, components and methods of the design studio, as a learning environment in architectural education, are introduced with the literature research method. Afterwards, the methods, productions and learning experience of the Design Studio 1, which was conducted at the Maltepe University, Faculty of Architecture and Design, Department of Architecture between 2016-2018, are discussed and evaluated. Sharing and discussing the design studio experiences will contribute significantly to the experience/knowledge of the design studio education.