The article is devoted to the problem of development of design abilities of teenagers. The urgency of this theme is confirmed by the educational modernization strategy. The author makes a brief review of the group of design abilities and notes the necessity of their development in school. The article is discloses to the modern comprehension of the didactic concept of « the project method». In the article state the general and distinctive characteristics of these concepts are allocated, the expediency of inclusion of art-project activity into process studying of teenagers is proved, the experience of the organization of the art-project activity with pupils of the five-nine grade is described.