This paper was designed as a preliminary study for developing a content-based language instruction model for design students in the EFL context. It analyzed characteristics and needs of students and professors to design a curriculum focusing on English for specific purpose. For the purpose of this study, I conducted surveys on 83 design students and 5 foreign design professors to find out their needs and interests in language and content(subject-matter) learning. I also interviewed a focus group of the design college students to recognize their perception of how they would benefit from a content-based language learning. A pilot-study course was observed to assess the applicability of a content-based course for design students. The results of the needs analysis, interview, and the pilot study strongly suggested the need to adopt a content-based teaching and learning model incorporating communicative English for specific purposes in the field of design. The pilot study led this research to reflect on the cooperation of content specialists and language specialists in developing a language instruction model, Adjunct Instruction.