The Design Department offers Bachelor and Master courses in Communication Design geared to the latest developments in this field.

Prospects for communication designers have widened greatly in the last ten years, both in the scope of the work itself and the media in and for which it is undertaken. The expansion in the range of these media – notably the interactive variety – has been explosive and the jobs available for designers have diversified accordingly. Alongside the openings provided by more traditional employers like advertising agencies and publishing companies, opportunities for design graduates are increasingly forthcoming from event and exhibition organisers, museums and broadcasting companies. In line with these developments, the Design Department has upgraded its originally print-oriented graphic design course to a fully fledged communication design programme teaching video and computer animation, interactive media, photography and design science.

The Bachelor course remains true to the original idea behind the “Mannheim model”. In the earlier stages it provides students with basic knowledge of all the relevant media. At a more advanced level they can then engage in an in-depth exploration of the sectors of communication design corresponding to their aptitudes and interests, while never losing sight of the importance of an approach to communication transcending the individual media employed for the purpose. 

The Master course is geared to the demands made on graduates aspiring to leading positions in the communication industry. Alongside the perfectioning of design skills, the aim here is to broaden the students’ conceptual abilities and their command of communication strategy. To this end they are offered classes in media philosophy, brand communication and design management.

The Department maintains close contacts with cultural institutions and the design industry. The various real-life projects resulting from these contacts give students the opportunity to gain practical experience during their studies.