Institute Digital Communication Environments (IDCE)

Basel Academy of Art and Design

Through the propagation of digital media and the concomitant democratization of communication channels, the critical approach to visual and interaction-based design has manifestly gained in importance, not least because it has fundamentally changed the significance of information and communication in society.

The aim of the Institute is to apply the new technological achievements by means of experiment in realistic as well as speculative scenarios in the context of communication, for the purpose of developing new application models. Unlike established technologies, new technological advancements can be deployed differently from their originally intended purposes. At the Institute, this new experimental approach is seen as a basis for a reflective engagement with communication, visual communication, images and their impact, along with technological development in general.

The Institute pursues its activities with regard to training through the BA degree programme Visual Communication and Digital Spaces and the research-focussed MA programme Digital Communication Environments.

In the field of continuing education, the Institute offers two MAS degree programmes in Graphic Design in collaboration with the University of Illinois Chicago, along with the Basel Summer and Winter Workshops, respectively.

In the service sector, the ANDICO LAB handles communication projects on behalf of public institutions, organizations, and businesses. In research, the Institute carries out externally funded projects in the field of applied media, communication, visual, conceptual and design research. PhD projects in the aforementioned fields are offered in collaboration with universities in Switzerland and abroad.

Degree programmes

Visual Communication and Digital Spaces

As digitisation progresses, visual communication is becoming increasingly important, and developing a critical approach to images is becoming increasingly important. The bachelor’s degree in Visual Communication and Digital Spaces focuses on the reflective development of visual messages for everyday and specialised communication contexts.

Studying mode: Full-time
Teaching language: German
Place: Basel
Duration: 6 Semester
Next start: 14.9.2026

Digital Communication Environments

The programme enables students to enhance their skills in the areas of design practices, technical knowledge, research methods and theoretical knowledge in the context of digital communication channels.

Studying mode: Full-time
Teaching language: English
Place: Basel
Duration: 4 Semester
Next start: 14.9.2026

Continuing Education IDCE

MAS / CAS

Design UIC/HGK

The International Master of Design in Graphic Design UIC/HGK Basel program (MDes Basel) is a collaboration between two preeminent design schools housed in leading public research institutions: The Institute Digital Communication Environments (IDCE) of the Basel Academy of Art and Design FHNW (HGK Basel) and the School of Design at the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC). The MDes Basel program offers advanced design students’ opportunities to amplify their creative abilities as they engage in the world-class cultural offerings of two vibrant cities. The students are enrolled at UIC, the teaching takes place at the HGK Basel. Upon successful completion of the MAS, graduates are granted an internationally accredited Master of Design (MDes) from the University of Illinois Chicago and two MAS-certificates from the HGK Basel.

Fee: CHF 25'000
Teaching language: English
Place: Basel
Duration: 4 semester

Visual Literacy

How do images shape what we see — and what we believe? This programme explores the power of visual communication across cultures, media, and contexts. You sharpen your ability to read, interpret, and create images critically and creatively — expanding your visual vocabulary as both a maker and a thinker.

Fee: CHF 7'000
Teaching language: German, English
Place: Basel
Next start: Rolling intake possible

Digital Literacy

How do we navigate, shape, and question the digital world? This programme explores digital technologies as cultural, political, and artistic phenomena. You critically engage with platforms, algorithms, and digital practices - and develop strategies to act creatively, reflectively, and responsibly in our networked society.

Fee: CHF 7'000
Teaching language: German, English
Place: Basel
Next start: Rolling intake possible

Modules

UX/UI Design

Every day, we view and interact with a wide range of information on various monitors. The terms UX and UI design describe the process of designing these interactions and information.

Fee: CHF 900
Teaching language: German
Place: Basel
Duration: 1 week

Research

Research at the IDCE examines diverse forms of visual communication in digital environments and with analog media through practice-based research.

With our research projects we strive to gain insights into the potential and limitations of visual communication, its channels of dissemination, as well as the processes and tools of creating visual messages. We use these insights in practice-oriented projects together with cooperation partners from academia, civil society or public authorities with the aim of social participation, inclusion and diversity, as well as to strengthen democratic societies and ecological sustainability. Moreover, we investigate design practice and the design processes themselves. We historically examine how they continue to change in shifting technological, social and cultural contexts and conduct research into the history of Swiss graphic design and its digital transformation. At the same time, we explore the question of what future design processes might look like and how new tools such as generative AI’s in particular will change professional design and visual culture.

Emerging Practices in Modular Synthesis: Towards a Virtual Ethnography for Mixed Realities

The study aims to identify the conditions necessary to translate the unique feeling and aura associated with physical modular synthesizers into virtual and mixed reality experiences.

Institute: Institute of Digital Communication Environments

Incubator for Design Cultures (swissuniversities)

Funding program for the FHNW mid-level

Institute: Institute of Digital Communication Environments

WYSIWYG

An Investigation in the Uptake of Graphic Design Software in Switzerland and France, 1980–today.

Institute: Institute of Digital Communication Environments
Research field: Histories of visual communication

Research Colloquium

Publications/Symposia

Research Responsible

Labs

Analog Digital Communication Lab (ANDICO LAB)

Basel Design History Lab

Emerging from the SNSF-funded project "Swiss Graphic Design and Typography Revisited" (SGDTR), the future_history lab focuses on the educational principles in teaching graphic design, visual communication alongside the design of digital communication channels from a historical as well as current perspective.

Creative Technologies Lab

In the Creative Technologies Lab of the Institute Digital Communication Environments, cutting-edge soft and hardware tools in the field of digital media are tested, explained, and implemented.

Critical Icono Enthnography Lab (CIELab)

Projects

Thesis Catalogues

To the thesis catalogues from the IDCE

Thesis Projects

To the diploma website nextgeneration.hgk.fhnw.ch

Instagram-Feed IDCE

To the Instagram Profile @hgkbasel_idce

Publications

You can find an extract of the Institute’s bibliography here

Sandra Bischler über die Anfänge der computergestützten Grafikdesign-Ausbildung an der HGK Basel

Sandra Bischler forscht seit 2024 am Institute Digital Communication Environments (ICDE) an der HGK Basel zum Einzug des Computers in die Grafikdesign-Ausbildung. Nun hat sie erste Ergebnisse im Fachmagazin für Designgeschichte AIS/Design publiziert.

Date: 23.3.2026
Institute: Institute of Digital Communication Environments

Sex: Larissa Brochella präsentiert Master-Thesis im Slanted Magazine

Larissa Brochella, Absolventin des Master-Studiengangs Digital Communication Environments an der HGK Basel, präsentiert in der aktuellen Ausgabe des Slanted Magazine, die dem Thema «Sex» gewidmet ist, ihre Master-Thesis «With(out) – Queer Voices».

Date: 2.6.2025
Institute: Institute of Digital Communication Environments

Diplomkataloge des Institute Digital Communication Environments der HGK Basel im E-Pub-Format

Die aktuellen Diplomkataloge der Bachelor- und Master-Studiengänge am Institute Digital Communication Environments (IDCE) der HGK Basel sind im digitalen E-Pub-Format erschienen und stehen kostenlos zum Download zur Verfügung.

Date: 26.9.2025
Institute: Institute of Digital Communication Environments

Network and partners

The Institute Visual Communication has a diverse network of partner institutions that includes, among others, the National Institute of Design in Ahmedabad, India, the Paju Institute of Typography, South Korea, the National Taiwan Normal University in Taipei and the Rhode Island School of Design in Providence, USA.

Contact & Team

Prof. Michael Renner

Head of IDCE / Head of MA Digital Communication Environments

Phone: +41 61 228 40 85
E-Mail: michael.renner@fhnw.ch

Institute Digital Communication Environments (IDCE)

Phone: +41 61 228 41 11
E-Mail: info.idce.hgk@fhnw.ch

Getting there

Post address

Visitor and delivery address