CAS Digital Literacy

Basel Academy of Art and Design

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.

Bild: Intersect, Dirk Koy, 2022, Videostill

Factsheet

Degree: CAS Certificate of Advanced Studies FHNW
Learning environment: Onsite and Online
ECTS points: 15
Next start: Rolling intake possible
Teaching languages: German / English
Venues: Basel
Fee: CHF 7000-8000

At a glance

Flexible, modular continuing education, individual coaching: The CAS Digital Literacy program can be started at any time and is comprised of freely selectable modules. The final project is individually coached by external experts.
Understanding and applying digital design: Topics such as creative coding, UX/UI, immersive environments, AI/deep learning, video, and motion graphics provide insights into current digital practice and theory.
Digital communication skills: Participants learn to design analog and digital communication channels and to use different communication strategies effectively.
Expanding visual and technical know-how: The course deepens design processes and strengthens the use of digital media, images, typography, and current visual communication tools.

With the increasing spread of digital tools and communication channels, the question of how to design them is becoming more and more important. The CAS Digital Literacy imparts knowledge, competences and skills that enable the design of diverse digital communication channels. Courses on Creative Coding, UX/UI, Immersive Environments, AI/Deep Learning, Digital Participation, Video Documentation and Moving Graphics provide an up-to-date insight into the applied practice and theoretical reflection of digital design in this CAS.

Aims and benefits

Participants will gain experiences navigating analogue and digital communication channels, deepen their individual design processes and expand their visual design vocabulary; they will gain more experience navigating digital media, images, typography and research questions; they will acquire the skills and abilities needed to competently handle a variety of communications strategies, delve into current visual communication discourses and learn how to work with the latest digital design tools.

Structure and programme contents

Assemble your personal CAS continuing education from our current workshop modules.
The aim is to collect 10 ECTS over workshop weeks of 2 ECTS each. This is followed by the final module with integrated certificate thesis on an own project for 5 ECTS points. At least 6 ECTS must consist of the compulsory modules. The remaining 4 ECTS can consist of compulsory or elective modules. The final module includes five individual 90-minute coaching sessions. Successful completion of the final module leads to the Certificate of Advanced Studies CAS HGK FHNW «Digital Literacy».

Elective Modules

Generative AI in the Context of Art and Design

How can ‘artificial intelligences’ (AI) such as ChatGPT, Midjourney and Flux be used meaningfully and sustainably in creative design and art projects? The workshop offers an introduction to the technical basics of these tools and gives participants the opportunity to integrate them competently into their own practice.

Creative Coding

In this continuing education module, visual designers learn the fundamentals of generative design and creative coding. In a live coding environment, they develop algorithmically generated forms and typography, experiment with animation, interaction, and audio-reactive visualizations, and design their own digital tools for visual communication.

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.

Type Design - Variable Font

How do letterforms shape the way we read and feel? In this module, you dive into the fundamentals of type design — from sketch to digital font. You explore the aesthetics, structure, and rhythm of typography while developing your own typeface through guided practice and critical reflection.

Tender Computing

Tender Computing is a concept and workpractice that explores a soft, experimental and playful way of Physical Computing, which means the creative design of interactive objects and spaces. The module provides a project based introduction to Physical Computing and the Tender Concept in a curated lab-like atmosphere.

Inquiry by Design

Visual communication plays a central role in shaping the images we encounter in daily life. Since the design of images is always an interpretation of the world by the designer, visual messages inevitably influence the perception of the beholder. In today’s world of digital communication channels, understanding how images are perceived, both in their visual appearance and the media through which they are disseminated, is essential for creating and sharing them consciously and responsibly.

Poster Design

What makes a poster unforgettable? In this workshop, participants learn how to transform a clear idea into a visually compelling poster. They work with color, form, and typography to convey content concisely and develop a unique design style.

Hacking Gutenberg

In Berlin, Erik Spiekermann and three other designers will introduce us to the basics of letterpress printing and typography. In a joint project in their unique letterpress workshop p98a, we will utilize the potential of historical techniques and digital approaches.

Final Module

At the end of the CAS course, students will complete an individual, six-months final module with an integrated certificate thesis counting as 5 ECTS credits. This final module will support participants in individual design projects within their own creative and work contexts. The final module with its integrated certificate thesis includes 5 individual appointments of 90 minutes each and 100 hours of independent work for the certificate thesis.

Continuing Education Options

International Master of Design UIC/HGK in Graphic Design (MDes/MAS)

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.

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.