CAS Visual Literacy

Basel Academy of Art and Design

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.

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

Comprehensive understanding of visual communication: This CAS program imparts key skills for consciously designing and critically reflecting on visual messages in media such as typography, photography, video, publications, websites, and UX/UI.
Design in both analog and digital formats: Participants deepen their design processes, expand their visual vocabulary, and learn to apply current tools and strategies of visual communication in a practical way.
Flexible continuing education for designers: Create your own personalized continuing education program from various workshop modules – enrollment is possible at any time.
Your own project with a certificate: The CAS concludes with an individually supervised project and the Certificate of Advanced Studies (CAS) in Visual Literacy from the HGK FHNW.

The visual has become increasingly important as the range of digital tools and communication channels continues to grow. Visual messages in analogue and digital media are shaping communication and the associated contents and interpretations of our world more than ever. The CAS Visual Literacy introduces specific fields of visual communication and teaches currently required competences and skills. Visual messages in the context of typography, photography, video, posters, publications, websites, and UX/UI are designed in an applied manner and reflected upon in a theoretically analytical way.

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.

Target audience

This CAS is intended for people who have a previous design education. For participants with professional experience, it can serve as a source of inspiration or as a way to bring your technical knowledge up to date, to push forward your own creative development or to expand your own portfolio.

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, or half-week workshops of 1 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 «Visual Literacy».

Elective Modules

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Creative Coding

In diesem Weiterbildungsmodul lernen Visuelle Gestalter:innen die Grundlagen der generativen Gestaltung und des Creative Codings. In einer Live-Coding-Umgebung entwickeln sie algorithmisch erzeugte Formen und Typografie, experimentieren mit Animation, Interaktion und audio-reaktiven Visualisierungen und gestalten eigene digitale Werkzeuge für die visuelle Kommunikation.

The Multispecies Spaces Lab

The Multispecies Spaces Lab test new practices that transform our relationship with the planet. The 7-day intensive course, a 5-day course followed by a 2-day exhibition program, establishes a practice-oriented laboratory that mobilizes the interdisciplinary capacities of architecture and art.

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.