Visual Communication and Digital Spaces BA

Educational qualifications
As a rule, admission to the aptitude assessment for Bachelor’s degree programmes in Design (Industrial Design, Interior Architecture and Scenography, Fashion Design, Process Design at Hyperwerk, Visual Communication and Digital Spaces) requires one of the following educational qualifications:

• a certified vocational baccalaureate
• a certified specialized baccalaureate
• a certified upper secondary school (level II) baccalaureate
• proof of an equivalent educational degree at an upper secondary school (level II) obtained otherwise (e.g. Vocational College HF) 

Language of tuition
The language of tuition is German or in English (both B2 or equivalent). Proof of language proficiency is required at the start of the degree programme.

Workplace experience or preparatory course in Design
In addition, candidates need to provide proof of one year of workplace experience or completion of a two-semester preparatory course in Design. The workplace experience must include practical as well as theoretical knowledge in a professional field related to the subject of study.
Note: Proof of workplace experience or completion of a preparatory course in Design is not required of candidates who are able to provide proof of a vocational baccalaureate in a professional field related to the subject of study, a Swiss certified baccalaureate with a focus on Visual Design, or a specialized, design-based baccalaureate. The attained degree need not specifically be in a profession related to the branch of study.

approved professional fields (german)
Is a list of approved vocational trainings and professional fields, respectively.

Catching up on the vocational baccalaureate
Applicants who have not completed at least three years of upper secondary schooling (level II) are not legally entitled to admission to a Bachelor's degree programme. Information concerning full-time or part-time on-the-job training courses focusing on a vocational, design-based or specialized baccalaureate is provided by the local vocational colleges.

Admission on the basis of exceptional talent (1)
In exceptional cases, applicants can be admitted to the Bachelor’s degree programmes in Design and in Fine Arts without being in possession of an upper secondary school (level II) certificate (Swiss education system), link, namely if they can provide proof of exceptional talent, either in a design-related or an arts-related field.
Note: We recommend that you make enquiries by means of an email to the office of the respective degree programme at YWRtaXNzaW9uLkJBLXZpc2tvbS5oZ2tAZmhudy5jaA== at least two weeks prior to the application deadline (15 February), or arrange an appointment with the Head of the degree programme.

Documents to be submitted (online registration)

• Motivation letter
• Portfolio (documentation of creative work to date)
• CV in tabular format
  
  The Head of the degree programme decides whether sufficient proof has been provided on the basis of the application documents
  

____________
(1) If you are in possession of one of the following educational degrees, you are eligible for this mode of admission:
Federal Certificate of Vocational Proficiency EFZ (apprenticeship), Professional Certificate EBA, Specialized Secondary School (FMS), Compulsory Schooling, no educational qualification

The detailed information on the aptitude assessment will be published on 1 November 2023.
To apply for a place at the HGK, the required documents must be submitted by 15.02.2024.

Please send enquiries regarding specific degree programmes to the appropriate email address.

Info aptitude assessment is online on 01.11.2023

Dates 2024

• 01.11.2023
  Publication of the detailed information on the aptitude assessment
  
• 15.02.2024
  Registration deadline and deadline for submitting the required documents for the aptitude assessment.
• 02.09. - 13.09.2024
  Introductory weeks at the HGK Basel (mandatory)
• 16.09.2024
  Fall Semester begin 2024/25

Study Regulations, Visual Communication and Digital Spaces, Bachelor (PDF Download in German)

This area of specialisation is intended for students whose interest lies in design processes derived from analogue cultural techniques. In this area they can further develop their talent by applying proven design principles and methods. Students work with the familiar processes of designing, drawing, collage, photography, typographic composition and typeface design as well as their counterparts in digital software tools in order to conceive and design visual messages. They study drawing processes in form-finding and use digital tools for producing illustrations, visualisations or publications. They test the effect of visual messages and get practice dealing with existing visual information analytically. The planning, designing and analysing of means of communication are at the heart of the curriculum.

This area of specialisation deals with the design of digital communication spaces. Technological developments serve as a source of inspiration for studying and exploring design possibilities. This involves an in-depth study that goes beyond the standard software products. The technological achievements of human-computer interaction, digital animation, generative design, creative coding, augmented or virtual reality, etc. are the jumping-off point for designing messages in digital communication environments. With this in-depth knowledge, you will be in a position to incorporate technological innovations and place them in the communication context as examples. The planning, designing and analysing of means of communication are at the heart of the curriculum.

The Visual Communication and Digital Spaces bachelor’s programme is intended for students who demonstrate a strong talent in design. They can choose one of the two areas of specialisation depending on their preference.

When they apply to the programme, students decide between specialising in Visual Communication or Digital Spaces. In both subject areas, students complete a foundational study programme of two semesters and then develop their own design approach within the context of individual project work during the advanced study period. 

Through the mix of theoretical knowledge and practical applications, bachelor’s students are able to design sophisticated visual messages and use them effectively in different analogue and digital communication fields. With a broad spectrum of teaching content and practice-oriented training, the study programme prepares students for a variety of professional opportunities. In addition, graduates are in a position to anticipate social changes and help solve these challenges with their creativity and skills. In this way they take active part in the social discourse on topics such as diversity or sustainability.

The Visual Communication and Digital Spaces bachelor’s programme prepares students specifically for the challenges of the steadily growing professional fields in which networked and analytical thinking, independent design, visual competence and technical and skilled know-how are needed. The goal of the study programme is to help you develop and advocate your own concise design position. Once you have graduated, you will be qualified to work as a designer of communicative messages. You can work in communication, media or corporate design agencies, publishing houses, the communication departments of companies and public institutions, in design offices or even in their own studio. This wide range of job opportunities enables you to use your creative skills in many ways and to move confidently in the professional world.

The Digital Communication Environments master’s programme is geared towards students who already have a bachelor’s degree from an art or design university (e.g. in Visual Communication, Communication Design, Media Design, Graphic Design, Photography) or a bachelor’s degree in a cultural studies field (e.g. in Art History, Media Science). The objective of both of these previous educational qualifications consists in combining design practices for communicating in digital communication environments with practically oriented research approaches and theories in the field of Visual and Media Studies. This master’s programme is the only Master of Arts in the design field that has had 120 ECTS credits since its introduction and thus meets the formal requirements for a PhD.

With its studios and central Campus.Workshops, HGK offers ideal conditions for combining craft curiosity, the acquisition of technical skills, and the necessary digital know-how. In addition, all students have their own 24/7 workspace in one of the spacious studios.

Here you will find everything you need to know about the enrolment process at the Basel Academy of Art and Design FHNW.

The BA course at the Institute of Visual Communication can be completed either in German or English.

Basel Academy of Art and Design FHNW
Institute Digital Communication Environments (IDCE)
Freilager-Platz 1
Postfach

CH-4002 Basel

Basel Academy of Art and Design FHNW
Institute Digital Communication Environments (IDCE)

Freilager-Platz 1, Hochhaus: D 5.03
4141 Münchenstein b. Basel

T +41 61 228 41 11
F +41 61 228 42 89
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