Studying Design in Bozen-Bolzano   Nowadays it is no longer common to distinguish between a product designer and a visual communication designer. Thanks to the new opportunities offered by digital technology, the job profiles have changed a lot in recent years, becoming ever more interdisciplinary: today’s designer is not just a specialist any more but an all-rounder, with an increasing social and ecological responsibility.  

The faculty has adopted an interdisciplinary and multi-lingual syllabus, covering both theory and practice. The teaching languages are Italian, German and English. The syllabus is very much work-orientated, based on project-studies which deal with complex but practical issues, necessitating careful analysis and which stimulate students to conduct individual research into new solutions. Project work is coupled with theoretical seminars, specialized courses and practicals in the workshops, where experimental work is carried out and where students realize their ideas using their own hands.  

The teaching staff is young and international, made up of people who are in regular contact with the world of work.  

There are no ‘classes’ as such but working groups of at most 20 students at various stages of their university studies, thereby providing ideal working conditions and giving students direct contact with their teachers.  

What characteristics should a student have to study design in Bozen/Bolzano? Open-mindedness, curiosity, an eye for detail, a many-sided way of looking at things, interdisciplinary creativity, analytical capacities, ability to work in a group and an ability to adapt to all situations: these are all more important than being able to draw. Students of design have to be able to manage themselves, establishing their own specific training goals within the flexible parameters of their studies. The study of design is not limited to the hours of the lessons – you are a designer 24 hours a day.  

Prof. Kuno Prey
Founding Dean of the Faculty of Design and Art