Industrial Design BA

Aesthetics, usability, materials, emotional impact, legibility, formal value: the design of serially produced goods draws on the knowledge of various disciplines. To assume an active role as designers in an era of rapid social change, students learn how to approach their own discipline with confidence and how to deal with related areas in a professional and socially competent manner. As a basis for independent, critical design work, students get to grips with the conceptual, methodical and manual components of the creative, problem-oriented design process during their basic studies. The main study programme is focused on in-depth project work along the freely selectable focal points ‘introductory, practical and vision project’. To be able to address relevant current and future topics, the programme offers access to three laboratories: the Design Culture Lab provides a space for applying critical thinking and capturing new design perspectives. The Material@Sustainability Lab deals with sustainability issues, while the Digital Integration Lab offers an expanded perspective and infrastructure on the digital transformation.

Study structure

The courses offered reflect socially relevant issues: three labs were set up in order to address such issues in teaching. The Design Culture Lab offers the opportunity to apply critical thinking and understand new design perspectives. The Material@Sustainability Lab focuses on sustainability and the Digital Integration Lab gives our students a broader perspective and infrastructure with regard to the digital transformation. Students get to experience the latest design technologies such as three-dimensional sketching, virtual project presentations or coding.

Thematic focal points range from sustainable production to medical design and transport; from social innovation to home and living and interface design. It also addresses design questions related to capital and consumer goods. Critical reflection on the content and specifications as a requirement for innovative concepts and solutions is essential for doing so.

The degree programme Industrial Design targets inquisitive and creative minds who wish to design and change things. It addresses students who are not interested only the form and function of serial goods but also wish to know how these products are used and in what contexts they develop impact. The degree programme calls for a wide range of interests on the part of the students and a curiosity to understand the social, cultural, economic, and technological challenges society faces. Hereby the focus is on the perspective of users. Apart from conceptual aspects, major emphasis is placed on the practical, hands-on design work including the materials, existing procedures as well as new technologies.

As a graduate of the Industrial Design bachelor’s programme, you can expect a multifaceted professional field, in some cases highly specialised. You will be in a position to work in companies’ design departments and at design studios or to start your own business. In the context of information and communications technology, many new fields of activity for Industrial Design – such as in the area of digital services – are opening up. If you are aiming at leadership job in the design field, teaching or academia, continuing your education in our Industrial Design master’s programme is an ideal way of preparing for it.

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. In the degree programme Industrial Design, students experiment with the classical tools and machines used in wood, metal, and plastic processing but also with cutting-edge equipment such as laser cutters, CNC milling machines, and 3D printers. They develop prototypes out of numerous and different materials made available by the Institute. They have access to the Digital Integration Lab allowing them to work with virtual reality, 3D scanning, Arduino and Raspberry Pi, and AI. The facilities are open to students 365 days a year.

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 (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.

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. In this case, the application documents should be accompanied by a motivation letter, a portfolio and a full resume in table format. The Head of the degree programme decides on the basis of the application documents whether proof of exceptional talent is provided. Prospective students who meet the regular admission requirements through possession of an upper secondary school (level II) certificate are excluded from admission for exceptional talent.
Note: We recommend that you make enquiries by means of an email to the office of the respective degree programme at YWRtaXNzaW9uLkJBLWluZHVzdHJpYWxkZXNpZ24uaGdrQGZobncuY2g= at least two weeks prior to the application deadline (15 February), or arrange an appointment with the Head of the degree programme.

____________
(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

To apply for a place at the HGK Basel, the required documents must be submitted by deadline 15.02.2025.
Please send the specific enquiries to email address.

Info aptitude assessment 2024 (german)

Dates aptitude assessment 2025

• 01.11.2024
  Publication of the detailed information on the aptitude assessment
  
• 15.02.2025
  Registration deadline and deadline for submitting the required documents for the aptitude assessment.
  
• 08.- 12.09.2025
  Introductory weeks at the HGK Basel (mandatory)
• 15.09.2025
  Fall Semester begin 2025/26

Industrial Design (BA) PDF in German

Here you will find answers to FAQs about preparing and registering for a Bachelor’s (BA) or a Master’s (MA) degree programme at the HGK Basel FHNW.

FAQ online registration

Here you will find answers to organizational, administrative and legal questions all about studying -->

Tour of the Industrial Design degree programme (german)

Institute Contemporary Design Practices, Industrial Design, Transformation 22/23

LOOK Book ICDP, INSIGHTS NO.2

Material & Sustainability Lab

Further information on our events, projects and publications can be found on our blog.

International students can find further information on the website of the International Office of the HGK Basel.

Public transport
The campus is easy to reach by public transport. The stop Freilager on BLT line 11 is immediately in front of the Campus (from Bahnhof SBB in direction Aesch)

By car
Leave the motorway A2 at the junction Basel-St. Jakob and follow the sign Dreispitz. Approaching from Münchensteinerstrasse enter the Dreispitz complex through Gate 13 and park your car in one of the public car parks (Ruchfeld or Leimgrube). When setting your satnav, please note that the Freilager complex is part of the municipality of Münchenstein, Canton Basel-Landschaft.

Access by car for people with disabilities
Choose the access via Florenz-Strasse in the direction of the High-rise building (Building D). To lower the bollard at the gates of the campus please ring the bell. You will be connected to our reception in Building D.

Map as PDF

The buildings of the HGK Basel are accessible by wheelchair, stroller,  and for people with walking difficulties. The entrance to the highrise building (Building D) is at ground level, the studio building (Building A) can be reached via a ramp. There is at least one lift in both buildings.

Access by car for people with disabilities: See Gender-neutral toilets: See ‘Getting there‘.

Toilets for people with disabilities: 

Highrise building (Building D): Ground floor to 8th floor in the centre of the building
Studio building (Building A): Ground floor to 3rd floor, southern section of main corridor

Gender-neutral toilets: See ‘All Welcome WC’.

Parent-child-room: See 'Parent-child-room'.

Basel Academy of Art and Design FHNW
Institute Contemporary Design Practices (ICDP)
Freilager-Platz 1
Postfach

CH-4002 Basel

Basel Academy of Art and Design FHNW
Institute Contemporary Design Practices (ICDP)
Industrial Design BA degree course

Oslo-Strasse 3
4142 Münchenstein near Basel

Building: A 0.13

Phone: +41 61 228 40 44
Fax: +41 61 228 42 87
Email: aW5mby5pbmR1c3RyaWFsZGVzaWduLmhna0BmaG53LmNo