Top Summer Courses in Design Studies

As designers, we solve problems for a diverse set of human needs to design meaningful experiences, which requires understanding many dimensions of diversity—such as gender, ethnicity, physical ability, socio-economic background, education, and more. This course will guide you through the process of experience design with a focus on designing for social impact while integrating solutions that are equitable and inclusive.

At its core, experience design is focused on creating a wholistic solution with multiple touchpoints—sometimes digital and sometimes physical and sometimes systemic. Throughout this class, you will create a service concept and bring it to life through an experience focused on having a social impact. We will work hand-in-hand with the community we are looking to serve (yes, there will be field trips) and through this process, you will identify the key user needs from real users, prototype ideas solutions, and share back a story that inspires empathy and inclusivity.... [-]

Sup'Biotech is a private engineering school located in the Paris metropolitan area, that is specialized in various emerging biotechnology-related fields. Sup'Biotech is part of the IONIS Institute of Technology cluster.

It is one of the top biotech schools in France and is part of IONIS, France’s leading higher private education group. Its students go on into top positions in an array of industries including the health, bioinformatics, pharmaceutical, and cosmetics industries, green industries, and agribusiness.

SUMMER SCHOOLS 2018 from Eikon on Vimeo.

Sup’Biotech’s unique curriculum combines science and engineering coursework with management skills and industry-specific technical knowledge, preparing students for dynamic careers in research, management, and communication roles. Our graduates possess not only the expertise needed in STEM-based careers but the interpersonal and management skills to effectively deliver their message.... [-]

Toulon, 1 hour’s drive east from neighboring Marseille, is the third-largest French city on the Mediterranean coast and a gateway to the famous French Riviera, less than one hour from celebrated seaside hotspots like Cannes, Antibes, Nice, and Saint Tropez. The capital of the Var department, it is a major French naval base and home of the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle and her battle group. The city is an important center for naval construction, fishing, winemaking, and the manufacture of aeronautical and electronic equipment.

The location of Kedge’s Design School, Toulon is home to a thriving community of engineers, designers, and entrepreneurs. The annual Toulon-Hyeres International Design Parade brings together creative minds from across the globe to exchange ideas and push the boundaries on conventional thinking and approaches. Join us next summer to see for yourself!... [-]

THIS COURSE IN HELD IN ENGLISH LANGUAGE.

Italy is a center of excellence and innovation in the field of automotive design. IED Torino is based in the automotive capital of Italy, home to such iconic companies as Fiat, Lancia, Pininfarina and Alfa Romeo. Within such a context IED offers this summer program that introduces the fundamental elements and tools necessary to become a future car designer. The course provides students with an overview of contemporary trends and industrial challenges and focuses on car designer’s professional role.

The program will will furthermore give students the opportunity to develop skills, knowledge and intellectual abilities to design new vehicles based on a clear understanding of proportion, volume and surface design principles.... [-]

The contribution of computational methodologies to drug discovery is no longer a matter of dispute and the major world’s pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies use computational design tools. Computer-aided drug design comprises computational methods and resources that are used to facilitate the design and discovery of new therapeutic solutions. This summer school will cover all the main computational techniques used in drug discovery, supplying a basic level of knowledge of this research field.

This course will be divided into theoretical and practical lessons and will allow the participants to independently develop their own computational studies.... [-]

Design Immersion Days (DID) is an immersive four-week summer program that introduces high school students to design and architecture. It is intended to inspire curiosity about the world of design, introduce basic design knowledge and critical thinking skills, and familiarize students with the expansive architecture and design culture of Los Angeles. Students get to know the city’s visual, structural, and cultural context through the lens of those most deeply engaged with shaping the cityscape: prominent architects who call Los Angeles their home. Students and teachers enjoy collegial interactions in the studio, in the field on day trips, and in one-on-one mentoring. Students also have private tours of museums, design firms, and galleries. By the end of the course they will have a clear idea of what college-level architectural study is like. Students are exposed to examples of design and modes of production at all scales, from sophisticated 3D modeling techniques to hand-modeling. In the classroom and in the city they explore ways of seeing, thinking, and doing that are essential for anyone interested in pursuing a career in architecture or design. Students learn about a range of basic skills essential to exploring, discovering, and describing design work: freehand sketching, mechanical drafting, computer drawing, physical model making, and computer-based 3D modeling, as well as processes that enable fluid movement between the physical and the virtual realms.... [-]

27th July-7th August 2020

Through a combination of theory, workshops, and practical projects, you’ll be introduced to the fundamentals of design including line, tone, colour theory, layout design, composition, type and image across digital and paper-based formats. With an emphasis on ideas-based problem solving, you’ll develop your critical awareness of visual communication and tackle typographic and design projects. You’ll also explore a variety of illustration methods and techniques to enhance your understanding of the design process and effectively communicate ideas in 2D and 3D forms.

You’ll enhance your abilities, confidence and understanding of photography in a range of creative contexts with the opportunity to explore composition, subject matter and lighting with a variety of photographic equipment, accessories and image editing software. You’ll look also at social, historical and theoretical issues surrounding visual communication, learning how to best create a story, respond to a professional brief and develop your own signature photographic style.... [-]

Innovation. Problem-solving. Creativity. Co-Creation. Customer value. These concepts have a tremendous impact in today’s business strategy. They are the ingredients that spur new growth opportunities, optimize business processes and create strong connections with customers. They are obvious, yet diffuse. We see these words everywhere we look today.

But what do they really define? Are they real? Do they have any real impact on business or are they just a series of trendy words slapped on company slogans, advertisements, and annual reports?

Design Thinking is a human-centric group of work processes and frameworks that help identify, develop and deliver on these concepts creatively and efficiently. Real innovation delivers real results. Results in introducing new product-service experiences to create value in a business, in understanding the changing customer expectations or in expanding existing markets. In essence, developing meaningful design solutions through a design thinking approach, co-created with all stakeholders, results in business transformation. This course is designed for the professional who is looking to better define, shape and implement innovative strategies in their respective ecosystems and deliver higher value to their businesses.... [-]

THIS COURSE IN HELD IN ENGLISH LANGUAGE.

The course introduces the Italian design industry and current trends in interior design to enable students to develop the skills necessary to produce layouts for high-level showrooms and shops with an essential expressive value.

Target - The course is designed for qualified applicants, such as students who are attending the final years of University studies in Architecture, Interior Design and Industrial Design, or newly graduated, and young professionals interested in enriching their personal knowledge and understanding of the field. Applicants need to have mastered representation technique skills such as drawing, sketching and rendering visual communication skills such as computer graphics and rendering, as well as model making and verbal communication skills. Applicants need to show strong motivation and the ability to work in groups.... [-]

The four-week course is an intensive introduction held in Florence for those interested in starting their studies of graphic design. The graphic design process, theory, and application are covered. It is also a great opportunity for working professionals in the fields of marketing and advertising to expand their knowledge and skills of visual design. The course is a great tool for those interested in graphic design to get a feel for the profession.

The faculty is made up of both locally Italian and international professors who all speak and teach in English. Additionally, the professors are all professionals working in their field. This is to ensure that the faculty is aware of what is happening in their field so that they do not give their students outdated information. The school’s intimate class sizes allow for each student to receive a premium individualized education.... [-]

THIS COURSE IN HELD IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE.

Nowadays the Graphic Designer figure needs to be particularly dynamic, being not only an expert in visual languages but also a specialist of communication strategies. With the developing of digital technology, graphic design has become pleasantly intricate and exciting. Every day new communication tools make the professional figure more interactive and engaging.

Dynamic images, GIF, viral videos and sounds are becoming trends inside of interactive works. The Graphic Designer is capable of interacting with multiple clients in different fields thanks to a developed versatility. For this reason, he has to deal with new technologies and always be updated on the latest digital tools, in order to anticipate the times and offer innovative solutions to the market.... [-]

THIS COURSE IS HELD IN ENGLISH LANGUAGEThe term 'storytelling' is used in a narrow sense to refer specifically to oral storytelling and nowadays it refers also to narrative techniques in other media.

We live in a world surrounded by stories. All the images that we receive make part of a story designed to generate a link with us and make them memorable. Each campaign, each poster, each picture, each logo, can tell a great story.

This one-week workshop will help students to gain a deep understanding of visual language and learn how to develop a concept that can be told on different platforms.

Goals

»RE.ACTION – ARTISTIC DIALOGUES«

BE INSPIRING AND GET INSPIRED - SHARE YOUR KNOWLEDGE - AND GET NEW WORK DONE!

At the start of this course we visit an art exhibition and research the accompanying media, such as catalogues, website, flyers etc. Based on your experience you develop an artwork responding to the exhibition. You are free to choose your preferred media, such as drawing, typography, photography, installation etc., and are encouraged to blend them.

At the following step each work rotates to another student and acts thereupon as a starting point for his/her new artistic response. This rotation principle varies by a defined schedule during the 2-week-term regarding space, time, rhythm, media or team partners. We discuss how the results interdependent, what media qualities emerge, and how to create image documentation of the process that is adequate to the individual results.... [-]

Discover drawing technics like « sketching »: freehand drawing on different types of the underground, using colored pencils, marker pen, ordinary pen, dry pastel colors. The idea is to represent the essential form, volume, material, and functionality of an object.

Active creativity, based on the production of forms, structures, and materials inducing the forms in a game of experimental manipulation or of a composition, linked to communication by sketching.

From a theme as a starting point, learn to draw and to accept arising ideas, doing research through sketches, until the development of a retained idea. The outcome is finalized drawings, clearly illustrative and understandable for all.... [-]

NEXT COURSE: VENICE BIENNALE REVEALED - BEHIND THE SCENE EXPERIENCE

Dates: May 7-12, August 5-10 or November 18-23, 2019

Classes:

The course connects you with experts of the art market and allows you to experience the reality behind the Venice Biennale and its parallel events.

You will discover the exhibition in conversations with artists, curators, gallerists and, of course, the Biennale team. It is a structured and inspiring experience.

The May programme takes place during the Opening week. The November programme is scheduled during the final week, making it a special experience at the Biennale. Next to the sessions we will visit the Biennale at Giardini and Arsenale, Personal Structures exhibition and the Peggy Guggenheim collection.... [-]