The HKB / MA DESIGN offers you an individual course for design and design-research projects with a high degree of social relevance in the fields of Entrepreneurship and Research, as a full-time student (over 3 semesters) or as a part-time student (over 5 semesters).

What is the HKB / MA DESIGN all about?

The HKB / MA DESIGN is focused on developing your project from the first idea until it is ready for implementation. It offers you small classes for individual support, and provides you sufficient time to identify a socially relevant design problem or research question, to analyse the problem or state of research, to create innovative solutions or new knowledge, and finally to formulate a business concept or research plan.

You apply with an idea for a product, a service or a research project. The programme advises you in finding appropriate supervisors, and in designing your curriculum according to the specific needs of your project. 

What does the HKB / MA DESIGN mean by “Design with social relevance”?

The HKB / MA DESIGN puts the social relevance of design and research at the heart of things. The programme thematises the complex networks of relationships between human beings and objects and between people and the environment.

You thereby learn and apply creative and scientific theories, methods and tools that will enable you to develop innovative solutions to socially relevant problems and to increase the social relevance of your project. These include, for example, planning, carrying out interviews, participatory observation, workshops, cultural probes, on-site inspections and “empathy tools”.

What is the result of my studies and what can I do after graduating from HKB / MA DESIGN?

On the “Entrepreneurship” track you will conclude your studies with a business concept for a design-based product or service that you can make the basis of a subsequent career. With your final project you can found your own company and apply for design grants or start-up support, in particular for DEAL, the Berner Designinitiative programme for excellent entrepreneurial design projects.

On the “Research” track you will conclude your studies with a research plan for a design research project that you will carry out in your subsequent career. With your final project you will apply for research support or for admission to a doctoral programme, in particular at the doctoral program Studies in the Arts (SINTA) of the Faculty of Humanities at the University of Bern (Universität Bern) and the Bern University of the Arts (HKB).

The skills and competencies gained during your studies will increase your chances of achieving an attractive career as an independent designer, entrepreneur, or design researcher. 

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If the events of the past few weeks have prevented you from applying to the HKB / MA Design, we w...
23. Mar 20
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Wir vom HKB / MA Design freuen uns, Rahel Inauen in unserem Team willkommen zu heissen. Rahel wir...
19. Mar 20
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FINAL COUNTDOWN to apply at HKB / MA DESIGN @hkbmad @hkb_bfh #madesign #designwithsocialimpact #w...
10. Mar 20
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Impressions from the @hkmad course ”Organising the guest lecture festival“. The festival will be ...
22. Feb 20
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Inputs on strategies of publishing by Tania Prill, Professor of Typography at the University of A...
14. Feb 20
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Introduction to A/BZ, @afbuza a Rotterdam based studio working in the field of social design. Fou...
13. Feb 20
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@hkbmad at the watertaxi! #watertaxi #highwaves #madfieldtrip2020
13. Feb 20
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Guided tour through Rotterdam Zuid – Katendrecht & Afrikaanderwijk. Two multicultural districts w...
13. Feb 20
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Tour through Blue City Rotterdam @bluecity010. The goal of Blue City is to provide start-ups and ...
13. Feb 20
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Students from @hkbmad were invited to a workshop with students from MA Design of Piet Zwart Insti...
12. Feb 20
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Tour through Rotterdams port district M4H @m4hrotterdam in the south of the city. We strolled alo...
12. Feb 20
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@hkbmad visiting the @floatingfarmnl – an excellent example for sustainable entrepreneurship. The...
12. Feb 20
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