The Master of Arts HES-SO in Design, Major in Design Installation (Space & Communication), is an interdisciplinary program that pushes the boundaries of spatial design through experimental investigations and critical explorations. Students engage with a wide range of materials and media—such as film, objects, performance, sound, and video games—to create ambitious, meaningful design installations. The course is structured around a variety of studio projects, workshops, and external commissions, each offering students the chance to explore different disciplines and contexts. This diverse approach to design encourages students to engage with contemporary issues, including social, political, and environmental topics, through their work. By developing original projects and methodologies, students create unique design languages and forms of practice.
The program emphasizes personal approaches, fostering social exchange, collaboration, and interactivity as integral elements of practice-led research. It prepares graduates to work across a broad spectrum of industries, including design and media, scenography, exhibitions, public or retail environments, and art installations. Recent alumni of the program have gone on to establish successful careers in a variety of fields, founding design collectives such as Collectif Kimera, Trojans Collective, No_Matter, and Studio Tech, or pursuing brilliant individual practices in design and art: Sonya Isupova, Vincent Grange, Emile Demerliac, Roberta Faust or Rita Hajj.
In recognition of the program’s evolution and broader scope, the course has undergone a name change. Originally titled Space & Communication, the program was initially focused on scenography and signage practices. However, over the past sixteen years, the curriculum has expanded to include multimedia, photography, architecture, film, and performance. As a result, the program directors determined that the old name no longer accurately reflected the evolving focus. The new title, Design Installation, encapsulates the core areas of the program—spatial design and the production of installations—while inviting a broader dialogue on multi-media and transdisciplinary design. This shift reflects the program's commitment to preparing students for dynamic careers in a variety of design-related fields.
