KISD
Köln International School
of Design
Technology Arts Sciences TH Köln

Diversity with a concept – studying at KISD

The KISD study concept transcends traditional subject boundaries within and outside of design. In cross-semester project work, we strengthen students’ individual interests and offer them a framework for thematic and subject specialisations.

Integrative, interdisciplinary and international

KISD’s study concept is an internationally successful model that has grown over several decades. For over twenty years now, KISD has been offering students a unique project-orientated learning and research environment that aims to strengthen students’ individual interests. The study programme at KISD is integrative, interdisciplinary and international across all degree programmes.

An integrative and interdisciplinary structure

KISD favours an interdisciplinary structure. Design-related perspectives from a wide range of teaching and research areas are systematically integrated and combined with the approaches of other subjects and disciplines.

Lived internationalisation

Thanks to a total proportion of currently 20 percent international students, our worldwide cooperation with over 65 design universities and a close network of strategic partner universities within and outside Europe, everyday study life at KISD has an international character.

A flexible and non-linear study programme

In courses and research projects, Bachelor and Master students work together across semesters and thus learn with and from each other. Instead of a rigidly structured course of study, our model emphasizes students’ personal responsibility and encourages them to develop their own specialisations and interests.

A consistently project-oriented degree programme

Projects are often carried out in cooperation with social actors and companies. In these projects, students from different semesters work together, independently and in teams on problem-orientated, complex design processes. Projects therefore form the ‘centrepiece’ of every study programme at KISD.

Dispensing with a so-called ‘basic teaching’ or ‘basic subjects ‘

Instead of basic subjects, our students acquire a broad knowledge of the content, working methods and methodologies of design in seminars, lectures and courses as well as in research and development projects.

Active participation in shaping their own study environment

A special feature of KISD are its committed students, who are in charge of the ‘Gute Stube’ café, the communicative heart of KISD, initiate and lead their own events such as the ‘Kölner Klopfer’, help organize lecture series such as the KISDtalks and contribute to a lively and functioning student community through their involvement in the working groups.

Modes of teaching

In general, studies at KISD are project-oriented. Besides these projects, studies are characterized by scientific seminars which are accompanied by lectures, courses, and workshop introductions. The spectrum is completed by student work groups in which students contribute to everyday life at KISD.

At the beginning of each term a curricular calendar is published for the selection of seminars and projects. This serves as a basis for the individual combination of the study plan of each student.

Projects

There are three types of projects:

  • KP: Short-term projects (KP: two weeks)
  • MP: Mid-term projects (half term)
  • LP: Long-term projects (the whole term)

Almost every Friday there are public presentations where students present their project results. This leads to a constructive project discussion and analysis of the projects and to knowledge transfer between students. All projects are documented.

Scientific Seminars

Within every area of expertise at least one scientific seminar is offered each term. As a reflexive component these seminars form an indispensable unit in order to combine practical design-oriented projects together with these seminars. Supporting documents for a successful participation are reports as well as extensive documentations or investigations in written or in a medial form.

Lectures

The KISDlectures are characterized by their alternating focuses, speakers, and themes. International experts from different professions and designers are regularly invited to be guest lecturers. In addition to these, the so-called KISDtalks are dedicated to design theory, design research, and design history, covering the historical movements of the past, including cultural, social, and economic aspects and their effects on design.

Student Workgroups

Student work groups (WGs) are a productive supplement of the school and an integral part of studies at KISD. In these groups, students define their own team goals, and work toward achieving them in addition to working on established tasks for the group. These student work groups are indispensable for the functioning of KISD. They give students the opportunity to practice working autonomously. It is compulsory to participate in a student work group for four terms – but many students are dedicating themselves much longer to their respective »WGs«. Our student work groups: Application WG, Archive WG, Gute Stube WG, International WG, Online WG etc.

Courses

The existing academic program at KISD is complemented by a multitude of courses with different types of content. In these courses, students will train important basic skills ranging from English and documentation writing to software introductions. Tasks and learning content of these courses is also to teach students tools and important working techniques in the labs.