The implementation of the consecutive Master degree »information design« makes allowance for the modified professional profile in the field of design. The perspective of a European standardization of academic degrees is a motivation for the faculty of design to step into the new academic program with the implementation of a consecutive Master degree that will base on the new bachelor degree »communications design« and is supposed to address also to extern applicants for a university place.

An essential element of the Master degree is the interdisciplinary and intercultural focus that can only be achieved by the cooperation with other universities or institutions. The FHWS already cooperates successfully with the faculty of design and art of the Free University of Bozen, the University of Applied Sciences Vorarlberg and the University of Würzburg. The furthermore existing intense contacts of the faculty with partner universities in European and non-European countries will be extended for the Master degree.

Structure of the degree program

During the 1st semester the students start with their project work (research, structure, relevance, objectives) and continue with that during the second semester. In Master colloquia with the focus on reflected exchange and the promotion in design and scientific fields, they report about their projects.

Lecturing tutors of the faculty do supervise the Master colloquium, but the organization and the conceptual implementation is performed as well by the students.
In addition the students attend weekly courses and the regularly offered guest lectures of the faculty. The 3rd semester is dedicated to the creation of the Master thesis.

To ensure a quality assurance, a university or academy professor is on the Master examination board.

A new training model

The purpose of the studies is a qualification for an independent and scientifically well-grounded project work on the field of information design. The focus lies here on the connection between a future-, use- and basic-oriented research. The students’ analytic and creative skills shall be developed and professional, methodic and personal competences shall be trained.

The emphasis of the study lies on a coherent project work with consecutive project phases. In all parts of the studies a professor takes intensively care of the students. Besides the acquirement of professional, methodic and intercultural competency the project serves first of all to develop innovative communication concepts and therefore to position designers in new, sustainable occupational fields.

A new type of »designer«

The demand for highly qualified communications designers is still high. In the environment of information design above all well-educated designers are intensely requested.
For considerable time new and additional fields of activity are developing for designers improving the existing employment outlook. That amelioration repositions the upcoming generations of designers as the present field of activity moves towards innovative product developments.
In the future, many designers will change from a merely service sector to an independent, corporate field and will do the preliminary work for economy, science, culture and institutions with market relevant »products«.

With the Master degree program “information design” the university of applied sciences Würzburg-Schweinfurt pursues the aim of preparing alumni for this new development.