Human beings, space and meaning

* formerly "Information & Spatial Design", title subject to approval by AQ Austria

How do spaces, texts, signs and social processes interact? How can intelligent design processes be employed to generate or shape such interactions? "The Interior Design & Visual Communication" master's course deals with the communicative capacities of interior design and the spatial potential of visual communication – on a wide range of scales, from smartphone displays to urban spaces.

The master’s degree course is open to graduates holding a bachelor’s degree in interior design, architecture or graphic and information design. Applicants with a background in related disciplines are also welcome.

The master’s degree course integrates elements from interior design and information design in an up-to-date fashion of high practical relevance, focusing on permanent or temporary public spaces characterised by high density of information and social mixing. This includes, among other things, exhibition, sales and brand spaces, transit, communication and event spaces as well as urban spaces. The aim is to create new places of interaction, participation and memory or to enhance them by means of navigation and communication systems or spatial information or identity programmes.

Developing such spaces or displays in a concept-based, integrated approach requires a new type of specialists working at the interface between spatial and visual design, interior design, design, art, science and economy. They see society as an intricate communication and negotiation process that needs to inform the designer’s work. Conceiving narratives and inscribing them into spaces so as to facilitate complex social, cognitive and sensory experiences for their users is part of this practice.

Design processes impacting on the social sphere are also essentially concerned with fundamental questions regarding human beings and their motivations: How are perceptions transformed into information? How do signs and communication processes work? How do people find their bearings? How are decisions made? How do we create places?
 

The course

In the master’s degree course "Interior Design & Visual Communication" you will opt for a core topic but you will still receive detailed, extremely valuable insights into the other discipline. This model gives you a decisive edge: as an interior designer you will also understand the challenges in terms of graphic design; as a knowledgeable designer you will also be aware of architectural challenges. This additional knowledge makes you a highly valued, irreplaceable expert when it comes to designing complex spaces and their information systems.

The Design Studios allow students to collaborate on various design tasks within a wider subject area, accompanied by extensive, individual supervision. The weekly Forum aims to develop and exchange knowledge at the interface of interior design and information design. The subject of design research deals with methodical analysis and creativity techniques while the Trend Lab explores future trends in society. Supplementary teaching units help you improve your technical skills and enhance the theoretical expertise in your area of studies. Numerous field trips also facilitate insights into current design practices and their in-depth reflection.

"Interior Design & Visual Communication" is an interdisciplinary master’s degree course aimed at students with a bachelor’s degree in visual communication, graphic design or information design and graduates in architecture and interior design. Applicants with a background in other areas (e.g. landscape architecture, sociology) and relevant project experience are also welcome.
 

Up-to-date interdisciplinary training

With its focus on concept-based, critical thinking and its systematic approach, the NDU degree course guarantees future-proof training and allows you to optimise your design and project practice both in the fields of interior design and information design. Co-operations with various companies and institutions give you the opportunity to acquire specialised, business-relevant knowledge. Last, but not least, the course will also enable you to develop and improve your presentation and organisational skills.
 

Profession and career opportunities

The course provides in-depth specialised knowledge in interior design and visual communication and promotes your capacity to work independently and as a team leader. Graduates are well equipped to take on key positions as innovative interior designers or interdisciplinary designers in international projects – in design or architectural firms, in the fields of art, culture and event organisation, in the public sector or in trade and tourism, but also as self-employed experts.