Foundation Course
The best way to prepare for your future design studies
Not sure yet if a design degree is right for you? Are you interested enough in design topics to make it your career? Or do you have the necessary personal qualities and prior knowledge?
Get the right preparation with the help of the two-semester Foundation Course and acquire the basic skills needed for a future design degree.
In the Foundation Course, you’ll acquire fundamental design skills and develop a comprehensive portfolio. If you complete the Foundation Course with a grade of “very good” or “good,” you’re guaranteed a spot at New Design University! In this case, no entrance exam is required.
Completing the Foundation Course ensures you acquire the essential foundational skills: Under the guidance of a young faculty team, the introductory phase covers basic knowledge in the areas of drawing and representational techniques, printmaking, typography, and computer graphics, as well as spatial and 3D design. Assignments and projects introduce students to the fundamental skills of design. In the second semester, students specialize in either the 2-dimensional track, the 3-dimensional track, or the Design and Materials track.
Furthermore, one of the objectives of the Foundation Course is to provide individual guidance to participants in the creation of a portfolio or workbook. At the end of the course, during the final week, the work is presented and evaluated by a panel of experts.
Through regular dialogue with industry professionals, the course also provides a diverse insight into the sectors and professional practices of the creative industries. The preparatory course thus makes a valuable contribution to individual career orientation.
Course Structure
A Young Educational Model
The Foundation Course is offered in partnership with WIFI NÖ.
Admission Requirements
Anyone who hasn′t attended a relevant school…
You attended a high school, a business academy, or a vocational school for business and economics. Your talent for drawing was hardly put to use in school. Your high school diploma does not list any art-related courses. But you feel a desire to do “something creative” in your professional life.
… can take a two-semester preparatory course
Over the course of two semesters, you’ll acquire the foundational skills you need for a degree in design or a career in the arts—from drawing, experimental design, and illustration techniques to typography and model making. The curriculum also includes instruction in relevant computer software, printmaking, and photography.
Anyone who has already had a successful career…
You have completed an apprenticeship in a relevant trade and have already gained successful work experience in the field. Now you want to take your technical skills to the next level and combine them with creative expertise.
… will be well prepared for college this year
Since the Matura is no longer an absolute prerequisite for starting college, you have a good chance of securing a spot at our school. Over the course of two semesters, you’ll acquire all the necessary skills to apply for a college spot a year later using the portfolio you’ve created during the program.
To the Online Application
Entrance Exam
To enroll in the preparatory course, you must pass an entrance exam.
Procedure:
- Bring 2–3 samples of your work
- Drawing and design assignment
- Interview with the programm director
Depending on the equipment the participant already owns, additional material costs of approximately 400–500 euros will apply for the entire Foundation Course.
Info-Veranstaltung Foundation Course
In addition to the opportunities and dates for learning about the NDU and its programs, separate information sessions are held for the Foundation Course / Advanced Course. Participation is free of charge upon registration.
For more information on current dates and registration, please visit the WIFI NÖ website.
New Design Centre
DI Catharina Kisling
T +43 (0)2742 890 22300
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