The profile for those who want to enter the industry and work at the intersection of creativity, technology, and culture. Under the mentorship of leading Russian designers, you’ll begin working on real projects while still studying, build a strong portfolio, establish yourself in the professional community, and learn how to bring your ideas to life by mastering the ins and outs of project promotion and management.
About the Design Program
• 4 years • Full-time education • 20 state-funded places • 200 fee-paying places • 8 fee-paying places for foreigners • 740,000 rubles
90% of HSE Art And Design School graduates are already employed upon completion of training. Many build careers at major organizations, including Yandex, Sber, AlfaBank, T-Bank, IBM, RBC, SuperJob, MTS, Twitch, and others. Besides, our students and graduates traditionally win prizes at Russian and international creative industries festivals and competitions.
About the Profile
The curriculum is exclusive to St. Petersburg — it gives hands-on experience in graphic design, branding, typography, infographics, packaging, and multi-page publications. You’ll also build a solid foundation in art history and learn how to manage creative projects from start to finish.
The St. Petersburg campus of HSE Art and Design School works on major projects with the city’s top cultural spots — like the Hermitage Museum, the Russian Ethnographic Museum, the Alexandrinsky Theater, and the Mayakovsky Library — enabling graduates to have a rich portfolio that shows their skills and connects them with the professional creative community.
Additionally, HSE Art and Design School regularly hosts open lectures featuring prominent designers, artists, art theorists, and industry professionals. These events are open to students, applicants, professional designers, and contemporary art enthusiasts.
What You’ll Learn
Year 1. Basic Course In the first year, you’ll jump straight into an intensive course in the «language of design» and learn basic techniques for designing a product while studying key computer tools, web and animation technologies, and more.
Year 2. Advanced Branding Studies The second year concentrates on developing students’ conceptual thinking and teamwork skills, as well as uncovering their creative potential. You’ll refine your skills in branding projects, begin typography studies, work on multi-page publications, and delve deeper into the digital environment to start designing websites and mobile applications.
Year 3. Specializations and Electives Students are placed in the real design studio conditions: groups work on briefs from external clients, going through a complete project cycle — from analyzing the brief and generating concepts to presenting the final result. This year focuses on career orientation and introduces students to potential employers.
Year 4. Thesis Project The final year is devoted to preparing thesis projects which are significant for the professional and expert community. Besides, students continue to work in design studios, expand their professional portfolios, and master the skills of handling multiple projects at once. Many fourth-year students also gain teaching experience at HSE Art And Design School.
«A communication designer, in my view, is a multidisciplinary designer — a universally developed professional capable of solving the most complex creative challenges».
Mitya Kharshak, academic head of the Design Program at the HSE Art And Design School in St. Petersburg
How the Training Works
Education at HSE Art and Design School is as close to real-world work as possible. From the first year, students make their own projects, interact with real clients, gain experience in teamwork, and learn the latest technologies and tools.
Student Portfolio
Hsedesign.ru is the digital ecosystem of HSE Art and Design School which brings together the professional portfolios of designers — students, alumni, and university staff — as well as an online educational platform, a platform that aggregates international online competitions in creative industries, and other tools.
Admission Requirements
Admission to the bachelor’s program is determined through a competitive selection procedure based on the level of English proficiency and a creative project assessment.
All entrance examinations are held online.
Open Days
Open Days and other events are regularly held at all HSE Art And Design School campuses. For those unable to attend in person, the School broadcasts all important happenings online.
Other profiles
HSE Art and Design School trains students in all areas of the creative industries — from branding and game design to contemporary art and animation. You can explore the complete set of our educational profiles at the link below.
Contacts
Frequently asked questions
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