The design school Kolding is an international talent workshop for developing Danish design. We work at eye level , believe in equality and respect diversity .
Danish design is more than beautiful, exclusive products. We refine a long democratic tradition, where designers together with the users in a playful way find sustainable and inclusive solutions.
Talent is the most important material we work with. We carefully assess the potential of applicants before admitting them; then we do everything to develop and challenge their talent. Through theory and reflection. Via realistic and interdisciplinary projects. But first and foremost in the experimental, practical workshop work, where hand and spirit unite in functional and aesthetic design.
We are a locally based learning environment that works internationally and at university level. By attracting talent and close partners from all over the world, we give our students the skills and contacts to perform in a global job market.
A higher education
Kolding School of Design is a self-governing institution under the Ministry of Education and Research. The school educates designers at bachelor’s and master’s level.
The design school Kolding has approximately 340 enrolled students and a number of PhD students, including business PhD students. Every year, the school admits about 150 new students – 80 in the bachelor’s program and 70 in the master’s program. In addition, the school offers a master’s degree in design management in collaboration with the University of Southern Denmark.
The history of the design school Kolding
In August 1967, the School of Arts and Crafts in Kolding was established with a textile line (fabric print and tissue) and an advertising line. The school is established in Vesterbrogade, as a department under Kolding Technical School. The following year, the school moves to premises in Brdr. Volkerts Fabrikker and at the same time the ceramics line is established. The school now has about 100 students.
In the 1970s, the school was expanded with another line, Clothing. In 1989, the education is extended from four to five years, restructured and improved. After the first stage of a new educational structure, the school comprises a one-year interdisciplinary primary school, four two-year lines (Clothing, Graphic Design and Illustration, Ceramics and Textiles), and three two-year departments as a superstructure (Department of Industrial Design, Department of Unique and Department of Visual Communication ).
In 1993, Graphic Design and Illustration, the Department of Visual Communication, Ceramics and parts of the Department of Unique moved to Saxovej. Brdr. Volkerts Fabrikker now houses administration, primary school, clothing, textiles, Department of Industrial Design, parts of the Department of Unique, workshop, auditorium and canteen. Likewise, a new education in Interactive Multimedia will be established in 1995.
The school becomes self-governing
In January 1996, the School of Arts and Crafts was separated from Kolding Technical School and is now an independent, self-governing institution under the Ministry of Education. The school buys the Solar building in Ågade and publishes an architectural competition for remodeling and new interior design.
After this, the content and structure of the education is changed once again, which means that the Department of Industrial Design and the Department of Unique are closed down and replaced by the Department of Product. In addition, the Department of Form and Theory will be established, while the Department of Visual Communication will be maintained. The goal is greater interdisciplinarity, more emphasis on theoretical aspects and form formation.
In 1998, the school moves into the new house in Ågade 10. Thus, all the school’s departments are gathered under one roof. At the same time, the school changes its name to the current Design School Kolding.
Addition and closure of Ceramics
In 2002, the Government and the parties in the Folketing entered into an agreement for the Ministry of Culture’s artistic educations, which ensures the Kolding School of Design a fixed economy for four years with a number of binding focus areas. The first actual research project is launched.
The following year, the school inaugurates an extension with i.a. workshops, study areas and photo studios. At the same time, an executive order on education at bachelor’s and master’s level will be introduced. The first four-year performance contract is entered into with the Ministry of Culture, which decides to close the subject area Ceramics from 2007.
New departments and university status
In 2008, two large subject-specific departments will be established: the Department of Communication Design, which includes the disciplines of graphic design, illustration and interaction design (formerly interactive media) and the Department of Product Design with the disciplines industrial design, fashion and textiles. The research is placed under the newly established Faculty of Education and Research, which i.a. handles study administrative tasks and cross-disciplinary teaching.
The school undergoes an accreditation process in parallel with an evaluation of the research activities. This results in the school in 2010 gaining the status of a university with three years for a bachelor, two years for a master’s and subsequently the opportunity to study a PhD.
In connection with the presentation of the Finance Act for 2014, the Design School Kolding will have the opportunity to establish an education within accessories (bachelor and master) with a focus on shoes, bags and jewelery.
Positive institutional accreditation
In June 2020, the school will achieve a positive institutional accreditation. This means that the school as a university officially lives up to the requirements of offering good and relevant educations in an environment that promotes openness and dialogue. A positive institutional accreditation gives the school responsibility for and freedom to establish a system that ensures the quality and relevance of the school’s educations and more opportunities in relation to, among other things, creating new educations and adjusting the existing ones.