“The online bachelor's program is a unique chance for students from anywhere in the world to be at the forefront of technological, structural, and creative changes that are already shaping the design industry today. Learning from the top industry professionals is now a reality, no matter where you live.” — says Mitya Kharshak, academic head of the "Design" program at the HSE ART AND DESIGN SCHOOL in St. Petersburg.
This program is designed to train top specialists in the field of creative industries, allowing students to quickly immerse themselves in the profession of designer, build a high-quality portfolio, and gain expertise in the field of project promotion and management. Students work with teachers and curators from leading universities in an online format, accessible from any city in the world.
Although all classes are held remotely, most of them have a synchronous format. This means that the teacher works with students in real time and in a constant dialogue, monitoring progress and providing feedback on each project.This allows maintaining the university atmosphere and facilitating communication between students. Groups are formed based on time zones so that it is convenient for all students to attend classes.
At the end of each training module, students defend their projects in front of a committee of teachers and fellow students—this helps to develop skills in defending their ideas publicly. Defenses are held 4 times a year across all campuses of the HSE Art and Design School. In order to maintain a consistently high quality of education, we form exam boards with faculty members from different campuses, connecting them online.
In the process, students not only gain practical design skills in graphic design, interactive environment design, branding, typography, infographics, packaging design, and multi-page publications, but also experience intensive work in a remote format, develop systemic and conceptual thinking, and enhance their general visual culture.
As a result of the training, graduates of the program earn an international bachelor's degree, a portfolio of high-quality projects in the field of design, and advanced knowledge in marketing and management.
By the end of the studies, students will be qualified for the positions such as:
The discipline "Creative Design"
Students start with a small corporate identity project, then create two series of posters—font and graphic—and then move on to work on designing a space and a multi-page publication, and in the IV module of the first year they create a full-fledged large corporate identity.
The discipline "Design Technologies"
First-year students master all the computer programs they need: vector and raster graphics tools, software for layout of multipage publications, video editing and processing, as well as other tools relevant to a specific profile.
The discipline "History and Theory of Art and Design"
Students receive a powerful theoretical base by studying the main epochs of the formation of painting, sculpture, and architecture from rock carvings to paintings by French post-Impressionists and Art Nouveau style, and also take a course on contemporary art of the XX-XXI centuries.
Sophomores continue to develop in their work with branding.
The discipline "Creative Design"
Students create a consumer brand and a line of packaging for it while getting acquainted with the technological features of packaging production from various materials and exploring the possibilities of using the form factor, a combination of font solutions and illustrations in packaging design. Students also conduct visual research, linking the project theme of the previous modules with the function of a cultural institution: museum, theater, festival, etc., and develop a brand of a real or invented cultural institution.
The discipline "Design Technologies"
Students study web publishing, mobile application design, and the basics of typography.
The discipline "History and Theory of Design"
Students choose two of the most interesting theoretical courses out of more than 20 possible ones for their educational trajectory.
The discipline "Creative Design"
Students create complex projects in the field of branding: a calendar, an accidental font, and also carry out and defend the project according to the real briefings from clients.
Elective disciplines
During the third year, students can choose elective disciplines to try their hand at a new, non-core direction of design, fashion, or contemporary art. These disciplines are the author's courses of the teachers of the HSE Art and Design School. By choosing one of the disciplines, students get the opportunity to work under the guidance of well-known design practitioners who teach at the School, gaining unique knowledge and additional competencies that are not included in the standard curriculum of the program.
The discipline "History and Theory of Design"
Students choose two of the most interesting subjects from the block for each half-year: from the history of advertising tools and fashion theory to the history of video games and modern photography and the history of the medium.
Fourth-year students are working on a thesis project, which should become an independent comprehensive project—not only aggregating all the competencies and knowledge gained during their studies but also noticeable to the industry.
Art Practice / Design Technologies
The "Art Practice” and “Design Technologies" courses are integrated from the first year and applied directly to curatorial projects.
In "Art Practice," students focus on sketching, illustration, and creating group or personal art projects.
"Design Technologies" in the first year, students master graphic design software. By the second year, they study specialized technologies to expand their professional competencies. In the third year, students choose elective disciplines to explore new directions in design. During the fourth year, students immerse themselves in the professional design environment as part of their practice.
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.
When preparing a creative project, applicants must choose one of the program specializations and create a series of works (6 to 15 pieces) based on a single theme, unified by a common concept and consistent visual style.
Applicants are free to choose their project theme, as long as it showcases their creative potential and artistic thinking. The HSE ART AND DESIGN SCHOOL provides suggested themes, but these are not mandatory. If an applicant selects a different topic, their project will still be considered, provided that it maintains cohesion, conceptual depth, and stylistic unity.
Before starting, applicants should select a theme such as a country, city, school, museum, gallery, exhibition, book, theater, club, concert, factory, airport, nonprofit organization, store, clothing brand, café, or something similar.
Based on the chosen theme, the project can take the form of:
A poster series
A set of covers (music, book, or magazine)
A collection of typographic compositions
A brand identity
A packaging series
Infographics
Outdoor advertising
Each project must be created specifically for admission to the HSE ART AND DESIGN SCHOOL. Submitting projects that were previously prepared for other university applications, as well as diploma projects from colleges or other educational institutions, is not allowed.
All creative projects for the HSE ART AND DESIGN SCHOOL must be submitted online. Applicants must upload their projects to a dedicated platform page on the HSE ART AND DESIGN SCHOOL website.
Projects can be created using digital tools or hand-crafted. If done manually, they must be scanned or photographed for digital submission. The project should consist of 6 to 15 slides in JPEG format.
A cover image will be generated automatically upon upload. If needed, applicants can include a project description of up to 700 characters.
Links to external resources can be embedded in the slides, but applicants must ensure that the links open correctly in incognito mode. If the admissions committee is unable to access the link, the project will not be reviewed.
Contacts:
Ariel Kotzer is a designer whose career spans Jerusalem, São Paulo, NYC, and Tel Aviv. With a background in visual communication and architecture, he has created award-winning work for agencies like Pentagram and TBWA. Now, he brings his distinct vision to AI art, exploring its possibilities beyond traditional prompting. His work has been featured at Jerusalem Design Week, The AI Film Academy Awards, Artefact AI Film Festival, and Oculus Gallery NYC. While visiting HSE ART AND DESIGN SCHOOL in Saint Petersburg, Ariel Kotzer gave a lecture and joined us for an interview. He shared his insights on AI’s role in art and design, discussing its potential, limitations, and creative impact.
On October 10, the award ceremony for the winners of the Russian professional competition in the field of creativity, design and advertising ADCR Awards took place. This year, all the prizes in the Graphic Design / Product Design category were taken by our students. In addition, the HSE Art and Design School has once again become the School of the Year, and Leonid Slavin is the tutor of the year!
We are fortunate to continue our collaboration with the Moscow branch of the Hungarian Cultural Centre. It began in 2022 with a partner competition, which evolved into an exhibition the following year. Now, with the support of the Liszt Institute and PROGRAFIKA art space, we are pleased to host a lecture by Hungarian designer László Nagy.
Two major projects have been launched a result of collaboration between the HSE Art and Design School and the Moscow City Tourism Committee: The International Photo Exhibition for the BRICS Countries “Big Cities in Moscow” and The International Competition of Short Videos about Cities WOWMOSCOW, won by Takha Audyarahma from Indonesia. Her video will premiere on August 24 as part of the Moscow International Film Week program.
The International Competition of Short Videos about Cities WOWMOSCOW, held as part of the forum and festival Territory of the Future. Moscow 2030, has concluded. The winner was announced on August 15 at an official ceremony held at the VDNKh’s Cinema Museum. The winner is Takha Audyarahma from Indonesia.
The HSE ART AND DESIGN SCHOOL is happy to announce special prizes to be awarded to the participants in the International Competition of Short Videos about Cities WOWMOSCOW.
The finalists of the WOWMOSCOW International Competition of Short Videos about Cities have been announced. The competition was organized by the Moscow City Tourism Committee and the HSE Art and Design School as part of the forum and festival "Territory of the Future. Moscow 2030".
We are pleased to announce that a shortlist has been published for the WOWMOSCOW International Competition of Short Videos about Cities organized by the Moscow City Tourism Committee and the HSE Art and Design School as part of the forum and festival "Territory of the Future. Moscow 2030".
The Moscow City Tourism Committee and HSE ART AND DESIGN SCHOOL invite young directors, animators, cameramen, and other authors working with video to participate in the International Competition of Short Videos about Cities. The contest is organized on the platform of HSE ART&DESIGN SCHOOL and the Institute of Creative Industries Development "Creative City" in the framework of the forum-festival “Forum Moscow 2030 — The Home of the Future”.
On June 28, at the RASKROI space in St. Petersburg, Oded Ezer delivered a lecture focused on his numerous experimental projects, which lie at the intersection of typography and design, biology, and social phenomena.
Mitya Kharshak, Head of HSE ART AND DESIGN SCHOOL in Saint Petersburg, presented a lecture on “Branding and Visual Communications of Cultural Institutions” at the Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design.
In April, HSE ART AND DESIGN SCHOOL and Russian-Armenian University (RAU) hosted Design Day #2 in Yerevan. The highlight of the event was a public talk moderated by Mitya Kharshak and Igor Gurovich, centered around the theme "Girl Power". Some of the brightest representatives of the contemporary Armenian design scene joined the discussion.
HSE Art and Design School and HSE Doctoral School in Arts & Design invite to take part in the international conference «Theories and practices of art and design: sociocultural, economic and political contexts», will be held on April 10-12, 2024.
In this year's edition, the focus of the event centred around the expansive domains of Art and Design, highlighting key disciplines including Animation, Communication, UI/UX, Fashion, Architecture, Interior Design, Media & Mass Communication, and Filmmaking.
Mitya Kharshak, the supervisor of HSE ART AND DESIGN SCHOOL in Saint Petersburg, recently embarked on a visit to India as part of an international delegation from NRU HSE. During this visit, he delivered lectures on branding and visual communications at esteemed institutions such as Subharti University, the Indian Institute of Arts & Design, the UPES School of Design, and LPU.
The results of The Oesol International Typography Award, the first annual typographic award, have been announced. Its shortlist includes the students of HSE Art and Design School, St.Petersburg, and Andy Martin, curator.
The new issue of the Projector magazine dedicated to Turkish design will be presented on September 13th in Istanbul by its publisher and editor-in-chief, the head of the HSE School of Design in St. Petersburg, a well-known designer Mitya Kharshak.
Case studies affiliated with the HSE Art & Design School were included on the short-list of Dieline Awards 2023. Alumni of the School Nikita Gavrilov introduced Beaky — a conceptual cosmetic brand that reimagines childhood-like bath time. Another work selected by the jury — Foodzilla — pet food packaging designed by the second-year student Zhenya Zhuk.
Misha Nekrasov, a graduate of the Communication Design profile in St. Petersburg, already during his studies managed to work with such brands as BMW, MINI, and the St. Petersburg Motorcycle Center. Now Misha works at the Creative Mind Bureau branding agency. In the interview, he told us about his creative and professional path, the principles of working with clients and gave some advice to young designers.
According to the results of the prestigious world educational rating QS-2021, published on March 4, HSE has improved its position by entering the top 150 world universities in the Art & Design category and becoming the only Russian university listed in it.
A large-scale poster exhibition Poster Every Day is running at Brusnitsyn Arts District, St. Petersburg, until the end of the summer. The project is curated by Anna Gerasimchuk, the graduate of Communication Design. Basic course, HSE Art and Design School.
Fill out this form to request information regarding admission to the Communication Design Online bachelor's program.
HSE ART AND DESIGN SCHOOL is a subdivision of the Higher School of Economics National Research University, one of the leading universities in Russia, a participant of the majority of authoritative international educational ratings (QS, ARWU, Times Higher Education, U.S. News Best Global Universities Subject).
It’s not only a huge scientific laboratory, but a representative expert platform as well: the HSE personnel are actively involved in the key expert discussions, they are members of many collegiate and consultative bodies and are opinion leaders of the most important issues in the sphere of education, social policy, healthcare, demography, labor market, transport, public administration, and technological development.
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