Geneva School of Art and Design

SUMMARY

The Geneva School of Art and Design, formally known as Haute École d’art et de design Genève, is a Swiss institution of higher education specialised in art and design. Established in 2006 through the merger of two venerable art schools, it offers both Bachelor’s and Master’s degree courses across disciplines such as fine arts, cinema, visual communication, interior architecture, fashion, jewellery and accessories, media design, and spatial design. The school draws on a rich artistic heritage, is internationally oriented—with a multicultural student body—and seeks to combine creative experimentation, academic rigour, and links with industry to prepare students for professional practice and research in art and design.

HISTORY

The roots of HEAD – Genève stretch back more than two and a half centuries. Its lineage begins in 1748 when the Conseil des Deux-Cents founded the École de Dessein, a drawing school created to nurture the visual arts in Geneva. Over the years this institution evolved through various names and curricula, becoming the École Supérieure des Beaux-Arts de Genève, known for cultivating generations of fine artists and shaping Geneva’s cultural life.

Parallel to this fine-arts tradition, Geneva also nurtured a school devoted to applied arts. Established in 1869 as the École d’Art Appliqué à l’Industrie, this institution responded to the demands of industrialisation by training artisans and designers in crafts and applied design. It later became the Haute École d’Arts Appliqués and developed a reputation for practical, industry-oriented education that complemented the more theoretical focus of the fine-arts school.

By the early twenty-first century, the strengths of these two schools—one emphasising critical artistic inquiry, the other grounded in craftsmanship and industrial design—were recognised as mutually reinforcing. In 2006 the Geneva authorities brought them together to form a single institution, the Haute École d’art et de design Genève, uniting centuries of artistic tradition with a forward-looking approach to design education.

A significant milestone came in 2016 when the Hans Wilsdorf Foundation donated buildings on Avenue de Châtelaine, allowing the institution to consolidate many of its departments under one roof. By 2017 students and staff were enjoying modern facilities that matched the school’s progressive curriculum. During this period the range of academic programmes also expanded dramatically. Beyond fine arts and applied arts, HEAD introduced courses in media design, spatial and interior design, communication, fashion and accessories, illustration and jewellery, and  new interdisciplinary pathways. This diversification reflected the changing landscape of contemporary art and design and ensured that graduates were prepared for emerging creative professions.

Although the school itself is relatively young, the combined history of its predecessor institutions lends it a cultural pedigree that is rare in European design education. The merger allowed Geneva to present a unified centre for creative study while preserving the heritage of both original schools, creating a platform where historical depth meets contemporary innovation. Today HEAD – Genève enjoys a strong international reputation. It draws students from dozens of countries and participates in research networks, exhibitions, and cultural projects across Europe and beyond. Its blend of academic excellence, practical training, and cross-disciplinary collaboration has made it one of Europe’s most respected art and design schools.

VISION

From its inception the Geneva School of Art and Design was conceived as a place where the fine and applied arts could meet on equal terms. The founders believed that artists and designers would benefit from a shared environment in which conceptual exploration and technical skill feed one another. Their goal was to foster a culture of experimentation in which painters, filmmakers, fashion designers, and media artists work side by side, challenging the boundaries between disciplines.

A note from the head on the school’s official website states: “Studying at HEAD means living and working in an urban context, in an international city that has a fruitful relationship with many leading cultural institutions. It means learning in an ideal work environment, in one of the four buildings of our new Campus located in the city centre, equipped with workshops featuring the most advanced technology. In a friendly atmosphere, with a wealth of culture and events of all kinds, you will study with teachers, artists, designers, and filmmakers, and many guests from all over the world, who will form the basis of your future professional network.”

Internationalism has always been central to this vision. Geneva’s position as a cosmopolitan city made it natural to create a school that welcomed students and faculty from around the world. The founders imagined an institution where cultural exchange and global perspectives would shape the curriculum, ensuring that graduates could engage with the contemporary issues of a connected world while remaining rooted in the city’s long artistic tradition.

Equally important is the commitment to research and professional readiness. The school was designed to encourage critical thinking and innovation while maintaining close ties with industry, cultural institutions, and public bodies. By integrating internships, public commissions, and collaborative projects into its programmes, HEAD aimed to ensure that students would leave with both a distinctive artistic voice and the practical skills required to thrive in the creative economy.

TOP COURSES

Among the many disciplines taught at HEAD – Genève, fashion and accessory design stands out as one of the most acclaimed. Students in this programme combine aesthetic experimentation and craftsmanship with a keen awareness of market trends and production techniques. Jewellery and watch design, areas in which Switzerland holds a distinguished tradition, are integral to the curriculum, and internships provide direct links to international fashion houses and ateliers.

The school’s visual arts and cinema programmes are equally prominent. Fine-arts students can explore a wide range of practices, from painting and sculpture to new media, with an emphasis on critical theory and conceptual development. The cinema department offers pathways in direction, editing, and sound, allowing aspiring filmmakers to gain professional experience while working on creative projects that are frequently showcased in European festivals.

The advance course in AI is aimed at professionals or students in the arts, design, architecture or creative fields who wish to deepen their practice of artificial intelligence after initial training or self-taught practice; explore advanced image, text, video or music generators as part of a creative process; and develop experimental projects integrating AI into their creative chain. Another area of distinction is communication, media, and spatial design. Courses in visual communication, media design, and interior architecture encourage students to engage with evolving technologies and social challenges.

JOB INTEGRATION RATE

The Geneva School of Art and Design places considerable emphasis on preparing students for professional careers, and many of its programmes incorporate compulsory internships. In fields such as fashion design, product design, and jewellery, students spend time in industry settings where they acquire hands-on experience and develop valuable contacts. These placements frequently lead to job offers or freelance opportunities immediately after graduation.

Graduates benefit from the school’s strong connections to Geneva’s vibrant cultural and commercial landscape. The city is home to international organisations, luxury watchmakers, media companies, and a dynamic art market, all of which provide employment prospects for skilled designers and artists. Exhibitions, public commissions, and collaborations organised by the school further enhance students’ visibility and professional networks.

Employment outcomes vary by discipline, with commercially oriented fields such as fashion, communication design, and interior architecture showing particularly high integration into the workforce. Graduates of fine arts and experimental media programmes often pursue residencies, freelance careers, or further academic study before achieving stable income, but the institution’s reputation and its extensive alumni network provide strong support for long-term professional success.

EXECUTIVE BOARD

The current Director of HEAD – Genève is Lada Umstätter, who assumed the role on 1 January 2023. She succeeded Jean-Pierre Greff, who led the school from its creation in 2006 until 2022 and was instrumental in guiding the merger of the predecessor institutions and shaping their unified academic and artistic direction.

AWARDS AND RECOGNITION

HEAD – Genève has earned recognition as one of Europe’s premier art and design schools. Its fashion department, in particular, is consistently highlighted by international rankings such as those published by the Business of Fashion, placing it among the leading fashion schools worldwide. Within Switzerland, the school is an integral part of the HES-SO University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Western Switzerland, a status that confirms its academic standing and ensures that its degrees are fully accredited. Support from Swiss cultural and educational authorities underscores the national importance of its programmes and research activities. Recognition also comes through the achievements of its faculty and alumni. Graduates have exhibited in major art biennales, won prizes in international design competitions, and contributed to influential projects in cinema, fashion, and visual communication.

REFERENCES

1.  “Education Swiss Made 7/8 : Haute Ecole d’art et de design de Genève”. The Good Life 
2. “Suisse. Au cœur de la Head, l’excellence de l’art et du design à Genève”. Le Dauphine 
3. “Geneva University of Art and Design (HEAD)”. Art & Education. 
4.  “À la HEAD, on a rendu hommage au stade des Charmilles”. www.lemanbleu.ch 
5.  “Laurence Boissier, l’élégance jusqu’au bout”. Le Temps 
6. “Thomas Huber: extase / Vanessa Billy: Dear Life / Sonia Kacem: Carcasse, Centre culturel suisse, Paris”. e-flux.com. .
7.  “How a 28-year-old sold his first jewelry design for $25,000 and within 3 years built an exclusive client roster including Rihanna”. Business Insider.