Introduction
Grade of Designer in Sustainable Innovation
You’ll be educated to become a designer in sustainable innovation and to develop the required skills to drive creativity in a multi-disciplinary team.
For entry into the first year of the program, all types of secondary education majors are accepted. For enrolment into the 2nd, 3rd or 4th-year level, the variety of backgrounds thanks to former study paths of our students, are an enriching factor for sustainable innovation and the teaching related to it. Before entering our institution and according to the individual level of the student, The SDS proposes upgrading courses in the field of drawing technics.
A transversal program with many multidisciplinary entries
Learning by doing
At The SDS, Design is taught by “doing”, with a responsible attitude towards the great opportunities of sustainable development. Corporate companies work with our institution to develop real projects of sustainable innovation. The project teams are composed of students from each study level with their multi-disciplinary (architecture, design, engineering, marketing, social sciences) and multi-cultural backgrounds (international students).
New methods
Design thinking, frugal innovation, knowledge design, social innovation, are some of our pedagogical methods. International exchange periods are also an essential part of our design education.
Thinking by drawing: Drawing is the first tool of a designer. Drawing allows materializing imagination, to develop the transversal dialogue between different job profiles, to enhance the representation of brand cultures and of the world, it also helps the designer to think, holding a drawing pen in his hand, about new creative stories for the future.
Sustainable design: How to conceive storyboards for the future, with a responsible focus on societal, environmental, economic, and cultural concerns of the world (the 4 pillars of sustainable development)? Eco-design, analysis of product life cycle, bio-mimetics are new creative methods.
Social sciences: If the definition of design is “how to help mankind to have a better life on our planet”, the knowledge of others is the most central understanding for a designer. User sociology, anthropology, semiotics are fundamental pieces of knowledge of all design processes.
Learning by doing: What can be more attractive for a future professional designer than being part of a team, facing the demand of sustainable innovation for a major corporate company right upon the first year of studies? Learning by doing includes the encounter of the real professional life, to build a professional network for future internships and job opportunities, to discuss with people from different generational perspectives.
Prototyping: Nowadays the manufacturing of products is in hand reach. Mock-up and analogical prototyping (with traditional tools) and numeric tools (at the fab-lab of our institution, 3D printers, laser cutters), allow confirming the shapes of sketched products. Prototyping is also possible via electronic constructions of interactive objects.
Innovation methods: Design thinking, frugal innovation, knowledge design, bio-mimetics, social innovation, open innovation, are some of the essential methods to learn, to apply them to diverse types of conception. At the SDS we even design our own design methodology!
Digital tools: Following the manual drawing, the numeric tool is taking over. CAO and DAO in 2D and 3D are fundamental to represent, conceive, illustrate, and animate objects within their spatial context. The numeric tool is also essential for communication between the different profiles of creators.
Other methods: Engineering, marketing, architecture, sociology are next to design the big actors of innovation. To understand and to speak the language of the other professions, to receive the added value of different perspectives, to work in crossed teams, in a transversal and multi-disciplinary way, to mix the different cultures of the world are some of the many ways to boost creativity.
Five years of study AND MORE!
1st year: Drawing
After completion of BAC - all series or equivalent secondary education
60 ECTS European equivalence
Subjects covered during the year
Sustainable Development
Sustainable Design
Social sciences
Rapid prototyping
Upgrading drawing skills
Upgrading English skills
English courses (level)
2nd year: Fundamentals
After finishing MANAA or BAC (or equivalent) + 1 by application
120 ECTS European equivalence
Subjects covered during the year
Eco-conception
Design methodology
Design Thinking
Digital tools 2D / 3D
Graphic design
Drawing
Materials technology
Marketing
Social sciences
Oral expression
“Niaque” courses
3rd year: Realization of projects
After completion of 2-year tech degree; examples: BTS, DUT, DEUG
180 ECTS European equivalence
Subjects covered during the year
Instruction dedicated to projects
Sustainable innovation methodology
Culture of innovation and sustainable development
Digital tools 2D / 3D
Materials technology
Graphic design
Drawing
Marketing
Social sciences
Oral expression
“Niaque” courses
Bachelor Bac +3. The Fundamentals of the Designer in Sustainable Innovation, Drawing / Digital / Prototyping
4th year: Project management
After Bachelor or Master; Master 1 or Master 2
240 ECTS European equivalence
Subjects covered during the year
Instruction dedicated to projects
Sustainable innovation methodology
Culture of innovation and sustainable development
Digital tools 2D / 3D
Materials technology
Graphic design
Drawing
Marketing
Social sciences
Oral expression
“Niaque” courses
Thesis (manuscript and multimedia)
Master Bac +4. Project management, Team management
5th year: Grade in Sustainable Innovation
Master’s level; Designer in Sustainable Innovation
300 ECTS European equivalence
Subjects covered during the year
Partnership project in innovation
Green growth strategies
Master Project
Final internship
Designer Degree Bac +5. Specialization. Thesis / Project / Internship
Be open-minded
Academic Exchange
At the SDS it is possible to participate in an international exchange program. Our school is an associate member of the largest worldwide network of art and design schools and universities (more than 200 schools in 48 countries): Cumulus association.
Successful design unfolds, once the complexity of the world becomes a key inspiration for innovation.
Internship
In France or abroad, internships open new perspectives. Among the major partner companies of The Sustainable Design School, certain may propose internships with their international subsidiaries. Likewise, institutions and NGO partners based internationally regularly seek student trainees for fieldwork.
How to integrate our school
We privilege an integration process based on exchange and personal capacities. Our priority: to meet you and get to know you.
Admission
1st year: Open to all sectors after Baccalauréat (General, Technology, Art, Business, or equivalent)
2nd year: Admissions in 2nd year open to MANAA and BAC+1 (after one year in any cursus)
3rd year: Admissions in 3rd year open to BTS or DUT (any cursus with BAC+2)
4th year: Admissions in 4th year open to Bachelor or Master
5th Year: Admissions in 4th year open to Master level
Admissions open to all sectors after Baccalauréat
Our process is based on two main points
Admission school results
And by a personal interview (Skype can be an option)
The purpose of this interview and get to know the candidate, his projects but also to present the design profession in sustainable innovation and the educational program.
How to prepare for my interview
Treat your presentation: remember to have suitable clothing during your presentation, show you at your best!
Self-awareness: knowing how to communicate about your motivation, personality, value your hobbies, summer jobs, share your experiences, your travels.
Knowledge about the school: learn about the school’s main characteristics: the founders, the profession, the program content, the internships, and international exchanges
Pay attention to your documents: Presentation of your portfolio, your accomplishments, your resume; it is important to lay out your brackets to give a serious and organized picture of your experience and achievements. The goal is to arouse the interest of your interlocutor.
School fees
From 1st to 5th year
French Student
1st year: 6.900,00€ Annual tuition fee + 400,00€ Registration fee*
From 2nd to 5th year: 9.600,00€ Annual tuition fee + 400,00€ Registration fee*
International Student
1st year: 7.900,00€ Annual tuition fee + 400,00€ Registration fee*
From 2nd to 5th year: 10.600,00€ Annual tuition fee + 400,00€ Registration fee*
NB: For the enrollment of an international student, the tuition fees are due in their entirety at the time of registration. In the case of withdrawal by an applicant before September 1st, the application fee of 1.000,00€ will be retained by the school and will be deducted from the reimbursement
