The Master of Arts in Design Installation course at HEAD Geneva School of Art and Design helps students refine their approach to installation and spatial design.

The Master of Arts in Design Installation course is an interdisciplinary programme that pushes the boundaries of spatial design through experimental investigations and critical explorations.

Students engage with a wide range of materials and media – such as film, objects, performance, sound and video games – to create ambitious, meaningful design installations. The course is structured around a variety of studio projects, workshops and external commissions, each offering students the chance to explore different disciplines and contexts.

This diverse approach to design encourages students to engage with contemporary issues, including social, political and environmental topics, through their work. By developing original projects and methodologies, students create unique design languages and forms of practice.

The programme emphasises personal approaches, fostering social exchange, collaboration and interactivity as integral elements of practice-led research.

In recognition of the programme's evolution over the past sixteen years, the course has undergone a name change. Originally titled Space and Communication, the curriculum has expanded to a broader scope of practices. The new title, Design Installation, encapsulates the core areas of the programme: spatial design and the production of installations.

This shift reflects the programme's commitment to preparing students for dynamic careers in a variety of design-related fields.

School: HEAD Geneva School of Art and Design
Course: Master of Arts in Design Installation
Type: Postgraduate
Location: Geneva, Switzerland
Course dates: Continuous enrolment
Application deadline: 23 March 2026

Find out more about the course and apply ›

What will I learn during this course?

– How to work with space in innovative, critical ways to create design installations
– Exploration of multiple practices, including film, objects, performance, sound and more
– To develop your personal design language
– Work full size 1:1 in our dedicated spaces

What are the requirements?

– It is not mandatory to have an art or design background
– A curriculum vitae in French or English
– A statement (maximum 5,000 characters, including spaces) outlining the candidate's motivation and proposed study project
– A statement (maximum 3,000 characters, including spaces) detailing the candidate's intellectual and professional position in the chosen field
– A portfolio of personal work that can also include non-academic/professional work and self-initiated projects, diaries, publications, films, etc

What facilities and resources are available?

– State-of-the-art technical workshops, including wood, metal, plastic, digital prototyping and 3D-printing, ceramics and graphics printing with the support of technicians
– Professional photography and recording studios
– Library
– 1000-square-metre exhibition hall
– Dedicated studio space including working area with benches, hand tools, 3D printers and multimedia equipment, as well as a dedicated seminar and lecture room

What career prospects can I expect upon graduating?

The course prepares graduates to work across a broad spectrum of industries, including design and media, scenography, exhibitions, public or retail environments and art installations.

Recent alumni of the programme have gone on to establish successful careers in a variety of fields, founding design collectives such as Collectif Kimera, Trojans Collective, No_Matter, Countach Studio and Studio Abricot, or pursuing brilliant individual practices in design and art.

Who teaches this course?

– Rosario Hurtado, course director
– Arno Mathies, course director
– Alexandra Midal, professor
– Emma Pflieger, professor
– Dominic Robson, professor
– Noam Toran, professor
– Caroline Barneaud and Stefan Kaegi (Rimini Protocol), guest lecturers
– Tanguy Benoit, guest lecturer
– Jordi Canudas, guest lecturer
– Matali Crasset, guest lecturer
– Antoine Foegle, guest lecturer
– Axelle Grégoire, guest lecturer
– Olga Mesa and Francisco Ruiz de Infante (Hors Champ / Fuera de Campo), guest lecturers
– Tania Messell, guest lecturer
– Sébastien Quequet, guest lecturer
– Sereina Rothenberger (Studio Hammer), guest lecturer
– Reem Saleh, guest lecturer

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