Integrated Design Research (Master's program)

KISD aims to overcome traditional design boundaries and combine different approaches, perspectives, and practices, in order to deal with problems and questions that cannot be solved within the boundaries of a single design area of expertise. Design is an integral part of every facet of the material and virtual world. It is responsible for and operates through products, environments, systems, and services within political, social, economical, and cultural contexts. We see design not only as a way to interfere in and question these processes, but as the production, acquisition, communication, and documentation of knowledge.

The Master's program »Integrated Design Research« encourages to examine how design can engage with questions of contemporary culture, politics, media, ecology, and urbanity. A key component of the program is the development of a Thesis within the scope of one of the four Thematic Clusters. Following your research interest, you will connect with different fields of expertise, broaden and deepen your competencies, and focus your research.

We welcome applicants who are looking to engage with, explore, and pursue these cross-cutting clusters and perspectives. They are the gateway to in-depth research and aim to push, transform, and recalibrate the limits of design, theory, practice, and disciplinary methodologies. As a Master student, you will be able to immerse yourself in an integrated, intercultural, and interdisciplinary setting and work in research- and practice-based design processes.

More information
For more information, please visit the website of Köln International School of Design.