Master/MAS programs

Featuring regularly among the world’s top ten universities of art and design, ECAL is directed by Alexis Georgacopoulos. The school benefits from numerous press articles and awards, an enviable number of exhibitions in prestigious venues, the expertise of well-known practitioners as well as the success of its graduates. ECAL currently offers a Foundation Course, six Bachelor and seven Master/MAS programs in the fields of Fine Arts, Film, Graphic Design, Media & Interaction Design, Photography, Industrial & Product Design, Type Design, Design for Luxury & Craftsmanship and Design Research for Digital Innovation (with EPFL+ECAL Lab). 

Thanks to the connections established at ECAL and the production of a portfolio of the highest standards, once their studies are completed, our graduates have the ability to be immediately active in the professional world and be part of our prestigious alumni network.

Master Fine Arts 
This program, whose primary mission is to train top-level artists, theoreticians and curators, is intended for those passionate about the various aspects of this discipline. This Master offers a unique opportunity to understand and experience the mechanisms of the contemporary art scene, to assimilate a wide range of knowledge and techniques and to grasp the new stakes of art today.

Professors and lecturers, among others: Neïl Beloufa, Cecilia Bengolea, Emanuele Coccia, Tristan Garcia, Dominique Gonzalez-Foerster, Camille Henrot, Thomas Hirschhorn, Karl Holmqvist, Michel Houellebecq, Isabel Lewis, Matthew Lutz-Kinoy, Fabian Marti, Mélanie Matranga, Hans Ulrich Obrist, Emanuel Rossetti, Georgia Sagri, Julia Scher, Bea Schlingelhoff, Lucie Stahl, Zoé Stillpass, Juergen Teller, Oscar Tuazon, Xavier Veilhan.

Master Photography
Relying on massive use of photographic images—a key element in today’s visual communication—this program gives students an opportunity to develop projects in the long term. It especially pushes the boundaries of applied research in contemporary photography with an emphasis on picture dematerialization through digital manipulation, 3D Computer Generated Imagery, machine learning and virtual and augmented reality. 

Professors and lecturers, among others: Nora Al-Badri, Ann-Christin Bertrand, Area of Work, Bruno Ceschel, Shu Lea Cheang, Harm van den Dorpel, Cécile B. Evans, Golgotha, Kim Knoppers, Dominic Hawgood, Joe Hamilton, Felicity Hammond, Ittah Yoda, Rachel de Joode, Taiyo Onorato & Nico Krebs, Jonas Lindstroem, Alix Marie, Marco de Mutiis, Lesley Martin, Simone C Niquille, Charles Negre, Ada Sokół, Thomas Traum, Camille Vivier, Anne de Vries, Letha Wilson, Qiu Yang.

Master Product Design 
As a decisive turning point in a career, this program is for students wishing to focus on two fundamental aspects of a designer’s practice, personal research as well as the professional handling of commissions for clients, companies or producers. Besides the steadily ongoing refinement of design research abilities and practical design skills the students are confronted with the multifaceted realities of the design business.

Professors and lecturers, among others: Tomás Alonso, Camille Blatrix, Erwan Bouroullec, Thilo Alex Brunner, Kim Colin (Industrial Facility), Pierre Doze, Form Us With Love, Christophe Guberan, Christian Kaegi, Anniina Koivu, Ville Kokkonen, Chris Lefteri, Eckart Maise, Alberto Meda, Christien Meindertsma, Carolien Niebling, Martin Postler, Wieki Somers, Christian Spiess, Keiji Takeuchi, Alexander Taylor, Skylar Tibbits, John Tree, Sebastian Wrong.

Master Type Design
This program gives students an opportunity to develop projects in the long term. This training provides privileged access to one of the flagship disciplines in Swiss graphic design, relying on ECAL’s expertise in this field as the first Swiss school to have integrated digital typography as part of its curriculum.

Professors and lecturers, among others: Paul Barnes, Julia Born, Kai Bernau, Matthew Carter, Wayne Daly, Dinamo Typefoundry, Roland Früh, Eliott Grunewald, Fabian Harb, Jan Horčík, George Kiraz, Dafi Kühne, Gerry Leonidas, Marie Lusa, Bruno Maag, Yoann Minet, John Morgan, NORM, Optimo, Michele Patanè, Radim Peško, Nejc Prah, David Rudnick, Alice Savoie, Isabel Seiffert, Irene Vlachou, Job Wouters.

MAS in Design for Luxury & Craftsmanship
Switzerland is a privileged country in terms of know-how in the field of luxury and craftsmanship. Building on this tradition, this Master of Advanced Studies is for the holders of a Bachelor or Master’s degree wishing to further their knowledge in industrial design and investigate sectors of excellence as diverse as fine watchmaking, tableware or specific techniques using noble materials. 

Professors and lecturers, among others: Michael Anastassiades, Ini Archibong, Joachim de Callataÿ, Pierre Charpin, Ligia Dias, Jaime Hayon, Fiona Krüger, Sabine Marcelis, Luca Nichetto, Panter&Tourron, Studio Formafantasma, Bethan Laura Wood.

Yearly fees: CHF 1925 (USD 2080) for all the Masters / CHF 12,175 (USD 13,175) for the MAS in Design for Luxury & Craftsmanship 
Credits: 120 ECTS for all the Masters / 60 ECTS for the MAS in Design for Luxury & Craftsmanship 
More information: ecal-guide.ch or ecal.ch
MA/MAS applications: until April 8, 2022 on ecal.ch