Below is a more detailed description of the academic progression in the different years of study, as well as a description of the work on the bachelor's thesis.

1st Year
In the first year of the program, students become familiar with design as a field, as well as studying at a higher education institution. In the first semester, they learn to work in an exploratory and process-based manner while acquiring knowledge of design principles, techniques, and methods. In the second semester, students gain deeper knowledge of the program's two specializations by solving practical design projects representative of their uniqueness. At the same time, they acquire knowledge of design history and theory, which they can use to articulate and contextualize their own and others' work. Together, the courses of the year provide students with the necessary foundation to choose which specialization to continue with in the second year of the program.

2nd Year
In the third semester, students follow the path of their chosen specialization.

Students in the Design, Strategy, and Society specialization gain a deeper understanding of the role and significance of design in society. In the third semester, they are introduced to service design processes, project management and implementation, as well as the perspective that designers are central societal actors with responsibilities extending beyond what is traditionally associated with the profession. Throughout the semester, students develop a fundamental insight into design anthropology and qualitative methods, and they learn to analyze how the state, society, and power structures influence and shape design processes. The goal of the semester is to provide them with a solid, practical, and theoretical foundation that prepares them to solve complex design tasks in an academic and socially relevant context.

Students in the Graphic Design specialization will learn to develop strategic design solutions during this semester. It begins with a theoretical introduction to marketing and consumer behavior, where students gain an understanding of markets, target groups, and consumers. This knowledge is carried forward into a large practical course where students design strategically anchored visual identities, using the design knowledge and skills developed earlier in the program in a new and more complex context. By completing the first half of the program, students have been introduced to the fundamental principles, history, and most central disciplines of the field.

In the fourth semester, students in both specializations can choose between three alternative paths. These all provide a greater contextual understanding, whether in an industry, societal, or international perspective, and offer the opportunity for academic specialization. Alternative 1 is that students attend classes at the college, choosing from Kristiania's elective portfolio, taking a broad course focusing on how designers can actively influence society, and completing a specialization-specific course. Alternative 2 is to spend the entire semester in a practice company as part of the Practice course. Alternative 3 is to spend the entire semester on exchange at a partner foreign educational institution.

3rd Year
In the fifth semester, students follow the path of their chosen specialization. This semester is also prepared for the exchange of foreign students.

Students in the Design, Strategy, and Society specialization will be introduced to how technological tools and developments affect, challenge, and can be actively used in design processes. At the same time, the perspective that designers are important actors in society, with a responsibility to contribute to sustainable and ethically reflected solutions, is explored. Particular emphasis is placed on the designer's role in sustainability, social responsibility, and scenario development, as well as how design can be used to create awareness of possible future development directions. Towards the end of the fifth semester, students choose a specialization within their field. The learning outcomes will vary depending on the individual choice and are therefore described as indicative of what students should have achieved after completing the course.

Students in the Graphic Design specialization will further develop their academic specialization and a more independent and critical approach to the field during this semester. They become familiar with the significance of artistic development work and self-chosen projects for graphic design, complete a larger craft-based and theoretically anchored design project, and, through reflection and creative work, critically examine graphic design as a profession, process, and result.

In the sixth semester, both specializations follow the same path. The semester begins with a course where students gain a deeper understanding of how methods can be used as an active and incorporated part of an exploratory design process. This is followed by the bachelor's project, where students apply the theoretical and practical knowledge and skills they have acquired during the program in a large self-chosen project with accompanying written work.

Study program BDE

Bachelor in Design