Course General Description

The second degree program in Product and Visual Communication Design allows students to seek their own approaches with regard to the themes they have chosen to address. Special emphasis is laid on: technological and experimental design using the latest technology or referring to some projected inventions; socio-critical designing concerning the wider non-market design; and creative art and design activity in public space. The study program provides an option of specializing in theory of design. In that case the curriculum aims include developing new methods of research into design, methodology of design, developing new methods of production, and research into the relationship of aesthetics and market requirements. This is supplemented with courses in Design Management and Brand Design, as well as with research into the borderline between art and design. The program is based on maximum student autonomy in achieving their objectives. Design assignments are often carried out in collaboration with specialists from outside the design disciplines. Graduates of the second degree program are prepared to pursue professional activity and they are characterized by unconventional innovative approach to the designing process.

School General Description

Traditions of art education in Warsaw date back to the reign of king Stanisław August Poniatowski and the Painting Studio at the Royal Castle, run by Marcello Bacciarelli. He became an honorary dean of the Department of Fine Arts created at Warsaw University in 1816 – the first academic art school in the Polish capital. Following the closing down of the University, the Department was replaced by a School of Fine Arts in 1844. And towards the end of the 19th century, Warsaw art education was continued by Wojciech Gerson’s Drawing Studio, which educated the most distinguished Polish artists of the turn of the centuries. Today the Academy of Fine Arts consists of 9 faculties: Painting, Graphic Arts, Sculpture, Media Art, Conservation and Restoration of Works of Art, Design, Interior design, Stage Design and Management of Visual Culture. It is the largest academic art school in Poland. Besides its educational functions it plays an important part in the cultural life of the city and the nation. Its international standing has been consistently improving as a direct result of the developing co-operation with academic centres abroad.