HSE Art and Design School Launches Bachelor’s Programme Based in Yerevan

‘Prefektura’ posters

Anastasia Ivanova

In 2023, the HSE Art and Design School will launch a new international direction at its representative office in Yerevan, Armenia. Its first programme will be the Bachelor’s in Communication Design implemented jointly with the Russian-Armenian University. The programme aims to provide a unified space for those who would like to obtain an up-to-date design education taught in Russian.

What is Communication Design?

Communication design is one of the main fields in design. Its aim is to connect a brand with an audience, and communication designers create and implement visual and graphical solutions, brand identities, and visual communications. Almost everything we encounter on a daily basis—from logos and posters to merchandise and books—are products of communication design.

How Is the Study Process Organised?

Studies at the Art and Design School are characterised by a project-based approach to education. From their very first class, students develop systematic, conceptual thinking and start working on their own projects under the supervision of their group mentors, who are practicing designers. At the same time, students learn to use essential software and build up a theoretical base in the history and theory of art and design. Over the course of the four-year programme, this approach helps students to grow from beginners with no knowledge or experience in design into art directors with a professional portfolio, including projects based on real briefs.

‘We are creating an international school, and our main objective at the moment is to establish new conditions and opportunities to develop intellectual activities and a living learning process that involves students and teachers from various countries. We believe our efforts and contacts will be sufficient to integrate the new school into the community of advanced European and Asian academies.

Of course, the educational process will be designed in accordance with the regulations and standards of HSE University. Over the last ten years, the HSE Art and Design School has demonstrated its ability to teach, and our students continue to win major international design competitions and festivals, including the ADCR Awards, the World Brand Design Society, the D&AD New Blood Awards, LIME, Sreda, and dozens of others. That is why we will be useful here too.’

Igor Gurovich

Academic Supervisor of the programme, graphic designer, co-founder of the Ostengruppe design bureau, participant in international competitions and bienniales, laureate of prestigious professional awards.

The educational process retains the four main approaches of the HSE Art and Design School:

A Project-Based Approach

In small groups overseen by mentors in the role of art directors, students discuss their projects, propose ideas, and create concepts while studying tools and computer programmes to help turn their ideas into real products.

Digital Portfolios

The HSE Art and Design School has launched an open portfolio system which is fully transparent to applicants, students, lecturers, and external users. In this system, students create and defend projects, track their professional progress, and participate in general examination reviews with students from all campuses of the school. This ensures a unified approach when assessing project quality. The portfolio also allows students to take part in competitions and collaborations, as well as find potential clients and employers.

Map of Creative Competencies

Projects in the curriculum gradually become more complex, starting with the basics of design project planning in the first year. Students then move on to specialise in the areas that interest them and work with real briefs, and in the fourth year, they create complex projects that are ready for implementation.

Resource Base

In order to achieve the most effective educational results, the majority of classes are held in well-equipped computer classrooms, and students also spend time in workshops to expand their artistic horizons. In addition to subject-specific courses, students can take intercampus online electives of the Art and Design School, ranging from infographics and game design to illustration and video.

Admission to the programme in Yerevan is based on the results of the Unified State Exam and a Russian-language dictation. The submission period for documents is May 15 to August 18, 2023. Please see the campus website for more information.

Register for the open day on March 15, 2023.