The Masterstudio Fashion Design course at Basel Academy of Art and Design FHNW encourages students to explore the intersection of cultural identity and innovation in fashion.

School: Basel Academy of Art and Design FHNW
Course: Masterstudio Fashion Design
Location: Basel, Switzerland
Course dates: September 2025 to July 2027 (three or four semesters starting annually)
Application deadline: Annually in March, continuous enrolment

The Institute of Contemporary Design Practices (ICDP) at the Basel Academy of Art and Design offers a unique programme at the campus, featuring the Masterstudio Design and three studios: industrial design, fashion design and scenography. To fully harness the potential of design as a practice that shapes living environments and thus impacts the world around us in response to today's urgent issues, we have made the studios more permeable. We offer our students – currently from over 17 nations – training in design, space, fashion, art and related disciplines, allowing them to collaborate and network internationally with each other, faculty, visiting lecturers and experts from both academic and practical fields.

The Masterstudio Design at the Institute of Contemporary Design Practices (ICDP) is composed of three studios: Masterstudio Industrial Design, Masterstudio Scenography and Masterstudio Fashion Design. Each studio has a disciplinary focus. In addition, the research discourse of the ICDP focuses on digital integration, design cultures and circular design and is reflected and communicated multi-dimensionally.

The way we dress is a powerful form of non-verbal communication that can convey a wide range of messages about our identity, including our cultural background and personal values. In this Master Studio Fashion Design project, students will embark on a creative journey to explore the intersection of cultural identity and innovation in fashion. The project aims to challenge traditional boundaries, encourage self-expression and push the limits of conventional fashion design by fusing diverse cultural elements into their own design statements.

Challenging societal norms is a powerful way to make a statement through fashion. It involves pushing the boundaries of what is considered a norm in fashion, which can lead to groundbreaking and thought-provoking designs. This can involve challenging gender norms, body image stereotypes or even sustainability practices within the industry. The emphasis on interdisciplinary collaboration and the possibility of completing the master's thesis in a team within the Master Studio Fashion Design program reflects a progressive and inclusive approach. Complex challenges in the fashion industry often require multidisciplinary solutions. By collaborating with experts from various fields, students can address real-world issues, such as sustainability, inclusivity, and social responsibility, more effectively.

“What makes the Masterstudio Design at the Institute Contemporary Design Practices (ICDP) at the Basel Academy of Art and Design FHNW so special is the interaction between the three studios, Industrial Design, Scenography and Fashion Design. While each studio has a strong disciplinary focus, collaboration and exchange between the three disciplines is an essential part of the programme. Students also get the opportunity to complete their MA thesis as a team, which promotes a reality-based approach to work.”

Find out more about the course and apply ›

Image: Reto Emmenegger and Samantha Graber/Emmber – Night Vision 2023. Photography by Camilla Fivian.

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