Want to become an artist, filmmaker, or designer? At HEAD – Genève, everyone forges their own path. The school supports the creators of tomorrow as they develop a unique, demanding, and committed artistic practice. Our goal is to train individuals capable of creating, inventing, collaborating, adapting, and taking action in a rapidly changing world, both in Geneva and on the international stage.
HEAD – Genève is part of HES-SO Genève, a consortium of six university-level professional colleges offering practice-oriented, internationally recognized programs. HEAD – Genève is organized into five Departments (Visual Arts, film, Space Design, Visual Communication, Fashion Design, and Jewelry and Accessories) and offers:
HEAD – Genève is not only a leading academic institution but also a key cultural player. It maintains ties with a vast network of institutions and companies. Its fashion shows, exhibitions, festivals, conferences, and events enjoy local, national, and international renown.
= A thousand ways to find your path in art, film, and design.
HEAD – Genève was founded on the belief that art and design enrich one another without having to merge. In 2006, the School of Fine Arts and the School of Applied Arts came together to form a single academic institution. Driven by the ambition of the University of Applied Sciences (UAS) initiative and the momentum it generated, HEAD – Genève quickly established itself as one of Europe’s leading art and design schools.
Under the leadership of Lada Umstätter, the school is preparing to celebrate a double anniversary: 20 years as a university of art and design and 280 years of history tracing back to the School of Drawing, founded in 1748. Beginning in January 2027, exhibitions and events will take over the campus and the city to mark the occasion.
Building on its experience and rich history, HEAD – Genève continually reinvents itself to keep pace with a world in constant change. It is this adaptability and creative agility that the school seeks to instill in its students, preparing them to meet the challenges of the contemporary world.
At HEAD – Genève, teaching is rooted in dialogue between faculty and students. Each student takes an active role in shaping their own creative journey, receiving individualized guidance from faculty teams made up of established and emerging artists, designers, and filmmakers. This journey also unfolds collectively, through collaborations and projects with fellow students, as each individual’s unique perspective is refined and enriched through engagement with others.
Interdisciplinarity is a pedagogical principle embedded at every level of study. It is designed to foster exchange and give each student the opportunity to shape part of their academic journey according to their interests and professional goals, encouraging unique paths of development. This approach is supported by a campus where the close proximity of different disciplines helps build bridges across the fields of art, film, and design.
Once a year, courses specific to each program are suspended for the “Week of All Possibilities,” a dedicated time for experimentation that brings together Bachelor’s and Master’s students to explore new interdisciplinary approaches to teaching, learning, and exchange.
From the very beginning of their studies, students take on projects for local and international companies and institutions. HEAD’s campus, located in the heart of Geneva, provides privileged access to a network of economic, social, and political partners. Renowned brands and leading companies turn to HEAD to help students develop their professional skills and strengthen their connections with industry and the economic and cultural sectors.
HEAD – Genève is also at the heart of a strong international network. By the time they graduate, most students have gained intercultural experience. Study trips, workshops, and exhibitions abroad are an integral part of the various degree programs.
HEAD – Genève’s major events attract the attention of industry professionals, the public, and the press, creating invaluable networking opportunities. Fashion shows, exhibitions, film festivals, symposia, and international collaborations offer students numerous opportunities to showcase their work and research. One notable example: in 2025, the school was selected by Presence Switzerland to represent Swiss creativity and education at the Swiss Pavilion at Expo 2025 in Osaka, Japan.
With the support of its Institute for Research in Art and Design (IRAD), HEAD – Genève has established itself as a pioneer in creative technologies and generative artificial intelligence, both embracing these tools and critically examining their implications.
Since its inception, HEAD – Genève has explored new creative territories, notably through its Master’s program in Media Design, which investigates the field of interaction design.
The school emphasizes a balance between theoretical instruction and hands-on practice. Students are encouraged to develop their critical thinking and analytical skills so they can position themselves as responsible, informed, and skilled creators in the face of contemporary challenges, from the climate crisis and armed conflicts to artificial intelligence and the ever-expanding flow of information.
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