Global Design
Explore design through an interdisciplinary lens and build a strong portfolio that will support your academic future
Barcelona
ENG
Foundation Course
Language
English
Start date
October 2026
Frequency
Full time
Fruition
On campus
Duration
9 Months
Price
Activate your creativity and discover multiple design disciplines through a learning approach that integrates theory, practice, and experimentation.
The Foundation in Global Design is an English-taught programme that allows you to explore design through hands-on experience and an interdisciplinary perspective. You will work on different projects across three key areas: service design (where you will create your own app), product design (where you will design and prototype a lamp), and interior design (where you will develop a pop-up store concept).
These projects are complemented by introductory modules that provide the foundations of design, along with a transversal module that examines its historical, cultural, and social context.
With a curriculum that combines research, analysis, material and tool experimentation, and audiovisual communication, you will build a robust portfolio to support your progression into higher education.
Information to decide
A practical and interdisciplinary programme that introduces you to the design ecosystem and enables you to start developing your portfolio through projects in different fields.
The programme blends hands-on learning, project-based work, and material exploration. Graphic and audiovisual tools are used to support the design process.
The training is organised into two semesters and five modules. It begins with the fundamentals of design and continues with a module on historical, cultural, and social context. You will then progress to three complete projects in service design, product design, and interior design.
This structure enables you to experience different areas of design and build your portfolio step by step.
This programme is aimed both at those seeking an initial introduction to the world of design and at those who wish to explore different creative fields before choosing a specialisation.
It is also an ideal option for international students looking to broaden their academic background in a multidisciplinary and multicultural city like Barcelona.
If you are interested in design and want to explore its main disciplines while developing your creative skills, this programme will help you confidently prepare for your next academic step.
The Foundation in Global Design offers an immersive introduction to design across several key disciplines, through hands-on learning that combines material experimentation, visual techniques, and digital tools.
The experience is enriched by professional lecturers, a transversal approach, and direct engagement with Barcelona’s creative ecosystem, including workshops and activities with local designers and makers. From day one, you will gain a broad understanding of design, develop essential skills, and build a strong portfolio that will open the door to higher-education pathways and future academic and creative opportunities.
New competition for Undergraduate and Foundation courses 2026/2027
Win one of 140 partial Scholarships for courses starting in Italy and Spain.
Syllabus
What will you learn?
The course introduces you to the fundamentals of design with an interdisciplinary approach, and you’ll also delve into marketing applied to design, as well as the analysis and communication tools you’ll use in a design project. Last but not least, you’ll finish the course by presenting a project to put everything you’ve learnt into practice.
Subjects
Foundations of Design
Drawing and Color
Volume
Materiality
External Visits: exploring the world of design
Design Contexts: History, Culture, and Society
History of Design
Sociology
Applied History
Applied Sociology
Service Design: Designing an App
Project research & development
Applied representation & communication
Product Design: Designing and Prototyping a Lamp
Project research & development
Applied materiality
Applied representation & communication
Interior Design: Designing a Pop-up Store
Project research & development
Applied materiality
Applied representation & communication
You may be interested in:
News
