DESIGN, COMMUNICATION & INNOVATION

Crossmedia Design

The world of design is changing at lightning speed. Boundaries between disciplines are blurring — and that is exactly where Crossmedia Design begins. The programme connects art, technology, design, communication, and innovation. You investigate how image, text, technology, space, and interaction can reinforce one another. You use different media as tools to shape ideas and experiences. Starting from concrete questions and societal and cultural issues, you develop new perspectives and solutions. Research and experimentation go hand in hand with conceptual and visual thinking. You forge connections between disciplines and domains and develop your own design practice that is constantly in motion. In this way, you become a designer who not only responds to changes in the field, but creates new connections and possibilities yourself.

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Experience AKI at the open day

"All that is needed is a space with curious and creative makers."

Carsten Klein, Head of Programme Crossmedia Design

Crossmedia Design

What You Do

You learn to design across the boundaries of media: from print to app, from poster to installation, from concept to experience. You work with photography, film, animation, code, illustration, typography, and interaction. You discover how image, text, and technology reinforce one another and how you can develop your own voice and visual language within them.

Crossmedia Design is for critical, curious, and communicative designers with courage. Whether you come from VWO, MBO, or HBO — more important than your prior education are your motivation, imagination, and your own visual and conceptual vision.

Alumni of Crossmedia Design work independently as designers, art directors, or creative directors across the globe, or within leading agencies such as Saatchi & Saatchi, Dept, Jung von Matt, Ogilvy & Mather, FAZ, Audi, Stern Magazine, Disney, Th!nk, Volkskrant, Pixar, Thonik, Moskito, Studio Roosegaarde, and Fabrique.

Media & image

From posters and zines to websites and interactive installations: you work in print, digital, and moving image.

Concept & story

You learn to develop ideas and tell stories, from first sketch to elaborated concept.

Experiment & professional field

You work hands-on, experiment with materials, and collaborate with fellow students, lecturers, and regularly real clients.

Crossmedia Design

How You Study

The Crossmedia Design programme lasts four years and consists of two semesters per year. Each year has its own focus and aligns with your growth as a designer, requiring analytical thinking skills, artistic intuition, and the willingness to keep exploring. We seek students who are critical, communicative, and investigative — designers who want to delve deep into image, technology, and meaning.

Personal guidance

You receive room to find your own direction, with individual coaching from lecturers and coaches.

Studios & workshops

You work in studios and workshops with professional facilities, right in the middle of the old textile factory.

Project-based learning

You learn through real projects, with feedback and reflection as an established part of your workflow.

Crossmedia Design

Student Work

Work by Crossmedia students, as a permanent collection.

Ryo Sakamoto

Linde Hijink

Steven van Meteren

Glossy red cushion hanging from a knotted brown rope against a white background.

Hanneke Holterman

Hazel Pasman

Annalisa Volcan

weronica brzezicka

Tobias Poorthuis

Minka Holtrop

Type Issues

Hazel Pasman

Petra Lenghel - Internship @ Tess van Zalinge - Photo by Marieke Bosma

CROSSMEDIA DESIGN

Projects

Throughout all years of the study, we regularly collaborate on the most diverse projects for external clients.

NTR: Andere Tijden

Title Sequence

Three colorful posters reading “check em dop em” mounted on a ribbed exterior wall.

Dyson: dop

Campaign

People browse graphic-design posters and books displayed on white wall shelves.

Paper Print Fair Bochum

Visual Identity & Exhibition

Crossmedia Design

Curriculum

Year 1 – Experiment & Inspiration

You orient yourself towards the broad world of visual communication. You get to know all workshops, learn the basic principles of form, colour, typography, and composition, and discover your own visual language.

Year 2 – Commissions & Collaboration

You delve into the properties of different media and the boundaries between them. Short, intensive assignments stimulate experiment and collaboration. In the second semester, you work on more complex projects and initial commissions from the professional field.

Year 3 – Specialisation & Portfolio

You choose projects that align with your interests and work in varying teams on diverse design challenges. You develop your own methodology and specialisation. The third year concludes with an internship, a self-directed project, or an exchange at one of our international partner academies.

Year 4 – Research & Graduation

You delve further into your personal research and work on your graduation project and graduation thesis. Following your 'green light' presentation in semester 7, you realize your final graduation work and present it to the public during the ArtEZ finals.

Crossmedia Design