L’École de design Nantes Atlantique

This week, while over 90 5th Year students simultaneously presented their final degree project in three countries, nearly 130 students were settling into the 2nd semester of the Master’s degree program.

On 13th and 14th February 2012, the final year students defended the last phase of their final degree project on our three campuses (India Campus, China Campus and Nantes). This presentation is the final assessed task before the oral degree defence (viva) which will take place in September 2012.

Projects which develop and grow, much more than just an educational exercise

Whether it be through an internship to pursue the work on their final degree project, or through a tutor wishing to continue his/her partnership with the future designer, certain projects continue to be developed after the end of the semester, others are presented in competitions in the particular area of expertise. Help and advice about intellectual property and the economic aspect of such developments is provided for these promising projects.

Return from semester abroad and end of integration semester

For students who have completed their undergraduate studies at the École de design, it is compulsory to carry out the 1st semester of the 4th year abroad. While some of our students chose a study semester in one of our partner schools (with an even greater choice of establishments in 2012), others preferred to find an internship abroad. At the same time, we were welcoming new students for an integration semester after an undergraduate design program (Bachelor in design or French equivalent). These newcomers proved their ability to adapt and use their creativity on subjects as varied as how to reassert the value of lost or forgotten uses and how to generate light in an emergency. The beginning of this semester gives them the opportunity to share their design experiences.

These future designers prepare an “integration feedback report” explaining what they have found surprising, which helps fuel the school’s design watch. They shared their discoveries by displaying posters, digital visuals and videos at the school’s Open Day on 2nd and 3rd March 2012.

Year 4: where all the design disciplines are taught together for the first time

This year, with the integration of the graphic designers, the 4 design subjects taught in the undergraduate program are brought together in our topic-based programs: Tangible Interfaces, New Mobilities, Responsible Innovation, New Eating Habits, Transcultural Design, Mutations of the Built Environment and Virtual Reality.

Nathalie Ciprian
Course leader – Postgraduate studies