Design degrees in Chile
Architecture, graphic design, industrial design, interior design, show design and animation: they are design degrees you can study in Chile.
If you draw in your notebooks, make the posters for your class, edit videos or look at how each object in your house is designed, those habits are already design.
How design is studied in Chile
There are programs in the field at universities and institutes in Santiago, ValparaÃso, Concepción, Temuco, Talca, Antofagasta and Valdivia, among other cities. A program's name doesn't always say what you do in it, so read the curriculum before choosing.
You learn by doing: sketches, models, tests, revisions and presentations, with theory (history, color, materials, tools) alongside studio work. Some institutions ask for a portfolio or an interview in addition to the PAES. The Comisión Nacional de Acreditación reports which programs are accredited.
Design degrees in Chile
Among those studied in Chile are Architecture, Graphic Design, Industrial Design and Show Design.
Graphic Design works with visual messages; Industrial Design, with objects; Interior Design, with spaces; Show Design, with what is seen and heard in a staging. Animation and digital overlap with the technology and IT degrees in Chile, and Architecture and Industrial Design with engineering.
Where to study design in Chile
Universidad de Chile (UChile)Santiago · PublicArchitectureGraphic DesignIndustrial DesignEntertainment Design
Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile (UC)Santiago · PrivateArchitectureDesign
Universidad Austral de Chile (UACh)Valdivia · PrivateArchitectureInterior Design
Universidad del BÃo-BÃo (UBB)Concepción · PublicArchitectureIndustrial Design
Pontificia Universidad Católica de ValparaÃso (PUCV)ValparaÃso · PrivateArchitecture
Universidad Andrés Bello (UNAB)Santiago · PrivateArchitecture
Universidad Autónoma de Chile (UA)Temuco · PrivateArchitecture
Universidad Católica de Temuco (UCT)Temuco · PrivateArchitectureHow to choose between them
Notice what you do when no one asks you to: if you draw, if you edit photos or videos, if you decorate your room, if you build things with your hands.
Then ask yourself where you want to see what you create: on a screen, in an object, in a place or on a stage. If it's in an entire building, Architecture; if it's in what happens inside, Interior Design.
If you're torn between Industrial Design and Interior Design, compare what subjects each one includes and which is offered near you. The career test shows you what type of projects fit you.
To read before choosing
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to know how to draw to study design in Chile?
It depends on the degree. In some, drawing is central and in others software or materials matter more. If the institution asks for a portfolio, check in advance what type of work it expects.
How long do design degrees last in Chile?
Architecture is the longest; Graphic Design, Industrial Design, Interior Design and Performance Design have a similar length to each other, somewhat shorter.
How do you get into Architecture or Design?
Many universities use the PAES, administered by the DEMRE, and each one defines its weighting. In design a portfolio may also be required.
Where do I compare degrees and institutions in Chile?
On Mi Futuro, the Ministry of Education site with information on degrees and institutions.
What do I do if I still don't know what type of design I like?
Look at the general degree Design and compare its curriculum with that of Graphic or Industrial Design to see when the path is chosen.
Architecture or Interior Design?
Architecture designs complete buildings and the spaces around them; Interior Design works within enclosed spaces: layout, materials, light and furniture. Architecture is quite a bit longer.