Design degrees
Graphic, industrial, interior, fashion, web, video game design and several more: design degrees are studied at universities and institutes in different Spanish-speaking countries.
If you spend your time touching up photos, putting together good-looking presentations, drawing clothes, or imagining what your ideal room would look like, there are studies that start from what you already do.
What design degrees have in common
Designing is solving a problem by giving it shape: a logo, an object, a garment, a space, an app. In almost all of these degrees you will spend a lot of time working on projects, sketching, trying out versions, and explaining why you chose one solution and not another. Theory (history, color, materials, tools) goes along with practice.
Almost all of them combine creativity with technique. Many institutions ask for a portfolio of your work or an entrance test. It changes from one to another and from one country to another, so check the requirements of each program before enrolling. The same goes for the diploma and the length: they depend on the institution and the country.
Design degrees
General design and visual communication
Well-thought-out images, texts, and messages: posters, books, campaigns, comics. Start with Design, the most general degree in the field, or with Graphic Design.
Digital and interactive design
For those who spend hours in front of a screen and notice how what they use is made: websites, apps, video games, virtual and augmented reality.
Moving image and stage
Designing what is seen and heard on a screen or on a stage: cartoons, audiovisual projects, sets, and shows.
Objects, fashion, and jewelry
Creating things that are touched, used, or worn: products, vehicles, clothing, and metal pieces.
Spaces
Thinking about the places where we live and move: Architecture plans them, and interior design and decoration focus on how a space is organized and styled.
Where to study design
Universidad Autónoma de Aguascalientes (UAA)Aguascalientes · PublicDesignInterior DesignFashion DesignGraphic DesignIndustrial DesignArchitectureAnimation
Universidad de Bogotá Jorge Tadeo Lozano (UTadeo)Bogotá · PrivateArchitectureGraphic DesignIndustrial DesignMultimedia DesignFashion DesignAnimationDesign
Universidad de Diseño, Innovación y TecnologÃa (UDIT) (UDIT)Madrid · PrivateMultimedia DesignIndustrial DesignInterior DesignVideo Game DesignFashion DesignAnimationUser Experience Design
Universidad CEU San Pablo (CEU)Madrid · PrivateArchitectureDesignVideo Game DesignInterior DesignFashion DesignIndustrial Design
Escuela Superior de Diseño de Aragón (ESDA)Zaragoza · PrivateGraphic DesignIndustrial DesignInterior DesignDesignFashion Design
Universidad Antonio de Nebrija (UANE)Madrid · PrivateIndustrial DesignArchitectureInterior DesignMultimedia DesignFashion Design
Universidad de Palermo (UP)Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires · PrivateArchitectureDesignInterior DesignIndustrial DesignGraphic Design
Corporación Academia Superior de Artes (CORPOASA)MedellÃn · PrivateInterior DesignFashion DesignGraphic DesignAnimationHow to choose between them
Notice what you do when no one asks you to: if you edit videos or photos, if you draw characters or clothes, if you like tidying up and decorating your room, if you build things with your hands, if you notice how a page or an app looks. Each of those gestures points to a different type of design.
Then ask yourself what you want to happen with what you design: for it to be seen on a screen, to be touched, to be lived in, or to be worn. That separates some degrees from others quite well.
If you're torn between two, compare the subjects of each one and the admission requirements. Some overlap with other fields, like Video Game Design with technology or Industrial Design with engineering. If you don't know where to start, the career test helps you see what type of projects appeal to you most.
To read before choosing
Frequently asked questions
Are there design degrees without much drawing?
Yes. In some, drawing is central, and in others digital tools, materials, or the logic of a project carry more weight. Many institutions ask for a portfolio, so check the requirements of each program.
How long do design degrees last?
Architecture is the longest in the field; Graphic Design, Industrial Design, Interior Design and most university ones follow closely behind. Editorial Design is shorter, and the virtual reality and three-dimensional development courses are the briefest.
What is the difference between graphic design and industrial design?
Graphic design works with images and visual messages; industrial design creates objects and products thinking about how they look and how they work. Compare the profiles to see the subjects of each one.
Are there design degrees related to technology?
Yes. User experience, video game, web, and digital product design combine design with digital tools. Video Game Design is a full degree, and there are also short courses in virtual reality and real-time development.
Can I study design if I don't know what specialty I want?
Yes. There are general degrees, like Design. Look at its curriculum to see if the specialty is chosen later and compare it with the more specific ones.