Master of Arts in Fashion and Accessories Design

The aim of the programme is to train designers capable of providing new aesthetic impulses, whether running their own clothing, accessory or jewellery brands or as artistic directors of established firms. 
HEAD – Geneva offers a master’s course in Fashion and Accessory Design, the only one of its kind in Switzerland. The course is aimed at Swiss and foreign students and young professionals working in fashion and accessories (apparel and accessories in the broad sense: jewellery, watches, spectacles, ‘personal equipment’ and so on) or related disciplines. As of September 2020, the Master of Arts in Design /Fashion and Accessory Design will be a 120 ECTS diploma.

The course focuses on design projects for the human body connected with the individual’s identity and social status issues, activities and needs, and more generally issues of lifestyle and Zeitgeist. It sets out to strengthen designers’ creative skills in appropriating their own language, stylistic vocabulary and world. They must be able to translate these elements into collections and products that respond to contemporary or future social issues and put them to use in various contexts. 

Knowledge of products and technical skills will give designers an overall mastery of design, production and distribution processes. In today’s globalized markets, creativity has become a crucial means of competitive differentiation and success. This course fits neatly into this context, combining skills in design and artistic direction. It trains designers for senior positions in the fashion and accessory sector (creation, production, distribution, marketing, communication and product positioning). Their strength is their ability to adapt their creativity to shifts in the market – a cooperative, systemic creativity that includes creation, design, production, distribution and communication. The aim is to train innovative creators who can provide a new aesthetic impulse either as self-employed designers with brands of their own or as design managers or artistic directors working for established brands. 

This master’s course is part of the University of Applied Sciences and Art Western Switzerland’s Master of Arts degree in Design, provided by HEAD – Genève and the ECAL. Several cross-cutting modules are provided jointly by both institutions.

Teaching language: English. See all language requirements

The Masters in Design are taught in English.
Candidates whose high school diploma or Bachelor's degree was not issued by an English-speaking institution must, after admission, submit by 30 June:

  •  a B2-level English language certificate, based on the global scale of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. This certificate must be produced by a language school or other recognized institution.
  • or, a TOEFL test taken no earlier than 1 July 2022, with a minimum score of 92
  • or, an IELTS test taken no earlier than 1 July 2022, with a minimum score of 7.0

If applicants fail to submit one of the aforementioned proofs of English language proficiency by 30 June, the admission offer lapses immediately.

Visit the Fashion Show 2023 website here

Head of Departement
Lutz Huelle

Scientific deputy
Nina Gander

Scientific collaborateur
Victor Prieux

Assistant
Rafaela Gerhard

Teaching staff
Aude Fellay
Elizabeth Fischer
Emilie Meldem
Christine Rösch
Fabrice Schaefer
 

Invited speakers

Supriya Lele, François Schaffter, Joëlle Gagliardini,  Arpent Studio, Jean-Pierre Blanc, Valentina Persico, Florence Tétier, Dinie Van Den Heuvel, Kristof Cavazzana, Benjamin Grenet , Florine Bonaventure, Jasmina Barshovi, Sabrina Calvo, Julia Von Leliwa, Michele Rizzo, Joanne Burke, Joy Ahoulou,  Sami Benhadj, Jonas Berthod, Joanne Burk, Stéphanie D’heygère, Pauline Famy, Anthéa Hamilton, Sophie Kurkdjian, Zoe Latta, Krzysztof Lukasik, Eelko Moorer, Alex Mullins, Aya Noël, Valentina Persico, Faustine Steinmetz, Florence Tétier, Tineke Van der Meer, 

Study plan and detailed courses - in French

The Master of Arts HES-SO in Design / Fashion and Accessory Design is currently a 90 ECTS diploma. As of September 2020, it will be a 120 ECTS degree.