Bachelor in Design
Bachelor in Design
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A UNIQUE BACHELOR IN DESIGN
The Bachelor in Design at IE University offers a rigorous, multidisciplinary education that connects creative practice with technology, business, and the social sciences. The study plan is built on our faculty’s expertise, active research, and strong links with the professional world.
This program equips students with the mindset and skills to tackle complex, real-world challenges—from research and strategy to prototyping and communication—so they can grow into versatile design professionals.
Our hands-on methodology ensures that what students learn in the classroom is immediately tested through projects based on real scenarios, partners, and contexts.
By working this way throughout the degree, students develop resilient, adaptable profiles, ready to respond to emerging trends and design meaningful solutions for today’s and tomorrow’s societies.
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BACHELOR IN DESIGN STUDY PLAN
OFFICIAL PROGRAM INFORMATION
Fact Sheet: official ECTS credits and university degree registration
PROGRAM
Bachelor in Design
DURATION
4 years
LANGUAGE
English
CENTRES OF STUDY AND NUMBER OF PLACES
Centro de Estudios Superiores IE (Madrid) – 60 places
Escuela Técnica Superior de Estudios Integrados de Arquitectura (Segovia) – 60 places
CREDITS
Total number of credits: 240 ECTS*
Distribution of credits and subjects**:
Core subjects – 60 ECTS
Mandatory subjects – 135 ECTS
Elective subjects – 30 ECTS
Final Project – 15 ECTS
AREA OF KNOWLEDGE
Cultural Industries: Â Design, Animation, Cinematography and Audiovisual Production
TEACHING METHODOLOGY
Face-to-face
SPANISH MINISTRY’S REGISTRY OF UNIVERSITIES, CENTRES AND DEGREES
ASSURANCE AGENCY
ACSUCYL*** – Buscador TÃtulos Oficiales
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*European Credit Transfer System
**The character of the subjects is defined by the Spanish legislation
***Quality Assurance Agency for the University System in Castilla y León
Professional Core Competences in Design
Basic competences
GENERAL COMPETENCES
- Develop a basic ability to spell out relevant outcomes through practical application in different fields of design, incorporating information from other disciplines.
- Understand design’s impact and implications for contemporary society and be capable of offering solutions and actively participating in creation and conceptualization processes.
- Suggest and implement proposals involving creative activities to provide added value to the everyday activities of companies and society.
- Understand and use graphic language and tools to present, simulate and resolve design problems.
- Produce relevant outcomes as a result of hands-on involvement in different fields of design, including products, graphics or interfaces, and incorporating information from other disciplines, in order to develop new offerings and solutions and convey and pass on the knowledge acquired.
- Apply knowledge of modeling, visualization, materials technology and production techniques when conducting design projects, paying attention to their viability and social, technological and environmental constraints.
PROGRAM-SPECIFIC COMPETENCES
- Devise, plan and conduct design projects in line with requirements and the technical, functional, aesthetic and communication constraints of a brief.
- Develop the ability to create designs that simultaneously meet aesthetic, theoretical and technical requirements.
- Understand and interpret historical, theoretical and critical texts in the fields of design, art and architecture in a relevant and logical manner.
- Learn relevant methods to apply the creative process to professional situations and innovative problem-solving.
- Interpret and critically evaluate final products and design projects created by yourself and others.
- Learn relevant research methods used in project design and theory, analysis and criticism in the fields of design and art.
- Graphically structure and prioritize verbal information.
- Present and explain the outcomes and work processes used to obtain objects you have designed, both orally and in writing.
- Learn and master the graphic elements used in design and visual communication and the tools used to create and produce them, using a variety of physical, audiovisual or digital means.
- Implement strategies and methodologies to obtain innovative solutions to creative briefs. Acquire basic knowledge of information presentation and visualization techniques.
- Use basic digital expression techniques (programming, interaction and multimedia resources) in order to conduct design projects.
- Use digital tools to bring communicative and expressive actions in line with their intended use through design solutions.
- Understand industrial and artisanal manufacturing processes as well as their main features and limitations.
- Recognize the ways in which digital manufacturing can contribute to design, as well as its main features and limitations.
- Master the aesthetic fundamentals of design, including morphology, structure, color, space, volume, tectonics, typography and composition.
- Master the fundamentals of typography, mockup and presentation techniques.
- Apply basic social science knowledge to design projects, including elements from psychology, analytical fields, sociology, programming, ethnography, social science research methods, etc.
- Understand how to apply social science statistics and analytical tools to design projects.
- Propose research and innovation strategies with the aim of meeting the functionality, needs and materials expectations of design.
- Recognize and make use of the advantages offered by programming when it is used as a design tool.
- Add technology and digital manufacturing to the list of tools available to you to solve problems related to proposed design statements.
- Understand the materials and materialities used as a medium for both physical and digital visual design.
- Understand the media and materialities that make product design possible, both for physical and digital products.
- Understand the materials and materialities that define spatial design.
- Understand the structures used to define a strategic design project.
TRANSVERSAL COMPETENCES
- Identify the main cultural identity traits that characterize today’s world by understanding the main contemporary ideological trends.
- Behave professionally in accordance with the core principles and ethics of the profession.
- Manage unforeseen situations by being able to adapt to organizational changes.
- Use knowledge of the discipline to analyze and evaluate current situations.
- Form a part of interdisciplinary and multicultural teams to achieve shared goals in a diverse environment.
- Work actively in an international context.
Learn more about our BACHELOR IN DESIGN
FIRST YEAR
During your first year, you will have a broad introduction to the world of design and you will begin to develop the necessary skills to work and succeed as a designer. You’ll take a first look into the multidisciplinary aspects of the profession and you’ll benefit from our design studio methodology, defined by its practical approach and its combination of individual and collaborative work.
SECOND YEAR
In your second year of study you will learn about the creative methodologies currently being used in professional practices, and you’ll develop a critical approach to your designs. The assignments will become more complex as you build up your skills; you will be expected to integrate information, concepts, and techniques from related disciplines.
THIRD YEAR
During the first half of your third year, you will continue developing your designer skills in five areas: design culture, techniques, applied sciences, business and project-centered design. You will build a theoretical framework and learn about materials and their different uses. You will take several elective courses, which will allow you to personalize your career path an experience more types of design. During this year, you will also be able to study abroad.
FOURTH YEAR
The fourth year is all about consolidating knowledge. You will learn about the latest developments in creative technology and you will use them as tools for your design practice. You will learn about the latest trends in digital fabrication and study creative coding and programming from a designer’s perspective. During this year we will also address the main issues regarding the dissemination of your work, reaching out to important stakeholders, working on your portfolio, and the storytelling of your projects.
BACHELOR IN DESIGN OPTIONAL DIPLOMAS STUDY PLAN
BACHELOR IN DESIGN OPTIONAL DIPLOMAS STUDY PLAN
Students who wish to develop advanced expertise in a specific design discipline can complement their Bachelor in Design with an optional diploma. Building on the program’s multidisciplinary foundation, each diploma offers a focused academic pathway that strengthens specialized knowledge, technical skills and professional practice.
Students can choose from four diploma options: Visual Communication, Product Design, Interior Design and Experience Design. These diplomas are also open to students from other programs within the IE School of Architecture & Design.
INTERIOR DESIGN
Explore the principles of spatial design, materials, lighting, and user experience to shape functional and inspiring interior environments.
GRAPHIC DESIGN
Master visual storytelling across branding, UX/UI, illustration, and motion graphics, combining creative expression with strategic communication.
Product Design
Learn to design physical and digital products that blend aesthetics, usability, and innovation—turning ideas into tangible, user-centered solutions.
Design Diplomas
The Design Diplomas allow students to develop advanced expertise in design that best aligns with their interests and career ambitions. Each diploma offers a focused academic pathway that builds specialized knowledge, advanced skills and a stronger professional profile within a chosen field.
By combining the multidisciplinary foundation of the Bachelor in Design with in-depth study in a specific discipline, students graduate with both the versatility to work across an evolving design landscape and the expertise to pursue more specialized career opportunities.
Strategic Partnerships
Faculty Stories
Our 500-strong faculty guides students to unleash their potential day in, day out. Their influence across all five Schools can’t be overstated, inspiring young, energetic minds as they define their personal and professional trajectories.Â
But what kind of person does it take to create such impact? The individuals that make up the IE University faculty are special. Coming from diverse, global backgrounds, they each bring distinct perspectives and innovative ideas that embody what makes IE University stand out. Their stories are personal and unique—but don’t take our word for it. Read their stories to see for yourself.
Read our blog
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is the hardest part of a design degree?
The most challenging part is balancing creativity with strategic thinking and solving complex, real-world problems through continuous project work.
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What subjects are core to the design major?
One of the most challenging aspects is managing open-ended problems that don’t have a single correct answer. Students must balance creativity with analytical thinking, handle continuous feedback, and develop strong time management skills while working on multiple complex projects.
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What is the role of technology in the Bachelor of Design?
Technology plays a central role, as students use digital tools, fabrication labs, and prototyping techniques to bring ideas to life. This includes working with tools like 3D printing, digital modeling, and interactive design platforms, which are essential for modern design practice.
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How much "hands-on" experience do students get?
Students gain extensive hands-on experience through studio-based learning, workshops, and real-world projects. From early in the program, they actively design, prototype, and test solutions rather than focusing only on theory.
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Can I specialize in a specific field of design?
Yes, while the program provides a broad foundation, students can tailor their studies through electives and optional diplomas in areas like product design, graphic design, or interior design, depending on their interests.
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