Srishti School of Art, Design and Technology

Program Description
Srishti offers a 2 year Advanced Diploma Program in Transcultural Design in a joint collaboration with L'Ecole de Design, Nantes Atlantique, France. The curriculum for this program has been developed in partnership with L'Ecole de Design and will concentrate on aspects of interaction design, responsible innovation, ethnography and cultural hybridity in design. Starting in August 2011, the program will involve a residency in France, of which one will be an industry internship. Selection to the program will be based on the recommendations of an international jury.

Program Objective
The general objective of the Advanced Diploma Program in Transcultural Design is to twofold- to offer Indian graduate-level design students the opportunity to experience French culture and design in the context of the country’s corporate environment, and to offer French or European graduate-level students an immersion in Indian culture, design and industry.

Program Rationale
Transculturality encompasses a broad understanding of cultures, their interactions and their adaptations. The concept acknowledges the diversity brought on by the confluence of cultures as well as the hybrid and innovative cultural forms and processes that emerge as cultures transit through each other. This program is underpinned by an acknowledgement of the notion of transculturality as a significant and relevant context within which to locate contemporary design practice.

What does it mean to be a designer in a transcultural context? What does it mean to a student from any culture to interact with another and to apply the design methods and processes acquired in one cultural environment to another one? Or to blend the methods and processes of different cultural, economic and social contexts to create hybrid and innovative responsible design practices? The curriculum for this program will explore in depth the design challenges posed by the transcultural experience and will have as its aim, the mutual benefits of transcultural exchanges and interactions.

What does the collaboration with L'Ecole de Design involve?
This is a 2-year program which is divided into 4 semesters. The collaboration with L'Ecole de Design involves 1 residency in France that will take place during the 3rd and 4th semesters of the program (semester 3: at L'Ecole de Design, semester 4: an industry internship in France). The curriculum is planned in collaboration with L'Ecole de Design and selection to the program is based on the recommendations of an international jury appointed by L'Ecole de Design.

Who can apply?
If you hold a Bachelor’s degree or an equivalent diploma with relevant experience in design, or if you have completed your undergraduate studies equating to 180 ECTS credits for European students, you are welcome to apply to the program.

What are the fees?
The fees for the Advanced Diploma Program in Transcultural Design will be Rs.2.75 lakhs per year. This covers the tuition fee for the program. It does not cover your travel and accommodation costs in India and France.

What is the deadline for applications? By when will I know whether I have been accepted?
Admissions for 2010-11 are closed. Please check for announcements early next year for 2011-12 admissions to the TCD Program.

What are the practical applications of the knowledge and skills that the program will offer?
The knowledge and skills that the program offers will have design applications that would be located within broader areas of design such as interaction design, responsible innovation, ethnography and cultural hybridity design. The design applications could include safety and emergency equipments, innovation oriented services, life space design and improvement, health and social issues, sustainable development, interactivity, gaming applications, equipment, mobile services, research on multi sensorial interfaces and pervasive computing.

How do I apply?
Starting in August 2011, the program will involve a residency in France, of which one will be an industry internship. Selection to the program will be based on the recommendations of an international jury. Details of this program are available above. If you have any further questions, please contact us at transculturalmasters[dot]adp[at]srishti[dot]ac[dot]in.

Program Leader

Violaine Kumbera / e-mail : violaine@srishti.ac.in