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HSLU Design & Kunst

Programme information

The Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts (HSLU) is highly valued by students, esteemed by professionals, provider of top-quality courses in our bachelor degree programme, in research and further education. It teaches artistic, creative and organizational professional knowledge in a programme of undergraduate and postgraduate courses. It maintains a national and international network with other universities and colleges, as well as with partners in the private sector. 
With 550 students the atmosphere is friendly and personal allowing representatives of all fields of study to meet, inspire one another and develop their creative individuality. The many facets of our college, the well equipped infrastructure, the various workshops, the challenging projects and assignments, the complex problem-solving tasks, digital experimentation, research, art history and other academic subjects together with an awareness of the economic climate in which design unfolds, all ensure that a student’s time is richly varied and challenging. Our tutors see it as their primary concern to encourage students to exploit their creative potential and support them in their search for convincing and innovative strategies or solutions.

Degree category / length of studies
Bachelor of Arts in Animation 2D
Bachelor of Arts in Animation 3D
Master of Design / Major Animage

Number of teachers
15 teachers

Number of students
40 students

Number of foreign students
4 foreign students

Programme description
The degree course in Animation is a combination of artistic and practice-orientated studies programme offering students the opportunity to develop their own film language and to acquire the necessary professional skills. There is an almost unlimited scope for design in animation films and we teach and train students by means of seminars, practical activities and film projects in the professional production processes needed. Besides the focus on film design and dramaturgy the students also learn professional production skills, such as 16/35 mm film technology, digital video cutting with FinalCutPro, 2D animation with ANIMO or 3D computer animation with Cinema 4D.
The first year includes the basic training which is animation-specific basic knowledge needed for technical production processes of film production, editing and sound recording. After the first year students still can decide to study 2D or 3D animation (which is a combination of classical puppet animation and 3D digital animation techniques).
During the second year more advanced animation is taught (either in 2D or in 3D) and students take a closer look at the application of professional production technology. Students also further their studies of concept development, wording of screenplays, storyboard as well as cinematic dramaturgy.
The third year offers the chance to specialize and to develop one’s own film language. Professional production processes are tried out within film projects; they include script and storyboard development as well as economic aspects of film production, film business management or finance planning. The degree course is concluded with a diploma thesis.
The MA Animage in Lucerne covers a three-semester term.
Animation can be studied in the track «Pilot», which includes the development of a concept and a pilot film for commercial animation such as TV series – in the track «Short», shortest animated formats for special screenings – and in the track «Free», where independent animated films will be produced.

Philosophy

Our animation students have the opportunity to experiment and learn about a range of animation and camera techniques. The teachers encourage the students to develop their own artistic film language, and to acquire the professional knowledge needed for their subsequent career.
The Animation course is complemented by a wide range of theoretical classes related to the history and aesthetics of animated film.