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Digital Design & Innovation, Bachelor of Arts

Designers shape how we perceive and interact with the world. Learn how to craft meaningful and delightful experiences for users, and how to design and prototype ideas into existence.

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This program takes future designers on a journey that explores the look, feel and behavior to create positive experiences through technology. In the vast and fast-paced discipline of Digital Design & Innovation our study program prepares you to work in the creative industry where you put the human, instead of the function, as the starting point of designing the interaction with technology.

Start date

September 2025

Language

English

Location

Berlin (on-site)

Duration

3 years (6 semesters)

What’s the study program about?

Design is so much more than aesthetic choices. Its foundation is based on an understanding of context, of peoples wishes, needs, motivations, constraints. It explores how creative thinking can be utilized to design experiences in which technology plays a positive role.

We believe a Designer’s role is to challenge the status quo and to promote a positive society for all through the development of products and services.

Incorporating emerging insights from the discipline, the focus of the Digital Design & Innovation B.A. is to create people centered experiences mediated through technology, in which aspects of aesthetics and form are crucial for any successful digital product, regardless if the interface is digital or physical.

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Modules in Digital Design & Innovation

At CODE, we emphasize turning creative ideas into reality, providing students with the tools and environment to bring their visions to life. The program combines skill acquisition with immersion in a culture of innovation, ensuring students not only learn practical techniques but also understand the broader context of their work and the discipline. These are some of the modules you can focus on during your studies.

Design Strategy

Explore the new and emerging role for design in industry and its contribution to product innovation and value proposition.

Brand Design

Make design decisions that consistently communicate the brand identity both visually (e.g. logo, color palette) and verbally (e.g. tone of voice).

Extended Realities

Learn to design computer-generated or real-image-based 3D environments that users can interact with through multimodal displays that support interaction through vision, hearing, and touch.

Animation

Create dynamic motion graphics that bring visual storytelling to life. Your work will enhance digital content with engaging animations that captivate and inform audiences.

Composition

Explore color, contrast, shapes and proportions based on gestalt principles, practice photography fundamentals like composition and lighting and use photography as an expressive, experimental tool.

Design Methods

Investigate a self-defined context to explore motivations, behaviors and needs through design research methods. Create a body of work with experiments, documentation and reflective practice.

Visual Interface Design

Design user-friendly interfaces that connect digital solutions with their audience. The module covers user needs, wireframes, usability and design systems with a user-centered approach.

Editorial Design

Learn the fundamentals of visual communication and design principles, explore typography, color theory and grid-based layouts to create advanced design solutions.

Full module handbook Apply now

CODE was the perfect place for me to build up on my creative experience and explore new areas I did not even know I was interested in.

Anja Kocevska, DESIGN ALUM, junior frontend developer at forte digital

Specializations

The program is focused on a set of modules that explore the full range of disciplines within Digital Design & Innovation. You can choose the modules you want to explore or opt for a specialization, where you follow a curated series of modules designed to sharpen your expertise in a specific domain:

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Internet of Things Learn all about the intersection of digital and physical experiences

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Artificial Intelligence Unlock the power of AI for design

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Design Research Develop innovative solutions through in-depth research

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Digital Media Explore the fusion of art and technology

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User Experience Master the art of crafting seamless user journeys

You cannot understand good design if you do not understand people; design is made for people.

Dieter Rams , Pioneer Product Designer

CODE is all about new ways of learning

Real-life projects

Each core semester, students pitch project ideas to each other and work on real-life projects that ignite their curiosity.

Interdisciplinarity

Students form interdisciplinary project teams across all study programs, combining diverse skills to develop digital products.

Professors as mentors

Our professors take on the role of mentors, offering tailored support for problem-solving and delivering focused learning units as needed.

Self-Directed Learning

In a world where knowledge is just a click away, we promote dynamic education through self-directed learning and peer collaboration.

Our Learning Concept

Students and alumni

Meet the students who studied or graduated from the Digital Design & Innovation program at CODE.

Hannah Rau Lead UX / UI Designer @ prototype.berlin

Felix Koepp CPO & Co-Founder @ muffintech

Filip Tsolov Software Engineer @ Langdock

Isabela Costa Creative Technologist @ DEPT

Hanna Bieri Senior UX / UI Designer @ Silberpuls GmbH

Marie Baranes Head of Design @ muffintech

Moritz Gnann Product Manager @ Aleph Alpha

Gregor Boltz UX Designer @ SAP

The details are not the details. They make the design.

Charles Eames , Designer, architect and filmmaker

Meet your Design faculty

The Digital Design & Innovation program is coordinated and taught by professors and lecturers who have decades of experience in their respective fields and specializations.

Martin Knobel Program Coordinator & Professor

Lara Piccolo Professor

Pras Gunasekera Senior Lecturer

Daniel Buzzo Professor

Learning approach

At CODE, learning is driven by doing, and here are some of the formats we use in our teaching and learning to foster this hands-on approach.

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Interactive workshops Learn first-hand from specialized professionals.

Presentations and Feedback Sessions Present your ideas, receive feedback, discuss questions.

Group Projects Team up with other students to build projects.

Frequently asked questions

Digital Designers have a strong grasp of human-centered design processes, digital (and analogue) methods and tools used in the field. You will develop the capacity to creatively experiment, rapid prototype from low-fidelity sketches to pixel-perfect mockups and validate ideas towards the final solution.

The experience will lead you to develop empathy and awareness, a tactile sense for aesthetics, and understand user-friendliness.

As part of the interdisciplinary learning model you will learn to collaborate in diverse teams, engage with different stakeholders and confidently present your work to an audience.

To be prepared in industry, you are expected to create an alignment between customer needs, product strategy and your design solution. Digital Design is not just about the visual but also about intangible experiences. You are responsible for designing the interfaces between humans and technologies.

Our B.A. study program for Digital Design & Innovation stands out due to its unique approach, fostering a vibrant community of innovative individuals who inspire and support each other.

A key feature is the fusion of hands-on experience with an immersive project-based educational approach, allowing students to engage deeply with their interests and inspirations. This approach creates a safe space for experimentation and failure, encouraging students to take risks and learn from their mistakes through regular reflective practice.

Students have the autonomy to choose their own projects and participate in designing their assessments, offering a personalized, student centered learning experience. Additionally, the program is flexible, allowing learners to progress at their own pace and select modules that align with their interests and career goals. This tailored approach ensures that each student’s educational journey is unique and fulfilling.

Career Paths

Studying Digital Design & Innovation opens up a wide array of career paths in the tech and creative industries. Some typical roles include:

UX/UI Designer
UX Researcher
Interaction Designer
Digital Product Designer

Want to be your own boss?

CODE is the perfect environment for entrepreneurs and future founders. Our Learning Concept and network of partners provides all the support you need to build your own successful company.

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Admissions

At CODE we want to attract the most talented and passionate students - our admission process aims to challenge your drive and curiosity. Let us get to know you through your written application and learn more about CODE during your Admission Day. What are you waiting for?

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