Range of Services
The institute has expertise in the field of visual design and offers comprehensive research and development work in this area: from process support and complex spatial analyses to innovative orientation systems.
Contract Research + Services
Together we develop solutions and offer a wide range of services in the following areas:
- Support for interdisciplinary research projects
- Expertise in the field of visual communication
- Spatial analyses
- Rhetorical design analysis according to the Bern model
- Process support
Infrastructure
- Game Lab
- Visual Design Lab
Student Work
Researchers from the Institute of Design Research and the Master of Arts in Design work closely with external partners to research topics relating to communication design.
Research + Teaching
Pathways Into Research for Lecturers
HKB lecturers can participate in research projects:
- As a responsible applicant: The focus is on the development, submission and implementation of your own project, supported by an external institution. This activity requires leadership qualities and research experience as well as the ability to write scientific texts. Lecturers with no research experience have the opportunity to gain initial experience with their own HKB preparatory project.
- As a doctoral candidate, e.g. in an SNSF-funded research project: This activity extends over three to four years and is linked to doctoral studies at the University of Bern (as part of the Studies in the Arts SINTA programme).
- As a practice expert for selective additional scientific and/or artistic-creative collaboration in a research project.
Interested? Then you are always welcome to attend the team meetings at the Institute of Design Research. Twice a semester, the institute organises the event series “Forschungs-Mittwoch”, where projects from the institute are presented.
Pathways Into Research for Students
Students can already take part in research events during their studies:
From the first semester onwards, the Bachelor Visual Communication programme also includes an intensive examination of design research concepts, methods and projects in the theory courses.
The Master Design programme also offers the Design Research specialisation, which is unique in Switzerland. Here, students work on their own research project for the entire duration of the Master’s programme. They are supported in this by specialist mentoring from researchers.
After completing the master's degree, students can continue to work on research topics as part of a doctoral programme in Studies in the Arts SINTA at the University of Bern and the HKB.
