The international experience
The international experience at L’École de design Nantes Atlantique
A designer must be able to open up to others and to their culture in order to feed his or her curiosity and creativity, qualities that are essential to the practice of his or her profession. L'École de design Nantes Atlantique allows its students to cultivate this openness to the world through numerous programs and opportunities, in France and abroad.
International in the school's DNA
Cultural and societal differences require concrete and adapted responses to complex situations. Thinking globally, understanding others, appropriating new codes, sharing intercultural experiences... L'École de design Nantes Atlantique strives to transmit these values to its budding designers.
For 25 years, it has enabled future French designers to train abroad and future international designers to train in Nantes. This strategy is based on numerous opportunities for enjoying an international experience:
- international programs taught in English in Nantes (in the master's program of the 5-year design degree and in the 3rd year of the DN MADE),
- long-term immersions in our international studios,
- academic exchanges with the support of Erasmus +
Africa Studio (Cotonou, Benin), Brazil Studio (Sao Paulo, Brazil), China Studio (Shanghai, China), India Studio (Pune, India), Le Studio Montréal (Montreal, Canada) and Le Studio France (Nantes, France).
Map of the international locations of L’École de design Nantes Atlantique
L’École de design Nantes Atlantique, through its various international studios, Africa Design School and NACAA, is established in 6 countries, all over the world.
Focus: Africa Design School
Supported by L'École de design Nantes Atlantique and accompanied by the Sèmè City Development Agency, Africa Design School opened its doors in 2019 in Cotonou (Benin). Its vocation is to train African designers on their continent through project-based pedagogy, in relation with the business world.
"Our arrival in west africa reinforces our position as a forerunner in the field of design education in France and internationally. L'École de design Nantes Atlantique has supported this development project with the help of Sèmè City and brings its expertise and pedagogical engineering to the structure created," explains Christian Guellerin, director general of L'École de design Nantes Atlantique.
The school is directed by Stéphane Gouret, deputy director general of L'École de design Nantes Atlantique. The teaching team, made up of design professionals working in West Africa, prepares students for the job market and for entrepreneurship.
The first design school in West Africa has experienced strong development since its creation:
- 2019: 15 students / 1 DN MADE
- 2022: 150 students / 3 DN MADE
- 2023: 230 students / 4 DN MADE and a "Diplôme de design Bac +5" (International Design Strategy master's program) and a continuing education offer in design.
Creation of the 1st Sino-French design institute
L'École de design Nantes Atlantique has been chosen by one of the most prestigious Chinese art and design universities, the China Academy of Art (CAA) in Hangzhou, to create the first Sino-French design institute, the NACAA (Nantes Atlantique CAA).
The institute, which has just been inaugurated, will offer international bachelor's degree programs in product, interior architecture and digital design as well as a master's degree in design. It is intended to train high-level designers who will occupy strategic positions in innovation. It took two years of work to create this institute in a context marked by the pandemic. The program is coordinated for the French part by Matthieu Rochette-Schneider, also general manager for China of the Centdegrés agency, and Xu Yan, coordinator of the school's relations with the CAA.
NACAA offers a 4-year double degree programme with 3 specialisations: Product Design, Environmental Design and Art and Technology Design. The first two years are offered at the CAA, the third year on exchange at L'École de design Nantes Atlantique and the final year again at the CAA.
The NACAA also offers a three-year Masters programme in Art & Technology Design. The first year takes place at the CAA, the second year on exchange at the École de design Nantes Atlantique and the third year at the CAA.
L'École de design Nantes Atlantique currently has partnerships with more than 120 schools, spread over 5 continents. Each year, about 80 international students are welcomed for an exchange semester at the school in Nantes and about 50 students from L'École de design Nantes Atlantique go and study in the partner schools.
It is a signatory of the la charte Erasmus + for the organization of mobility at the European level, and a member of Campus France, the international network for the promotion of French higher education of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
In addition, L'École de design Nantes Atlantique benefits from a network of professional partners abroad who are willing to take on interns, to which the school's internationally- based graduates contribute greatly.
Since 1999, the school has been a member of the Cumulus association of 250 art, design and media training institutions, of which the school's director general is honorary president.
The school has also joined the World Design Organisation, the first professional association for the promotion of design worldwide.
Experience the international scene
Each student preparing the 5-year design degree must complete an international stay in the master's program (academic exchange or internship in a company or long-term immersion in one of our international studios).
A semester abroad: study or internship mobility
L'École de design Nantes Atlantique is a holder of the Erasmus Charter (ECHE: Erasmus Charter for Higher Education) for the period 2021-2027, and is thus a stakeholder in the Erasmus+ program, a European Union program promoting student mobility in higher education.
Each student has the opportunity to spend a study period in one of our 120 partner schools around the world or an international internship in an agency or company.
Long immersion in an international studio
L'École de design Nantes Atlantique created its first studio in 2008 in China and continues its international development with the opening of other studios: India Studio (2010), the Brazil Studio (2017), the Studio Montréal (2018) et the Africa Studio (2019).
Within these international studios, the school offers the International Design Strategy master's program to provide a long term immersion experience. Confronted with the issues of these environments and challenged in their reference points and attitudes, the designers in training discover different cultures and progress in an international context.
Have an international experience in Nantes
Holder of the Erasmus charter for the period 2021-2027 and of the Label “Bienvenue en France” (3 stars), L'École de design Nantes Atlantique is proud to welcome for the 2022-2023 school year 150 international students. Two programs are available to foreign students on exchange in Nantes.
Within L'École de design Nantes Atlantique, French students have the opportunity to experience interculturality and to place their design practice in a strong international context through contact with students of different nationalities.
A 3rd year of DN MADE in an international class
L'École de design Nantes Atlantique offers three DN MADE programs, the 3rd year of which can be done in an international class, taught in English:
For students of space design, interior design and scenography
For students in product or industrial design
For students of graphic design, interactive design or multimedia
For students in fashion design
This international class is open to French and international students who have completed two years of studies in design.
At the end of this third year, French students can obtain a recognized Bachelor's degree: the DN MADE (Diplôme National des Métiers d'Art et du Design). As part of their curriculum, international students coming to Nantes on an exchange program can spend a semester in this international class.
A master's program taught in English at Studio France
Le Studio France, a master's degree program taught in English, is an opportunity for students to practice a cross-cultural approach to design and to collaborate on projects that enhance their creativity.
They choose to work on projects and workshops related to five themes, explored within the school's five Design Labs: Care Design Lab, City Design Lab, Digital Design Lab, Food Design Lab et Media Design Lab.
This International Design Strategy master's program is open to anyone with a Bachelor's degree in design.
The first semester (from September to January) of the first year of the Master's program is open to international students from our partner schools who have come for an exchange semester.
Students who have completed the two years of the Master's program obtain the school's 5- year design degree, subject to satisfactory completion of the course.
Art and design preparatory class
The Art and design preparatory class is a cultural adaptation class and opening to the different design professions specifically designed for French-speaking international students who wish to begin design studies in a program taught in French. It allows students to explore the specificities of creation with courses in modes of expression, general culture and technical culture and to discover the different design professions (product design, space design, interactive design, graphic design...), while improving their level of French with courses in French as a foreign language.
This program also offers support in preparing for the entrance exams of the most prestigious French schools.
It is open to applicants holding a high school diploma and who have a French equivalent to B2 assessed by a TCF1 or DELF2 test. After this class, students can pursue undergraduate studies.
Contact
The international relations department of L'École de design Nantes Atlantique is at your disposal for any queries or requests for additional information:
Partners & outgoing students:outgoing@lecolededesign.com
Incoming students: incoming@lecolededesign.com
Since 1999 and the deployment of its ambitious strategy of global outreach, international development has been part of the DNA of L'École de design Nantes Atlantique.
L'École de design Nantes Atlantique has been exporting internationally for several years, with the opening of its international studios.
as an exchange student
Since 1999, L'École de design Nantes Atlantique has been developing an ambitious strategy of international outreach.