The programme
Today that feel for the object endures, and students go on to master's level to move into the profession of product or service designer. This shift is not merely a matter of terminology; it reflects a fundamental broadening of the designer's scope and responsibilities. The product designer is no longer confined to the aesthetics or the function of an object alone. Their role is to design a complete experience, placing the user at the heart of the process.In short, the move from “object designer” to “product designer” represents a maturing of the discipline, a step that has to be taken. It is no longer simply about creating “beautiful” objects, but about designing innovative, relevant solutions that address real problems, improve everyday life, generate value and form part of a responsible approach. It has become a highly strategic, multidisciplinary and human-centred profession, shaping not only the objects we use but also the experiences we live.
Where can you study this programme?
Why choose this Bachelor?
Programme
Discover the full content of the programme
➜ Product design students will explore general and artistic culture through courses in semiology, scientific culture and creative methodology
➜ Drawing and representation courses, with classes in roughs, technical drawing and modelling, and more
➜ Applied techniques, with courses such as computer graphics, publishing, technology and materials, and model-making, plus workshops that put theory into practice through real projects
➜ And the world of the creative studio courses devoted to object and product projects.
On campus: practical classes, lectures, project supervision and workshops. Alongside these come the professional environment, taking part in open days to present work and build confidence in public speaking, support in finding a placement, creative craft workshops and more.
Options can also be chosen so that students can refine their vision of product design and add further skills to their course, broadening their range around the object, the product and the everyday environment (see the study pathway diagram).
*The programme is not exhaustive; there may be variations in courses or changes in terminology from one year to the next.
Teaching Strengths
Historically, the object designer was often seen as the craftsperson of aesthetics and function, creating one-off pieces or short runs in which formal elegance and material innovation came first. This was the master of the iconic chair, the sculptural light fitting or the elegant utensil. The focus was on the object itself, on its intrinsic beauty and on how it was made.
97%
pass rate for candidates on the Bachelor Design d'Espace / Architecture d'Intérieur, 2025 cohort.
84%
of students reported to be in employment six months after gaining the professional certification, 2024 cohort.
After the Bachelor
On completion of the qualification, the Bachelor's leads straight into working life or on to Year 1 of the Mastère Design Produit & InnovationCareers targeted by the qualification
Once you have graduated, you will be able to work in one of these sectors and take up these roles linked to the qualification.
➜ Model maker
➜ Prototyper
➜ Design engineer...
They chose ESDAC
“ A former ESDAC student in interior architecture, I now run my own interior architecture practice between Megève and Geneva.
My success is also, in part, theirs and that of the whole teaching team. I have had the chance to compare this course with many other schools through the work-study students I have met from all over France. ESDAC is clearly one of the most complete programmes available: you are given every key you need to succeed in the professional world, and it is then up to each person to make serious use of them. The lecturers are committed and highly skilled, the programmes are in step with what the market expects, and the skills you gain open the door to a real career, including internationally, for anyone with the motivation.
I would recommend this school without hesitation, as much for its human scale as for its professional quality.”
“Product Design is a discipline I teach at ESDAC, where we set out to design everyday objects methodically, across every possible sector (sport, medical, luxury, craft, industrial production runs, and so on). What we want to pass on to students is a genuine passion and curiosity for making things, and to get them to think before putting an idea forward and then to build it on solid foundations. In this course we try to find the designer each student wants to become.”
“What is great about ESDAC is that the lecturers are there to guide us in what we want to do. We steer our projects with our tutors, but the ideas come from us. It is a collective effort with our tutors and that is what is wonderful about this school. Nicolas Robineau was my technical tutor and he always gave me the keys so that I was never stuck with my ideas. As students we sometimes do too little and sometimes take on too much, but while we are still studying we can let go, open up everything a building makes possible and improve our knowledge, our technique and that drive to put a workable project in front of the panel. It is genuinely hands-on experience and I would wish it on every interior architecture or spatial design student.”
“My aim is to give students a practical understanding of what the profession expects. Professionals know exactly what they are looking for, and it is essential that students have that lightbulb moment: understanding how to develop a project accurately and methodically.
I place great importance on dialogue, offering different approaches to broaden their range of skills and open up as many opportunities as possible. The strength of our teaching also lies in the fact that most of our lecturers are working professionals: we know in concrete terms where to guide them so that they become the designers they want to be.”
Need help choosing your programme?
Our admissions advisers will help you choose the programme that fits your career plans.