In all our courses, we help students to gain the competencies needed for the future profession: attitude, knowledge, know-how and skills.
On top of their own major, the students choose from a wide range of elective projects.
These projects will introduce them to our three graduation profiles: Autonomous Practices, Commercial Practices and Social Practices. The students can choose from a wide range of contemporary subjects and issues. These projects introduce students to our three graduation profiles or Practices.
Within the Practices, the students focus on new challenges in the fields of technology, the use of public space, the need to engage the public and a challenging international context. You will work on real-life, practical assignments which transcend the boundaries of your professional discipline. In the final phase of your studies, you will graduate in the practice which best suits you as a professional.
In short, the Practices are structured and defined as follows:
Autonomous Practices focus on collaboration, (self-)organisation and independence between different creative practitioners, who work from the perspective of their personal vision of the world and the human condition and give shape to this vision.
Commercial Practices are oriented towards our “next” economy. Our world is changing rapidly fused for example by technological disruptive innovations. This changing world creates new opportunities and roles for prospective designers and artists.
Social Practices focus on art and design that impacts societal issues by designing or redesigning processes, interactions and relationships, and by involving participants or stakeholders in the design process.
Next to 13 majors and three Practices, WdKA offers its students high-tech meeting interdisciplinary spaces - Stations
The opening hours of the academy are defined by those of the Stations. Students, instructors and tutors work in and around the Stations: main central hubs which provide students with specific knowledge as well as the necessary high-quality tools and instruments. Stations function as a crossroads, a meeting place for students and tutors from various disciplines and academic years.
Stations are the place for creating prototypes, experimenting, remixing and improving your ideas. All of the Willem de Kooning Academy’s students and staff members are welcome to work in our Stations, regardless of their major specialisation, minor, elective module or study year. The Stations are where you can explore the viability of your ideas and find out how to turn them into fully-functioning creations.
