Free University of Bozen-Bolzano
Master in Critical Creative Practices
Bolzano, Italy
Master degree
DURATION
2 years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
Oct 2026
TUITION FEES
EUR 1,200 / per year
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* Non-EU citizens can apply until 28/04/2026.
Key Summary
This innovative programme fuses art, design and technology to address today's challenges. In this interdisciplinary programme, creativity meets new media and sustainability, empowering students to lead transformative change at the intersection of culture, technology and climate justice.
This programme offers an up-front approach to contemporary challenges where art, design and technology converge to address and communicate powerful messages on global issues ranging from the climate crisis and energy transition to geopolitics and the inclusion of social minorities. The programme will enable designers and artists to develop interdisciplinary projects that combine rigorous artistic and design practice with advanced technological and theoretical applications.
Through three thematic studios - Natures-Cultures, Critical Environments and Techno-Human Expressions - students will explore new dimensions of artistic and design creation using traditional media as well as emerging technologies. The method of teaching integrates creative practice with a solid theoretical foundation, stimulating critical discourse and innovative solutions.
The course is structured over four semesters and combines practical and theoretical learning. Each of the three complementary macro areas is covered in a dedicated semester:
- Nature and Ecocriticism: Focuses on theoretical and methodological approaches to contemporary environmental challenges through innovative artistic and design practices. Disciplines include ecocriticism, ecofeminism and urban ecology.
- Spatial Practices and Innovation in the Context of the Inhabited Environment: Explores the socio-political dynamics of spatial practices in art and design, addressing challenges such as urbanisation, migration and digitalisation through theory and practice.
- Technology and Theory of Artistic Form: Integrates advanced technologies (e.g. AR, AI, 3D printing) into artistic and design processes, encouraging experimental and interdisciplinary projects.
The fourth semester is dedicated to research and the development of the final project.
The programme is designed to train highly skilled professionals capable of working in interdisciplinary and pioneering contexts. Students are provided with advanced and up-to-date skills in the fields of design and art, with particular attention to the intersection of these fields with the latest technological developments and a deep understanding of the cultural aspects involved.
Graduates of the programme will be well-prepared to pursue careers in diverse and interdisciplinary fields, leveraging their advanced skills in design, art, and creative technologies. They will be equipped to work in areas such as multimedia and visual arts, art and design curatorship, and art direction, as well as in the management of cultural and creative projects.