Course content.
The “Sustainable Design” minor combines the relevant topics skills and research activities from all design disciplines into Sustainable Design. The content and project work in the minor are based on the guiding principle that “knowledge is the basis for action”. You will learn how design skills can drive impending societal change, i.e. the Sustainable Turn, by undertaking solution-oriented project work. The minor focuses on ecological sustainability without losing sight of the related social and economic aspects in the process. Drawing on future-oriented developments and trends in the sustainability field (for example, social design, sharing and the circular economy, green tech, climate communication, zero waste and urban farming), students explore current topics, discuss best practice projects from the field of Sustainable Design, and launch projects in cooperation with external partners. 

The “Sustainable Design” minor is supported by all subject areas of the Department of Design and coordinated by the Knowledge Visualization subject area. It is aimed at Bachelor’s and Master’s students.

Skills acquired in the course.
You will learn how to define relevant, strategic fields of activity in the field of sustainability, and will be able to position your own role, work and sphere of influence to facilitate sustainable development in our society. Students who undertake this minor have a good grounding in the criteria for ecological, social and economic sustainability, and incorporate the latest research findings as well as their own knowledge and creative skills acquired in their major into their design work. They will learn to develop positions and solution-oriented project goals in collaboration with interdisciplinary teams and to implement trendsetting design projects in prototype form with research and practice partners from the field of sustainability.

Admissions requirements.
The “Sustainable Design” minor is aimed at designers who consider sustainability to be an intrinsic part of their craft, and who would like to position themselves in the context of sustainability and hone their stance. You will develop your network and connectivity in interdisciplinary teams by exploring current and future sustainable development issues in creative, critical and tangible terms.   

The “Sustainable Design” minor is open to all students at ZHdK. Specific admission requirements for the minor are checked by means of a self-declaration.

Language skills required.
You need the following languages to take this minor:
–  German and English: to be able to follow a discussion
–  German and English: to actively participate in a verbal exchange
–  German and English: to understand a text
–  German or English: to write a text

Benefits of studying at ZHdK.
Designers play a key role in the most important megatrend of our time – sustainable development. The “Sustainable Design” minor provides students with direct access to this highly relevant design field. “Field Research”, an opening event lasting several days, exposes you to real-life sustainability issues at ground level. You will encounter different perspectives on the big issue of sustainability and get to know different problems, solutions and protagonists. In the autumn semester of 2024, for example, we visited the ERZ's circular economy group, “Entsorgung und Recycling Zürich”, where we gained valuable insights into the urban organism and the “Circular Zürich” strategy for the future of Zurich. 

In the introductory lecture series “Skills” you will meet the experts on key sustainability issues and challenges such as the climate crisis, the biodiversity crisis, Doughnut Economics and planetary boundaries, the circular economy and sufficiency, policy frameworks and personal and social resilience. 

In formats such as “project workshop” and “laboratory”, you work directly with external cooperation partners and are assisted by enthusiastic lecturers from a range of design disciplines. In this way, you gain access to a diverse, influential network of actors from the profession and research area of sustainable design and a range of options for further study at a higher level, both of which will facilitate their entry to the profession or research area. The “Sustainable Design” minor helps students to find their own role, work area and sphere of influence in the sustainable development of our society, with the goal of contributing to the Sustainable Turn in both creative and critical terms in the future.

Time structure.
Autumn Semester:
From calendar week 38, Friday afternoons between 1pm and 5pm until calendar week 51
Minor block during calendar weeks 02–04, Monday to Friday between 9am and 5pm

Spring Semester:
Minor block during calendar weeks 08–10, Monday to Friday between 9am and 5pm
From calendar week 11, Friday afternoons between 1pm and 5pm until calendar week 12 as well as calendar weeks 15, 18 and 21

→ More information about this minor (PDF download)

Minor Coordination

Lecturers

At ZHdK, students choose a Major. In addition to this core subject, they can choose one or two Minors to deepen or expand their major skills and knowledge across various disciplines. This wide choice of courses is unique in Europe and enables students to develop and sharpen their individual profile.