1. Who is the BA in Creative Transformation designed for?
For anyone who wants to rethink societal challenges alongside others and work together to shape a future worth living.
Are you committed to social causes, interested in treating nature with care, eager to take action against climate change, or looking for a meaningful career path? In the BA Creative Transformation program, you’ll learn to apply ways of thinking and working from design and art to foster sustainable change.
Whether you have a vocational, technical, or high school diploma, have just completed a preparatory course in design, or have already gained professional experience: what matters most is your motivation and willingness to embrace new perspectives and make a difference together with others.
2. How specific does my project idea need to be?
You don’t need a finished project plan just yet. What’s important is that you have a goal you’d like to develop further and put into practice during your studies.
Maybe you already have a specific project idea you want to pursue. Maybe you’re already working on a project and want to make it more professional. Or perhaps you know what you want to change, but not exactly how.
For your application, a project outline is sufficient—one in which you describe what you want to change, why it’s important to you, and in what context you want to take action. Turning your idea into a viable project is part of the program.
3. How does the program work?
The program combines collaborative learning with individual work on your own project.
In the collaborative in-person component, you’ll explore the fundamentals of sustainable transformation, learn about different perspectives and methods, and develop your skills in shaping change processes.
In the individualized component, you’ll work on your project and specifically deepen the skills required for it. Mentors and course offerings from various departments at the University of Lucerne are available to support you.
What makes this program unique: Your project isn’t just your final thesis—it’s a central component of your studies from the very beginning.
4. Can I work while I’m in the program?
The program is designed as a full-time program, but you can also work on your transformation project outside the university. The schedule is organized so that in-person classes and individual project work can be planned side by side. Specific days of the week are set aside for project work. This gives you a great deal of flexibility in how you structure your time.
5. What sets the BA in Creative Transformation apart from other degree programs?
The BA in Creative Transformation does not focus on a specific professional field or a single discipline, but rather on your goal of bringing about sustainable change.
You’ll learn to understand social, environmental, economic, and technological challenges and to develop concrete solutions. In doing so, you’ll combine academic perspectives with creative methods from design and art. Three things make this program unique: your own project as a starting point, your individual interdisciplinary specialization, and the close connection between academic study and practical application. So you’re not just studying to make a difference later on—you start doing so right during your studies and can help shape your future professional context yourself.
6. Do I need to have prior design experience?
No. You don’t need to have any formal design training or an artistic background.
During the program, you’ll learn design-oriented ways of thinking and working and apply them to your projects. This isn’t just about designing products or visual outcomes—it’s primarily about the creative development of ideas, processes, and new forms of collaboration. If you already have design experience, you can apply it in a targeted way and build on it.
7. What can I do after graduation?
During the program, you’ll develop a personalized skill set that will enable you to work in a wide variety of fields:
In companies, NGOs, public institutions, cultural and educational organizations, or as a freelancer—anywhere people with creative skills are needed to shape processes of transformation.
Your project might even lead to your future career. You can also pursue a master’s degree, such as the Master’s in Eco-Social Design.
8. In what language is the program taught?
The language of instruction is German. Individual courses, guest lectures, or course materials may also be in English.
You should therefore have a good command of German and be willing to engage with English-language content as well.
9. How does the application process work?
In your application, briefly describe your proposal, your motivation, and your initial ideas. If you’d like, you can also provide insights into your previous experiences, activities, or work—for example, through images, texts, or other materials. These do not have to be related to your project idea.
Important to know: You don’t need to have a finished project concept yet for your application.
After a positive initial review, you’ll be invited to a workshop followed by an interview.
At the start of the program, you’ll get to know your fellow students, the faculty, and the studio. Together, you’ll develop an initial understanding of transformation and explore different ways to shape change processes.
Your project idea will take shape step by step. A team of mentors will guide you as you plan your next steps.
So you don’t have to know or be able to do everything just yet—what matters most is that you’re ready to embark on this journey with us.
