Design in Europe
Design in Europe
- Spend three weeks exploring design, art, and architecture across Italy and Switzerland — from the cathedrals and design museums of Milan to the glass studios of Venice, the typography archives of Turin, and the modernist design centers of Basel and Zurich.
- Students will experience the breadth of European design culture: industrial design, architecture, typography, visual communication, and environmental design.
Design in Europe provides students the opportunity to experience the design heritage and contemporary innovation of Italy and Switzerland. From Milan, the international capital of fashion and design, to the canals of Venice, the industrial creativity of Turin, and the Swiss modernism of Basel and Zurich, students will engage directly with iconic works of design, architecture, and visual communication. The program emphasizes how history, culture, and environment shape design across Europe and invites students to connect these insights to their own creative practice.
2026 Dates
Depart U.S.: Wednesday, May 20, 2026
Arrive in Zurich: Thursday, May 21, 2026
Depart Milan: Saturday, June 6, 2026
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Zurich, Switzerland (3 days)
The program begins in Zurich where students will visit the historic Old Town, Museum für Gestaltung and the Pavillon Le Corbusier.
Basel, Switzerland (4 days)
Basel is a city synonymous with modern art and design. Highlights include the Vitra Design Museum, Museum Tinguely, Kunstmuseum Basel, Fondation Beyeler, and the Basel Poster Collection. Students will explore how Swiss design precision and modernist values have influenced global visual communication.
Turin, Italy (4 days)
Turin, located on the banks of the Po River and surrounded by the Alps, is a hub of industrial and typographic design. Visits include the Galleria d’Arte Moderna, the National Automobile Museum, and a full-day hands-on workshop at Typographica Archivio. This workshop allows students to work directly with archival materials and historic printing techniques while reflecting on contemporary design practice.
Milan, Italy (5 days)
Milan, the capital of fashion, design, and culture, is the starting point of our journey. Students will visit the Duomo rooftop, San Maurizio al Monastero Maggiore (the ‘Sistine Chapel of Milan’), The Last Supper, Pinacoteca di Brera, ADI Design Museum, Triennale di Milano, and the Kartell Museum. The city’s design institutions and architectural landmarks illustrate Milan’s role as a global leader in design thinking and production. The trip concludes with reflection, critique, and a celebration of the students’ collected work and insights.
Students can enroll in 3 or 6 hours for the program.
The courses are:
ADS 532 Study Abroad: Design in Europe Studio (3 credit hours) (required)
ADS 533 Study Abroad Documentation (3 credit hours) (optional)
Prior to travel, students will attend pre-departure lectures and discussions and complete research assignments to prepare for their international experience.
Course Descriptions
ADS 532 Study Abroad:____ (3 Credits): Students will participate in a Design focused study abroad program. The student will be required to attend group meetings prior to the trip along with development of research topics of interest. Simple documentation would be required - sketchbook/journal responding to day-to-day itinerary and other events, following the trip and presented for a grade. Prerequisite: Junior level or higher standing in Design or with permission of the instructor. Corequisite: ADS 533.
ADS 533 Study Abroad Documentation (3 Credits): Consists of research work prior to the trip as well as follow-up and required studio work due after return. A portfolio of work will be required for a grade. Course will also fulfill Design-specific requirements or studio credits for other majors. Areas may designate specific Design courses as substitutions for this course. Prerequisite: Junior level or higher standing in Design or with permission of the instructor. Corequisite: ADS 532.
Participants will stay in centrally located hostel or hotels in Zurich, Basel, Turin and Milan. Rooms range from double to quad occupancy. Continental breakfast is included daily.
All students have unique things to consider when studying abroad. A Traveler Profile is a set of personal factors, characteristics or life experiences that could impact daily life abroad. Your individual Traveler Profile may include things such as your age, foreign language proficiency, gender, medical history, medication use, mental health, mobility, piercings and tattoos, travel experience, and more.
SAGE is dedicated to creating international engagement opportunities that meet the needs of all our students and providing resources to support you through the process of studying abroad. Before selecting a program, consider how your Traveler Profile may impact your experience abroad in unique ways and talk with your Program Coordinator about any program-specific concerns. Students with documented disabilities should discuss any accommodation needs with their Program Coordinator early in the planning process.
Check our Traveler Profile pages linked below for information specific to you and other students who may be on your program.
- Adult Learners and Non-Traditional Students
- First Generation Students
- Physical and Mental Health Histories
- Religious, Spiritual, and Non-Religious Students
- Sexual and Gender Diversity
- Students of Color Abroad
- Students with Children
- Students with Financial Need
- Veterans, Active Duty, and ROTC
- Visible and Invisible Disabilities
Open to undergraduate or graduate university students from any accredited U.S. college or university. Minimum 2.5 GPA required (exceptions considered after submission of a petition).
Program Cost for Design in Europe
Andrea Herstowski, Associate Dean/Associate Professor in Design, came back to KU to teach after receiving a BFA here in 1990 and the equivalent of an MFA at the Schule fur Gestaltung Basel in Switzerland. She also taught design at the Academy of Art in San Francisco for several years. She has practiced design in various capacities at internationally recognized studios in San Francisco and Germany, including Factory Design Inc. and xplicit GmbH in Frankfurt, Germany.
Jeremy Shellhorn, Professor of Design and Chair of the Department of Design at the University of Kansas, is the founder of the Design Outside Studio—a roaming classroom that brings students off campus and into national parks to explore how design can shape more engaging and effective communication about the natural world. His design work, research, and teaching have been recognized by AIGA KC, Outdoor Retailer, Fast Company, the National Science Foundation, the Wall Street Journal, and the National Park Service. A co-founder of the Conservation Communication Collaborative and a Leave No Trace “scientist,” Jeremy focuses on visual strategies that enhance interpretive experiences and foster stewardship. Outside the classroom, he enjoys hiking with his family, fly fishing, designing for outdoor brands and developing projects such as parksignsarchive.org and nationalparktypeface.com.
For More Information Contact:
Andrea Herstowski
Associate Dean/Associate Professor
Design Department
354 Chalmers Hall
herstow@ku.edu
Jeremy Shellhorn
Chair/ Professor
Design Department
224 Marvin Hall
jeshellh@ku.edu