Ecole des Arts Décoratifs – Paris

Mission Statement

The National School of Decorative Art's mission arts training scientific and technical ability of designers to design, promote and develop any achievement in various disciplines of decorative arts, conduct and the enhancement of research in these disciplines.

International Role

The international nature of the learning experience is key to building a professional future. It is also an opportunity for to test their capacity for innovation and creation in a different cultural context. The École nationale supérieure des Arts Décoratifs therefore facilitates foreign study for its students through the Erasmus programme within Europe and through partnerships with establishments outside Europe. The School works with a network of 87 academic institutions that covers every continent.

National Role

The École nationale supérieure des Arts Décoratifs is member of “Paris Sciences et Lettres” (PSL Research University). As such, and in close collaboration with the École Normale Supérieure, the School is developing the new SACRe doctoral program (Sciences, Arts, Creation, Research), the goal of which is to bring together artists, designers, and scientists. The School’s commitment to innovation was strengthened in 2012 with the creation – in partnership with the Bettencourt Schueller Foundation – of the “Innovation & Expertise” program, the goal of which is to develop innovation and research in art and design as well as multidisciplinary approaches. EnSAD is also a member of the Conférence des Grandes Écoles. Another distinctive feature of the EnsAD course is the inclusion of partnerships in the educational process. Over fifty various partnerships were initiated by the School: ——– with higher education institutions in France and abroad, including: Sciences Po, École des Mines, École normale supérieure, École nationale supérieure des beaux arts, Conservatoire national supérieur de musique et de danse de Paris (France); the Royal College of Art and Central Saint Martin’s College of Art and Design (UK); Aalto University (Helsinki), National institute of design, Ahmedabad (India); etc. ——– with cultural institutions: Palais de Tokyo, Bibliothèque Nationale de France, Centquatre, Centre Pompidou, Musée du quai Branly, Gaîté Lyrique, etc. ——– with private companies: Haviland, Maison Martin Margiela, AOS Studley et Vitra, Tarkett, International Flavors and Fragrances (IFF) Thanks to these partnerships, EnsAD students have access to a wide range of specific projects (internships, workshops, exhibitions, events, research projects).

Main Focus

A two-hundred-year history, a unique educational model, and an exceptional openness to the world through 140 partnerships with leading international universities, cultural institutions, and innovative companies, place the École nationale supérieure des Arts Décoratifs among the world’s major schools of art and design. The École des Arts Déco, founded in 1766, the École nationale supérieure des Arts Décoratifs (EnsAD) is an institution of higher education under the authority of the French Ministry for Culture and Communication. It offers a wealth of intellectual, creative, and artistic opportunities in a multidisciplinary context of partnership and innovation. With an enrolment of 720 students, French and foreign, the school offers a five-year degree program with a specialization in one of ten departments. The EnsAD degree is recognized as a master’s level qualification.