Seoul National University

Mission Statement

“Major of Design from Dept. of Crafts and Design, College of Fine Arts, SNU” has been producing design talent for 70 years since its foundation as “Dept. of Design, College of Arts” in 1946. With the educational objectives of SNU design-major “cultivating creative design talent of the 21st century” and “playing a role of the global cradle for creation of novel design values”, we are teaching students the entire design fields including graphic design, media design, product design, space design and design history and culture, conferring a bachelor of fine arts (design), master of design and doctor of design. As of 2016, our entrance number is 29 for an undergraduate course, 11 for a master’s course, 2 for a master’s/doctor’s integrated course and 6 for a doctor’s course. In addition to entrance quota, foreign/double major/exchange students are studying together. Furthermore, we produce about 60 graduates every year including bachelors, masters and doctors, totalled about 1800 graduates for 70 years since its foundation. The faculty consists of 10 full-time professors and more than 60 inviting lecturers.

International Role

Exchange programs with Aalto University, School of the Art Institute of Chivago (SAIC), University of Art and Design Offenbach, Chiba University, Tsinghua University, Tokyo University of the Arts, Aalborg University, Burg Glebichenstein Kunsthochschule Halle, Royal Academy of Art – The Hague (KABK), University of Brighton, London Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design, TAMA Art University, City University of Hong Kong, Nova Scotia College of Art & Design (NSCAD), ECAL/University of Art and Design Lausanne, East Carolina University (ECU), Swinburne University of Technology, OCAD University, National Taiwan University of Science and Technology, Tomsk State University, etc.

Exchange program is for students in SNUs partner universities who wish to study at SNU for one or two semesters and transfer credits to their home institution. To be an exchange student, candidates must be officially nominated by their home institution and pay the tuition fee at their home institution. (http://oia.snu.ac.kr/page/exchange_program.php)

National Role

– Cultivate the spirit of entrepreneurship by creating a new design business: NEOWIZ, Studio Gale, OCON, INNODESIGN, pxd, emotion, WOOFER  DESIGN, action seoul, LEEZM interactive, Graphic Design Studio, etc.

– Educate leading designers for companies: Samsung, Hyundai/KIA Motors, Naver, LG, Hanssem, Cheil, etc. in Korea, and General Motors, Walt Disney, Pixar, etc. abroad

– Foster design educators for future generations with establishing design theories and practices: Seoul National University, Hongik University, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Korea University, Yonsei University, Kookmin University, Ewha Women University, etc. in Korea, and Chiba University, etc. abroad

Main Focus

Product/System Design, Graphic Design, Typography Design, Space Design, User Interface Design, Interaction/UX design, HCI Design, New Media Design, Motion Graphic Design, Service Design, Human-Centered Design Methodology, Design History, Design Theory, Design Criticism