MATERIALS DESIGN

Questions and Answers ⎥ Curriculum Year 1⎥ Curriculum Year 2

Video presentation

Every day we see more and more products being sold. But for a product to sell, it must not only be functional, but also attractive and beautifully designed, as this gives the product added value and a competitive edge. This is the reason why product design is so important for successful sales. Around the world, successful companies are focusing on development that involves designers from the very beginning. However, designers often come up with products that are very difficult to manufacture or the manufacturing process is too expensive because they do not know the processes well enough. A designer who is good at designing products and is skilled with the technology in order to make them, has an invaluable advantage over others. In the Materials Design programme, you get both: a good design background and the knowledge of how to make your ideas work. This allows you more freedom and independence to create new products. During your studies you will be working on various projects for the economy. Our important task is to give you as much freedom as possible in your creativity.

The Higher Education study programme Materials Design is worth 120 (ECTS) credit points. It is a full-time programme only. The duration of the Materials Design programme is two years. Graduates obtain the professional title of Design Engineer. The level of professional qualification obtained is 6/1 ("Higher Professional Qualification").


The study year consists of 34 weeks, in Year 1 and Year 2, comprising 24 weeks of lectures and tutorials at school and 10 weeks of organised practical training with employers in their companies.

Why become a Materials Design Engineer?

Materials Designer is becoming an increasingly promising career field because:

It is very important in the increasing development of new materials and our orientation towards the use of natural resources (wood) and the recycling or processing the waste.

There are many opportunities for new ideas and innovation, both in product development and business model development.

A Materials Design Engineer has a very broad range of skills in the area of engineering and the social sciences and humanities.

  • Where are the Materials Design Engineers employed?

    - In all those branches of industry, crafts and services directly or indirectly linked to production and design.

    - In business, architecture and research institutes in manufacturing, commerce and public administration.

    - Also as consultants, developers, researchers, inspectors or analysts in the wider fields of ecology.

    - During their studies, they are also trained for active self-employment in the freelance professions.

  • Admission Requirements

    The Materials Design post-secondary study programme is open to anyone who:

    - has passed the General or Vocational Baccalaureate or has completed the corresponding education under the previous regulations, or

    - has passed the master's, foreman's or manager's examination, has three years' work experience and has passed a general-education subject examination to the extent required for the Vocational Baccalaureate in upper-secondary vocational education.

    - An additional condition for admission to the Materials Design programme is the passing of an aptitude/ drawing talent test.

  • The Study

    - The programme offers a high degree of diversity, which the school will provide based on the interests of the students.

    - The Ljubljana School Centre, in cooperation with partner schools, provides excellent material conditions for practical work on projects in specialised classrooms and laboratories, as well as well-equipped school workshops, in the fields of wood, metal and polymer design.

    - Based on long-standing cooperation and close links with industry and other institutions, the school enables students to join a wide network of interested employers (companies) - partners for practical training and future employers (graduates) of the school.

  • Options for further study

    - Graduates of Vocational Colleges can apply to a wide range of Higher Education Institutions, both at home and abroad.

    - They usually enroll in the second year of their higher education studies, and must pass differentials exams before they can actually enroll in their preferred programme.

    - Admission requirements vary between faculties, so you should consult an adviser about your study options before enrolling.

  • Modules

    The courses (modules) offered by the school are in the following areas:

    - Design of Living and Building Furniture,

    Design of Artistic and Specialised Wood and Wood Products,

    - Metal and Polymer Design.

Curriculum Year 1

Communication in Design

Course Number of hours Number of credit points
Professional Terminology in a Foreign Language 36 3
Business Communication and Management 36 3
Information and Computer Science 48 4
Practical Training 3
Total 13

Product Design

Course Number of hours Number of credit points
Freehand Drawing 72 4
Fundamentals of Art Theory 36 3
Basics of Aesthetics 60 5
Practical Training 3
Total 15

Design Planning

Course Number of hours Number of credit points
Technical Drawing and Descriptive Geometry 72 5
Presentation Techniques 72 6
Documenting and Archiving 24 2
Practical Training 3
Total 16

The programme offers a choice of modules:

Module A: "Material basics - Wood"

Module Number of hours Number of credit points
Compound Materials in Woodwork 48 4
Optional Materials in Woodwork 48 4
Surface Treatment of Wood 48 4
Practical Training 4
Total 16

Module B: Material basics - Metal and Polymers"

Course Number of hours Number of credit points
Materials 72 7
Project work 72 5
Practical Training 4
Total 16

Curriculum Year 2

Economics in Design

Course Number of hours Number of credit points
Entrepreneurship, Economics and Marketing 48 3
Practical Training 2
Total 5

Programme "Material Design - wood" offers a choice of modules:

Module A: "Treatment Technology- wood "

Module Number of hours Number of credit points
Software Tools and Equipment - Wood 60 4
Manual Woodworking Technology 48 4
Woodworking Machine Technology 72 5
Practical Training 2
Total 15

Module B: "Basics of Restoration - wood "

Course Number of hours Number of credit points
Pathology and Recovery of Wood Products 72 5
Restoration Techniques - Wood 60 4
Historical Development of Building and Living Furniture 36 3
Practical Training 36 3
Total 15

The modules include:

Furniture Design - Wood

Module Number of hours Number of credit points
Designing Building Furniture 60 4
Designing Living Furniture 72 5
Practical Training 6
Total 15

or  Art Design - Wood

Module Number of hours Number of credit points
Wood Carving and Plastics in Wood 44 3
Wood Inlays and Encrustations 44 3
Alternative Expressive Techniques - Wood 44 3
Total 15

Programme "Material Design - metal" offers a choice of modules:

Module A: "Treatment Technologies- metal and polymers"

Course Number of hours Number of credit points
Technology 84 7
Practical Training 3
Total 10

Module B: "Technical Elements- metal and polymers"

Course Number of hours Number of credit points
Mechanics with Machine Elements 96 7
Practical Training 3
Total 10

Module C: "Industrial Product Design- metal and polymers"

Course Number of hours Number of credit points
Planning and Designing Products 228 15
Practical Training 5
Total 20

Module D: "Artistic Expression with Metal''

Course Number of hours Number of credit points
Total 72 5

All students take another elective course (5 KT) and complete their Diploma Thesis.