Design Courses in Spain - Taught in English

Marbella Design Academy:
Founded in 1995, Marbella Design Academy is a leading international design school in Spain, state-recognised by the Ministry of Education. Our students can choose between 3-year academic studies, a 3-month foundation course, and short intensive summer courses in a range of creative arts and design subjects, taught entirely in English. We offer 3-year Bachelor of Arts - BA (Hons) degree programmes in Interior Architecture, Graphic Design & Fashion Design, awarded by the University of Bedfordshire, UK (These BA degree titles are state-recognised in the UK).

3-Year Diploma & Degree Design Programmes - Taught in English:
Besides all compulsory subjects taught in each 3-year course below, students receive comprehensive training in the cutting-edge professional computer programmes used in industrial settings, such as Auto-Cad, 3D Studio Max, Indesign, Photoshop, Illustrator and Adobe Premier.

Interior Architecture & Design Studies (BA Degree Program)
• Leading to a BA (Hons) degree on graduation
• This Bachelor of Arts degree is approved and validated by the University of Bedfordshire, UK
• Graduates can then apply for an additional 10 months of study to earn a Masters Degree at the University of Bedfordshire or any other university of your choice

Working as a professional Interior Architect, your creative expression is limited only by your own imagination!

Designed to provide you with knowledge and understanding of all aspects of the interior architecture process, this course commences twice a year, in September and January.

Some of the tutors on this course work professionally within the interior design industry on a local and international level.

This is a great opportunity for students interested in a career in interior architecture to study in English in sunny Spain, at a lower cost than in the UK.


Graphic Design & Media Studies (BA Degree Program)
• Leading to a BA (Hons) degree on graduation.
• This Bachelor of Arts degree is approved and validated by the University of Bedfordshire, UK
• Graduates can then apply for an additional 10 months of study to earn a Masters Degree at the University of Bedfordshire or any other university of your choice

As a professionally trained Graphic Designer, you can enjoy a wonderful profession that is full of exciting assignments and a rewarding and creative working life, where no two days are the same.

This course commences twice a year, in September and January. Graduates will be well prepared to enter the professional marketplace, with the necessary resources that will allow you to excel in this fast-paced design industry. 

You will be equipped with all the necessary knowledge and skills to develop a professional projection focused on visual communication and presentation.


Fashion Design & Manufacture Studies (BA Degree Program)
• Leading to a BA (Hons) degree on graduation.
• This Bachelor of Arts degree is approved and validated by the University of Bedfordshire, UK
• Graduates can then apply for an additional 10 months to earn a Masters Degree at the University of Bedfordshire or any other university of your choice

Being a professional Fashion Designer is an exciting and rewarding career with many opportunities to gain employment in one of the numerous fashion houses worldwide, or to create your own brands and collections.

Spain is a mecca for Fashion, and is home to the famous "Zara" Fashion Empire, as well as many others. Some of the world's most famous fashion designers are Spanish.

This validated Fashion Design programme provides you with the highest caliber of education in the Fashion Design industry, in a wonderful and inspiring atmosphere. This course commences twice a year, in September and January. 

Marbella Design Academy has been recognised as one of the top design schools in the world, and you will graduate as a professional and highly skilled Fashion Designer. 


Art & Design Foundation Studies:

Intensive Foundation Course - 3 months / 12 weeks:
Taught in English. Begins twice per year: Starting in June and September 

An excellent introduction to the world of Art & Design, this course is primarily designed for students who do not fulfil the entry requirements for the 3-year validated programmes (Fashion Design, Interior Architecture or Graphic Design), or who are unsure which validated programme you would like to pursue.

This intensive course aims to help you to understand how to develop your ideas, add meaning and context to your designs. All the basic design tools are taught at beginner level in order to prepare you to enter the 3-year validated programmes. International students can enter on a Tourist Visa, which is valid for 3 months.

The Foundation Course consists of 4 phases:

Introduction (2 weeks)
You will learn basic drawing techniques, and complete a range of drawings. You will discuss the following topics: Perspective; Colour: Primary & Secondary; Composition; Light; Texture. 

Experimentation (5.5 weeks)
The aim of this phase is to challenge your creativity, and enable you to understand your own interests and abilities. You will tackle a wide range of projects, spanning many areas of design. 

Specialisation (4 weeks)
You will participate in a number of projects (at least 3) with some flexibility for those students that may still be unsure of what area to specialise in: Graphic Design, Fashion Design, or Interior Architecture. 

Presentation (0.5 weeks)
You will give a short presentation (10 minutes maximum) of your best project work, focusing on projects that you feel have been successful and explaining why. You will also have 3 hours of English classes per week to prepare you for the IELTS level 6 exam.


Short-term / Intensive Summer Courses - Taught in English:
Study hours for our Summer Courses: Monday to Friday from 9am to 1pm

Summer Course options:
• 3D Printing (2 weeks)
• 3D Studio MAX (3 weeks)
• 3D Studio MAX + AutoCAD (5 weeks)
• AutoCAD (2 weeks)
• Fashion Design (5 weeks) 
• Illustrator (2 weeks)
• Illustrator + Photoshop (5 weeks)
• InDesign (2 weeks)
• InDesign + Photoshop (5 weeks)
• Interior Decoration (5 weeks)
• Photography - Basic (2 weeks)
• Photography + Photoshop (5 weeks)
• Photoshop (3 weeks)
• Screen Printing (2 weeks)
• Screen Printing + Photoshop (5 weeks)
• Videography + Premiere PRO (3 weeks)

As part of the course, you will be given a project to be completed during your stay. On completion of the Summer Course, you will receive a Certificate from Marbella Design Academy. This be given out on the last day of the course.

Some courses have been created to include a combination of these aforementioned skills (for example ‘Photoshop + Indesign’ or ‘Photography + Photoshop’).

Foundation Studies Summer Course - 3 months
Intensive, 12 week foundation course taught in English, starting in June.


Spanish Language Tuition:
Two educations in one! Students have the option of learning Spanish alongside their design course. Free Spanish classes are held twice a week after tuition hours during the academic year in all 3 years. These Spanish classes are voluntary.


Student Reviews:
•  "Overall my experience at the Marbella Design Academy is very positive, I have learned a lot and have a very nice time. I am as well pleased with all the tutorials throughout the term.... All the projects are challenging and are giving me satisfaction when I have presented them well."
Anna Brylka, Poland (Interior Architecture Student)

•  "The best thing about being a student in Marbella Design Academy is that there are only a few students in each class, which enables you to have the freedom of asking as many questions you desire."
Farah, Lebanon (Interior Architecture Student)

•  "Here you can decide what do you want to do in your future! You can learn more about yourself! You can dream...design and CREATE! Fashion design is creating a language of shapes, forms and colors. In fashion design you can form your creativity, ideas and personal style.
Kate Solomennikova, Russia (Fashion Design Student)

•  I want to work in the fashion industry. I am at the Marbella Design Academy to learn and find my own interpretation of the language of fashion so I hopefully can succeed and reach my goals."
Pernille Broesch, Denmark (Fashion Design Student)

•  "What I love the most of the Marbella Design Academy is how close students grow to be. Since classes are really small there's always time for questions. Teachers treat students as people not as numbers and they really care about the students and their future as designers."
Laura Facio Lince, Colombia (Graphic Design Student)