DSa X KDS is a design education program born from the collaboration of two prestigious institutions: DS academy (DSa) and Kuwasawa Design School (KDS) in Japan.
Founded in 1954 by Kuwasawa Yoko, Kuwasawa Design School (KDS) is Japan’s first specialized design school. It earned high praise from Bauhaus director Walter Gropius, who called it the "Bauhaus of the East." With its unique positioning as a "specialized design school," KDS has nurtured numerous internationally renowned designers, including Shiro Kuramata, Tokujin Yoshioka, Katsumi Asaba, Naoki Takizawa, Masateru Aoba, Keisuke Nagatomo, Yui Takada, Mieko Kato, Yutaka Sato, and Toru Kase.
DS academy (DSa) traces its origins to Design Summer, an experimental design education project founded in 2009 in Hangzhou, China, by Dr. Jumping He. As a distinctive initiative in the field of design education, DSa is renowned for its forward-thinking educational philosophy and outstanding educational outcomes. Committed to advancing the forefront of experimental design education, DSa continues to explore new pathways for design education.
Driven by mutual attraction between DSa and KDS, DSa joins hands with KDS to launch the DSa X KDS experimental education project starting from 2025. This program is dedicated to cultivating young elite designers with an international vision, revolutionary techniques, and innovative thinking. Within an intensive two-month curriculum, participants engage directly with leading design experts from both Eastern and Western contexts through exclusive, customized, and research-oriented courses that integrate professional practice and theoretical study. Senior faculty members from KDS also join the program, enabling participants to experience multidimensional transitions across diverse design contexts.
In the inaugural 2025 edition of “DSa × Kuwasawa Institute,” over 90% of participants successfully passed the professional assessment and on-site interview of KDS, and were granted admission offers. The program serves as a direct bridge to internationally renowned design institutions, supporting participants in pursuing their studies abroad with clarity and confidence.
Exclusive Advantages of “DSa × Kuwasawa Institute”
1.Premier Academic Resources: reuniting world-class professional educational resources, the program offers participants rich learning resources and strong professional guidance. By blending Eastern and Western design philosophies, participants shall gain deep insights of different design thinking and methodology against diverse cultural contexts.
2.Official Certification: “DSa × Kuwasawa Institute” is the only officially affiliated program of Kuwasawa Design School (KDS) in China. Participants will receive a certificate of completion issued by KDS, offering a recognized credential to support their professional development.
3.Streamlined Pathway to Study Abroad: Without the need for a separate international application process, all participants who complete the program are eligible to take part in KDS’s professional assessment and on-site interview at the earliest opportunity.
4.High Admission Rate: Each year, KDS admits at least 10 outstanding participants from the “DSa × Kuwasawa Institute” program into its three-year full-time program.
KDS Professional Selection Process
1.Participants will complete a personal portfolio during the “DSa × Kuwasawa Institute” program, which serves as a key component of the KDS selection process.
2.The KDS professional assessment and interview will take place within three working days prior to the program’s completion, with results announced within three working days after graduation.
3.Participants who successfully pass the KDS assessment and interview will receive an official admission letter confirming they have “passed the professional evaluation.”
4.Participants who receive this admission letter are required, before the KDS deadline, to pass the N2 level of the Japanese-Language Proficiency Test (JLPT), administered by the Japan Educational Exchanges and Services and Japan Foundation. (Note: The exam is held annually in July and December in Shanghai.)
Academic Committee
Mr. Katsumi Asaba, Mr. Ryuhei Sato, Dr. Jumping He, Prof.Fons Hickmann, Prof. Markus Weisbeck
Course Schedule
July 6 August 28 (Monday to Friday)
Note:
The regular design practice sessions take place from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM, while the afternoon sessions from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM feature general courses, including design philosophy and history, multidisciplinary lectures, design production and printing techniques. For further details, please consult the course schedule.