What Ecole de Communication Visuelle does

Ecole de Communication Visuelle (ECV) is a private French higher education institution founded in 1984 in Paris and part of the AD Education group, operating six campuses across France (Paris, Aix-en-Provence, Bordeaux, Nantes, Lille, and Strasbourg). ECV delivers bachelor's and master's level programs (RNCP Level 6 to Level 7) in five disciplines: Design and Art Direction, Animation (2D/3D cinema), Game Art, Digital (UX/UI, front-end development, product management), and Interior Architecture & Scenography. The pedagogical model combines conceptual thinking with industry-standard software stacks — including Toon Boom and Houdini (curriculum-certified), Maya, ZBrush, the Adobe suite, and modern web frameworks (React, Vue, Node, Three.js) — and culminates in team-based end-of-studies short films that reproduce real studio production conditions.

ECV serves prospective students (500 at Lille, 285 at Aix-en-Provence alone, indicating a national enrollment base across six campuses) and operates an admissions motion that is direct-to-consumer and hors Parcoursup, built on online brochure capture, application forms, and one-on-one admission interviews on campus or remotely. The revenue model is tuition-based across Prepa, Bachelor, and Mastère programs (paid in 1, 3, or 6 installments), with a significant Mastère portion delivered through work-study (alternance) contracts co-funded by 1,500+ enterprise partners via French apprenticeship mechanisms (contrat de professionnalisation / apprentissage). Continuing education via VAE (Validation des Acquis de l'Expérience) adds a secondary revenue stream. ECV's go-to-market blends event-driven recruitment (Open Days, discovery workshops, masterclasses), community-led reputation (alumni at Cartier, Hermès, Havas, BETC, Illumination, Fortiche), and a partner channel for the alternance business, with earned media amplified through festival selections of student films and partnerships with France Design Week, RECA, and the Biennale du Design Graphique. ECV holds multiple state-recognized RNCP titles, with a new Level 7 Animation title obtained in May 2025.

Name

Ecole de Communication Visuelle

Legal name

Ecole de Communication Visuelle

Website

https://ecv.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

1984

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

ECV is a private French higher education institution founded in 1984, operating six campuses and delivering bachelor's and master's (RNCP Level 6–7) programs in Design, Animation, Game Art, Digital, and Interior Architecture to prospective students via direct admissions and work-study partnerships with 1,500+ enterprises.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Francescas

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices9 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Tuition fees (Frais de scolarité): Primary revenue from tuition for Prepa, Bachelor, and Mastère programs (Bac+1 through Bac+5). Paid in 1x, 3x, or 6x installments. Recurring annual per student across multi-year programs.
2. Registration / dossier fees (Frais de dossier): Non-refundable registration fees collected at first-year enrollment; can be deferred to the following year in case of failure to obtain required diploma.
3. Work-study / Alternance programs: Revenue from work-study Mastère programs (contrat de professionnalisation or contrat d'apprentissage), running 4 days in company / 1 day at school weekly; tuition effectively funded through enterprise partner payroll contributions (1,500+ enterprise partners).
4. Continuing education / VAE (Validation des Acquis de l'Expérience): RNCP titles are accessible via VAE (Validation des Acquis de l'Expérience) and via competency blocks, opening a continuing-education revenue stream for working professionals seeking certification.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

ECV is a private French higher education institution founded in 1984 that delivers multi-year undergraduate and graduate programs (Prépas, Bachelors, Mastères from Bac+1 to Bac+5) in Design/Art Direction, 2D/3D Animation, Game Art, UX/UI and Front-End Web Development, Product Management, and Interior Architecture & Scenography. Programs are delivered across six French campuses (Paris, Aix-en-Provence, Bordeaux, Nantes, Lille, Strasbourg) and lead to RNCP Level 6 and Level 7 titles registered by France Compétences. Curriculum combines conceptual pedagogy with industry-standard software stack (Toon Boom, Houdini, Maya, ZBrush, Adobe, React/Vue/Node) and integrates a work-study (alternance) format with 1,500+ enterprise partners for Mastère-level students.

Product overview

ECV (Ecole de Communication Visuelle / ECV Creative Schools & Community) is a French private higher-education institution founded in 1984 in Paris, operating across six campuses (Paris, Aix-en-Provence, Bordeaux, Lille, Nantes, Strasbourg). Rather than a single unified tech product, ECV delivers a portfolio of educational programs organized into four main curriculum pillars — ECV Design Programs (Direction Artistique), ECV Animation Programs (Cinéma d'Animation 2D/3D), ECV Game Programs (Game Art), and ECV Digital Programs (UX/UI, Web Development, Product) — supplemented by ECV Interior Architecture & Scenography Programs and an ECV International Programs track delivered entirely in English. The Mastère Cinéma d'Animation is the most specialized end-to-end offering, producing a final-year short film and certified by Toon Boom and Houdini. The Mastère Lead Developer Front End is the digital flagship, covering modern front-end stacks (React/Vue/Node/Three.js). Around these programs, ECV operates the ECV Community Platform for alumni, recruitment and work-study placement, runs free ECV Stage Découverte summer discovery workshops across all campuses, and prepares students for state-recognized RNCP titles (Level 6 to Level 7) registered by France Compétences. All programs are reinforced by industry partnerships and masterclasses with studios such as Fortiche Production, Illumination Studios Paris, Ubisoft, Xilam, BETC and Havas.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• École de Direction Artistique: ECV sub-brand for its Art Direction school offering Mastères in Direction Artistique (360°, Digital, Design Graphique, Publicité, Typographie).
• École de Game Art
• École d'Animation
• École de Graphisme
• École d'Architecture d'Intérieur

Products and services

• ECV Design Programs (Direction Artistique) Multi-year design and art direction programs (Bachelor and Mastère levels) covering graphic design, advertising art direction, typography, and digital direction. Prepares students for RNCP Level 6 and Level 7 titles. Available across multiple French campuses.
• ECV Animation Programs (Cinéma d'Animation 2D/3D) Animation curriculum covering Prépa Animation, Bachelor Animation 2D/3D, and Mastère Cinéma d'Animation with 2D and 3D specializations. Awards the RNCP Level 7 title n°40555 « Expert en conception et production de film d'animation ». Certified by Toon Boom (2D) and Houdini (3D/VFX). Available in Paris and Bordeaux.
• ECV Game Programs (Game Art) Game curriculum including Prépa Game, Bachelor Game, Bachelor Game & Interactive Design, and Mastère Game. Covers character design, concept art, 3D modeling, narration and game development visual aspects.
• ECV Digital Programs (UX/UI, Web Development, Product) Digital curriculum including Bachelor Conception UI (work-study), Mastère UX/UI Design, Mastère UX Design & Research, Mastère Lead Developer Front End, Mastère Webdesigner, and Mastère Product Manager. Covers HTML/CSS/JS/TypeScript/React/Vue/Node/Three.js, PHP/MySQL/Python, eco-design, RGPD, cybersecurity, DevOps. Awards RNCP n°34758 (Level 7) with 91% certification pass rate.
• ECV Interior Architecture & Scenography Programs Interior Architecture & Scenography curriculum including Foundation year, Bachelor Architecture d'intérieur and Mastère Architecture d'intérieur & Scénographie (work-study). Available at Aix-en-Provence and Paris.
• ECV International Programs (English Track) International programs delivered entirely in English: Foundation Year in Design, Bachelor Graphic Design, International Bachelor in Design (3 cities), and International Master Graphic Design and Art Direction. Open to international students, includes Erasmus and Cumulus exchange programs.
• ECV Stage Découverte (Discovery Workshops) Free 2- to 3-day summer discovery workshops offered at each ECV campus (Paris, Aix-en-Provence, Bordeaux, Lille, Nantes, Strasbourg), allowing prospective students to explore design, animation, game and interior architecture through hands-on creative ateliers (character design, linocut, screen printing, observation drawing).
• ECV Community Platform Online community and job board platform for ECV students, alumni and partner companies, supporting corporate relations, work-study placements, and recruitment. Includes spaces for student area, alumni area, company area, and job posting.

Named customers16 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability4 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

32 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Toon BoomcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry software certification partner for the ECV Animation curriculum. The Animation curriculum is officially certified by Toon Boom for 2D animation; certifies the academic system and the quality of trainers/pedagogical referents.
• Houdini (SideFX)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry software certification partner for the ECV Animation curriculum in 3D and VFX. Houdini certification covers compositing, VFX pipeline, and 3D animation technical tracks.
• DreamWorks AnimationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDreamWorks logo featured among ECV Animation's professional recognition partners; ECV Bordeaux referenced as part of the RECA network, of which DreamWorks is a flagship industry backer.
• France CompétencescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrench state body that registers ECV's RNCP titles (Level 6 and Level 7), recognizing the pedagogical excellence of ECV programs. In May 2025, ECV obtained the RNCP Level 7 'Expert en conception et production de film d'animation' (n°40555).
• RECA (Réseau de l'Enseignement Supérieur de la Création Audiovisuelle)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerECV Paris and ECV Bordeaux are officially labelled RECA schools, joining the French network of higher-education institutions for audiovisual creation.
• Association Design Conseil (ADC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerECV joined the ADC (Association Design Conseil), the French association representing design consulting firms.
• MonotypecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerECV partnered with Monotype, the type foundry and typographic creation studio, to enrich its pedagogical content on typography (referenced via partnership announcement).
• Shadok (Strasbourg)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerECV partnered with Le Shadok to promote its future Strasbourg campus, supporting the opening of its 6th French campus.
• SUPDEWEB PARIScoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOfficial certifier for ECV's Mastère Lead Developer Front End program; the program prepares for the RNCP n°34758 'Manager en stratégie et développement de projet digital' (Level 7) published in JO on 23/07/2020.
• BETCminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRenowned French advertising agency that hosts ECV alumni (Chloé Pérignon) and has been referenced as a guest speaker for ECV Aix-en-Provence workshops/masterclasses alongside other professionals like The Camp, Margaux Keller, Emmanuel Rey, and Ruedi Baur.
• Margaux KellerminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRenowned designer/guest speaker invited each year by ECV Aix-en-Provence to deliver workshops and masterclasses to students.
• The CampminorGTM or Marketing PartnerInnovation campus referenced as a guest-speaker collaborator invited by ECV Aix-en-Provence for student masterclasses.
• Emmanuel ReyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerProfessional guest speaker referenced as a collaborator invited by ECV Aix-en-Provence for workshops/masterclasses.
• Ruedi BaurminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRenowned Swiss designer and Integral Designers co-founder; invited as international guest speaker by ECV Aix-en-Provence for workshops/masterclasses.
• Les EstudinesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner student residence provider recommended by ECV Aix-en-Provence for student housing; special offer available via dedicated PDF.
• Student FactoryminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner student residence provider referenced by ECV Aix-en-Provence for student housing near campus.
• StudyleaseminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner offering a comprehensive list of private student residences across France, allowing students to book accommodations for free, no commitment, and in multiple languages.
• Fortiche ProductioncoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerAnimation studio behind Arcane (Riot Games), which sends talent acquisition managers and supervisors (Mégane Bédué, Alexandre Bourlet, Emmanuelle Aubeau) to ECV Bordeaux end-of-studies film juries; actively recruits ECV alumni.
• Illumination Studios PariscoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerProducer of Minions; Talent Acquisition Manager (Laure Ferreira Lima) and FX Supervisor (Nicolas Zborowska) join ECV Bordeaux PFE jury and recruit alumni.
• Xilam AnimationcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerHosts ECV students for end-of-studies internships, including international postings in Vietnam (Adèle, Julie).
• BOBBYPILLS StudiominorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCreative Director (Brice Chevillard) and Talent Acquisition Manager (Estelle Ducarteron) join ECV Bordeaux PFE jury.
• Sun Creature StudiominorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerExecutive Producer and Production Manager join ECV Bordeaux PFE jury.
• Chouette CompagnieminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLead Compo Artist joins ECV Bordeaux PFE jury.
• Nalu AnimationminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerArt Director joins ECV Bordeaux PFE jury.
• Hari StudiominorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerStoryboard Artist joins ECV Bordeaux PFE jury.
• FOST StudiominorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner2D Animator joins ECV Bordeaux PFE jury.
• Blue Spirit StudiosminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerModeling 3D Supervisor joins ECV Bordeaux PFE jury.
• Miraculous Corp (Zagtoon / Method Animation)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerProduction Administrator joins ECV Bordeaux PFE jury.
• France Design WeekcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerECV is an official partner of France Design Week 2024, co-organizing typographic and design events (ECV Strasbourg x France Design Week 40+1 anniversary; TDC 69/70 events at ECV Lille).
• Chatons d'OrminorGTM or Marketing PartnerECV is a partner of the Chatons d'Or 2025 awards, an event celebrating creativity.
• Festival d'Animation d'Annecy (implied via Cannes / festival circuit)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerECV student film 'Infemmes' was screened at Cannes; the school participates broadly in international festival circuit (Animex, Filmchilla, Animare, Kingstoon, Gukiff).
• Biennale du Design Graphique (Chaumont / Bordeaux)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerECV students participate in the Biennale du Design Graphique in Chaumont and Bordeaux, showcasing their work alongside industry professionals.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves13 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Gobelins, l'école de l'image: Paris-based private school under the Paris Chamber of Commerce offering French and English-track programs in animation, graphic design, photography, and digital. Most direct competitor to ECV's Animation and Design pillars, with similar RNCP-recognized programs and a strong animation pedigree.
• Rubika (Supinfogame, Supinfocom, School of Arts): French private creative school with campuses in Valenciennes, Montpellier, and Montreal offering programs in game design, animation, 3D, VFX, and digital design. Direct competitor in animation, game art, and digital programs at similar tuition tiers.
• LISAA (L'Institut Supérieur des Arts Appliqués): French private higher-education group with multiple Paris and regional campuses offering programs in design, animation, game, and digital. Comparable multi-campus structure and curriculum breadth to ECV, often cited alongside ECV in French creative school rankings.
• Strate School of Design: French private design school based in Paris-Saclay offering bachelor and mastère programs in industrial design, transportation design, and interaction design. Comparable positioning in French design higher education with strong industry recognition.
• Brassart: French private creative school group with campuses across multiple French cities offering programs in animation, 3D, video games, graphic design, and digital. Closest multi-campus national competitor to ECV with similar program architecture and RNCP titles.
• Ynov Campus: Large French private higher-education group with campuses nationwide offering programs in digital, design, 3D/animation, game, and audiovisual. Competes with ECV on national footprint, alternance programs, and digital/UX/UI curriculum.
• ESAG Penninghen: Paris-based private art and design school offering programs in graphic design, interior architecture, and art direction. Comparable positioning in French design higher education, with strong emphasis on traditional art direction that overlaps with ECV's Direction Artistique mastères.
• HETIC: French private school specializing in digital, web development, and data, with mastère programs in lead developer, product management, and UX/UI design. Direct competitor to ECV's Digital pillar, particularly the Mastère Lead Developer Front End.

Broad incumbents

• Parsons School of Design (The New School): Globally recognized design school within The New School in New York, with Paris campus. Broader international incumbent competing for top-tier creative talent and global brand recognition in design, fashion, and digital programs.
• Central Saint Martins (UAL): London-based constituent college of the University of the Arts London, globally benchmark in art, design, and fashion education. Represents the upper bound of creative-school brand value and competes indirectly for international students ECV targets via its English programs.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCbxMYZ6JN5rkZ1619vW5q4g
• Xx.com/ecvfrance
• Facebookfacebook.com/ecv.ecole.de.communication.visuelle
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ecv---ecole-de-communication-visuelle

Compliance10 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles18 records

Subsidiaries6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Ecole de Communication Visuelle