New Design University
New Design University is a state-accredited, non-profit private university in St. Pölten, Austria, founded in 2004 by WKNÖ and WIFI NÖ, offering design-focussed Bachelor, Master, Doctoral, and continuing-education programs to approximately 600 students.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2004
- HeadquartersPölten, Austria
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What New Design University does
New Design University (legal entity: New Design University Privatuniversität GesmbH) is a state-accredited, non-profit private university located in St. Pölten, Austria, founded in 2004 by the Wirtschaftskammer Niederösterreich (WKNÖ) and WIFI NÖ. It serves approximately 600 students across a portfolio of 5 Bachelor programs (including BWL Management by Design, Event Engineering, Design/Handwerk/Materielle Kultur, Grafik- & Informationsdesign, and Innenarchitektur & 3D-Gestaltung), 2 Master programs (BWL Management by Innovation, Innenarchitektur & visuelle Kommunikation), 1 Doctoral program (Value through Design), 7 continuing-education University Courses, a Foundation Course, and Summer Schools. Its underlying teaching infrastructure is the Zentrum für Technologie & Design, which houses workshops, laboratories, and design-faculty facilities, complemented by an online CampusNet-based Webportal for applications and student services.
The institution's business model is a non-profit, subscription-style tuition model: students pay tuition monthly or per semester, with approximately 50% of operating costs covered by base financing from WKNÖ and the remainder by tuition fees. Go-to-market is direct-to-consumer through the institutional website, education fairs, walk-in campus tours, "Student for a Day" experiences, online info sessions, and a broad social-media footprint (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, TikTok, XING, Pinterest); admission is gated by an entrance exam (Aufnahmeklausur). Distribution extends internationally via the Erasmus+ exchange network, and the Future Lab program creates structured industry-project partnerships with companies such as Burger-Gartenmöbel, Greiner, KinderKunstLabor, ÖGK, and TUI.
New Design University firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- New Design University
- Legal name
- New Design University Privatuniversität GesmbH
- Website
- https://ndu.ac.at
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2004
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- New Design University is a state-accredited, non-profit private university in St. Pölten, Austria, founded in 2004 by WKNÖ and WIFI NÖ, offering design-focussed Bachelor, Master, Doctoral, and continuing-education programs to approximately 600 students.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
New Design University industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Higher Education (Private University, Design-focused)
- NAICS
- Fine Arts Schools (611610)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Design Colleges (Graphic, Industrial, UX/UI, Interior) (EDAHAJAB)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Corporate Learning & Training Content Development (EDAGAKAC)
Keywords
Where New Design University is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Pölten
- HQ country
- Austria
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
New Design University business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Tuition and Semester Fees: As a non-profit private university, NDU generates revenue primarily through tuition fees paid by students. These fees are charged either monthly or per semester and are structured to cover operating costs without generating profit. The university operates on a cost-covering (non-profit) basis, with approximately 50% of operating costs covered by the base financing from WKNÖ and the remaining covered by tuition fees.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Bachelor Programs - Semester or monthly tuition payments |
| Subscription | Monthly | Master Programs - Semester or monthly tuition payments |
| Subscription | Monthly | Doctorate and University Courses |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels12 records
New Design University product offering
Product offeringCore offering
New Design University (NDU) is a state-accredited private university that sells higher-education degree programs (Bachelor, Master, Doctorate) plus continuing-education University Courses focused on design disciplines, ranging from business administration with design, event engineering, and graphic/information design to interior architecture, product design, and a "Value through Design" doctorate. Instruction is delivered through the Zentrum für Technologie & Design, combining small-class, project-based learning with workshops and labs, and supported by industry collaborations via the Future Lab program.
Product overview
New Design University is a private university offering a comprehensive portfolio of educational programs. The core offering consists of 5 Bachelor programs (BWL Management by Design, Event Engineering, Design/Handwerk/materielle Kultur, Grafik-/Informationsdesign, Innenarchitektur/3D-Gestaltung), 2 Master programs (BWL Management by Innovation, Innenarchitektur/visuelle Kommunikation), and 1 Doctoral program (Value through Design). Additionally, the university provides 7 University Courses for continuing education (Akustik/Design, Buchgestaltung, Design Thinking, Food/Design, Lichttechnik, Produktdesign, Werbetext/Kreation), a Foundation Course for orientation, an online Webportal for student services, and a Future Lab program for industry partnerships. The university was founded in 2004 by the Economic Chamber of Lower Austria (WKNÖ) and WIFI NÖ, and serves approximately 600 students with a focus on personal attention and practical project-based learning.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- BWL »Management by Design« (Bachelor)
Companies that use New Design University
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
New Design University technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
New Design University partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.
- Wirtschaftskammer Niederösterreich (WKNÖ)coreThe WKNÖ is the founding organization and primary financial supporter of the New Design University. As the economic chamber of Lower Austria, WKNÖ provides approximately 50% of the university's base financing and also funded the initial investment in modern infrastructure. NDU is described as the 'private university of WKNÖ and its WIFI'.
- WIFI NÖcoreWIFI NÖ (Wirtschaftsförderungsinstitut Niederösterreich) co-founded the New Design University alongside WKNÖ in 2004. It is the educational institute of the Economic Chamber of Lower Austria.
- AQ Austria (Agentur für Qualitätssicherung und Akkreditierung Austria)coreAQ Austria is the official accreditation agency for Austrian higher education institutions. NDU holds accreditation through AQ Austria and displays their quality seal on its website, indicating formal governmental recognition and quality assurance.
- Erasmus Partner UniversitiessupportingNDU participates in the Erasmus+ program, offering outgoing students opportunities to study abroad at partner universities and hosting incoming international students. The International Office coordinates these exchange programs.
- Design AustriasupportingNDU maintains a relationship with Design Austria, evidenced by the 'Future Lab' project creating the anniversary poster for Design Austria, demonstrating industry connections with the design professional community.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
New Design University competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Domus Academy: Italy-based private postgraduate design school with a tuition-driven model similar to NDU's continuing education segment. Comparable positioning as a specialized, tuition-dependent design school targeting fee-paying international postgraduate students.
- FH Joanneum: Austrian University of Applied Sciences offering design, media, and creative industry programs at modest tuition fees. Comparable applied-design and continuing-education portfolio and direct competition for Austrian applicants seeking design degrees with practical orientation.
- Universität für angewandte Kunst Wien (University of Applied Arts Vienna): Austria's leading public arts and design university, headquartered in Vienna. The most direct domestic competitor for the same cohort of Austrian design students; competes on talent brand but offers heavily subsidized public tuition versus NDU's tuition-driven model.
- Rhode Island School of Design (RISD): US private design-focused college with strong brand reputation, tuition-driven revenue model, and a comparable single-discipline portfolio. Comparable as a top-ranked specialized design college competing for design-oriented applicants globally.
- Design Academy Eindhoven: Dutch public design-focused university with similar small scale, design-only program portfolio, and strong applied-research orientation. Comparable operational profile as a specialized single-discipline creative university and a benchmark for European design-only institutions.
- ECAL (École cantonale d'art de Lausanne): Swiss design and fine arts school of comparable size with a similar Bachelor/Master structure and applied-design focus. Highly respected European design institution competing for the same international design-student segment.
- SCAD (Savannah College of Art and Design): Private, tuition-driven design and arts university in the United States with multiple campuses and an applied creative curriculum. Comparable private, tuition-dependent operating model to a WKNÖ-backed NDU, scaled up significantly.
Broad incumbents
- Parsons School of Design (The New School): US-based private design school within The New School university system, offering a design-only portfolio plus broader university context. Directly comparable in tuition-driven private design education and brand-driven applicant recruitment.
- Central Saint Martins (University of the Arts London): Large, prestigious UK arts and design institution under University of the Arts London. Broader portfolio than NDU but competes for the same international pool of design applicants who value a design-school brand.
- Royal College of Art: UK postgraduate-only design institution with global reputation for design innovation. Competes for top-tier international design talent applying to NDU's Master's programs and an aspirational peer for NDU's research profile.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
New Design University social profiles
Digital presenceNew Design University compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
New Design University financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
New Design University leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
New Design University funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
New Design University M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about New Design University
What does New Design University do?
New Design University (NDU) is a state-accredited private university that sells higher-education degree programs (Bachelor, Master, Doctorate) plus continuing-education University Courses focused on design disciplines, ranging from business administration with design, event engineering, and graphic/information design to interior architecture, product design, and a "Value through Design" doctorate. Instruction is delivered through the Zentrum für Technologie & Design, combining small-class, project-based learning with workshops and labs, and supported by industry collaborations via the Future Lab program.
Is New Design University a public or private company?
New Design University is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was New Design University founded?
New Design University was founded in 2004. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is New Design University based?
New Design University is headquartered in Pölten, Austria, in the Europe region.
How does New Design University make money?
One revenue line is on record: tuition and Semester Fees.
Who are New Design University's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Domus Academy, FH Joanneum, Universität für angewandte Kunst Wien (University of Applied Arts Vienna), Rhode Island School of Design (RISD), Design Academy Eindhoven, ECAL (École cantonale d'art de Lausanne) and SCAD (Savannah College of Art and Design). Broad incumbents are Parsons School of Design (The New School), Central Saint Martins (University of the Arts London) and Royal College of Art.
Does New Design University have an API?
No public API is recorded for New Design University.
What industry is New Design University in?
New Design University's product category is Higher Education (Private University, Design-focused). Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAHAJAB, Design Colleges (Graphic, Industrial, UX/UI, Interior), with a secondary code of EDAGAKAC, Corporate Learning & Training Content Development. Its NAICS code is 611610.