Mode Design College

What Mode Design College does

Mode Design College (MDC) is a private, state-recognized vocational college founded in 2015 in Düsseldorf, Germany, by Hediye Cunningham. It delivers two core 3.5-year full-time training programs — International Fashion Design and Kommunikations- und Grafikdesign (Communication and Graphic Design) — taught over seven semesters and culminating in the 'International Fashion Designer' qualification alongside eligibility for the journeyman tailor examination at the Handwerkskammer Düsseldorf. The curriculum combines traditional craft (pattern-making, draping, sewing), textile technology and sustainable design strategies with digital tools including CAD, Adobe Creative Suite, Illustrator, 3D modeling, and AR/VR techniques, delivered in small class sizes with an 18-week mandatory industry internship in the fifth semester.

The business model is B2C tuition-driven, anchored on recurring monthly fees of €490 for the core programs, supplemented by one-time registration (€590) and examination (€600) fees. MDC extends its offering through three articulated BA-degree top-up pathways in partnership with Griffith College Dublin (€6,000 total), Fachhochschule des Mittelstands in Frechen (€695/month), and Steinbeis Business Academy in Berlin (€332/month over 36 months). Supplementary revenue streams include an 8-week online Fashion Stylist certificate course (€1,150) and an annual Summer Camp for ages 13–21 (€700). The college is recognized under §118 SchulG NRW and is BAföG-eligible, making German federal student aid available.

MDC goes to market directly to prospective students through its website, monthly info evenings, open days, the annual SHOW fashion showcase at the NRW-Forum Düsseldorf, and participation in Düsseldorf Fashion Days and Westfield Days. It occupies a single campus in the Alte Fabrik Oberbilk, a renovated 1900 brick building with atelier workspaces and an Apple-equipped computer lab, since relocating in March 2021. Faculty are industry practitioners with prior experience at Hugo Boss, C&A, Cybex, Mey, Munich Fabric Start, and other European fashion houses; alumni have been placed at Robert Wun London, Mustang, Peek & Cloppenburg, Comma and C&A. The institution is founder-owned with no disclosed external investors, parent company or acquisition activity.

Name

Mode Design College

Legal name

Mode Design College

Website

https://modedesigncollege.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Mode Design College is a private, state-recognized vocational college in Düsseldorf, Germany, founded in 2015, offering 3.5-year fashion design and graphic design programs plus BA pathways and continuing-education courses to aspiring designers and career changers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Vocational Education / Fashion and Graphic Design Training

akta.pro primary industry

Fashion & Apparel Design Colleges (EDAHAJAF)

akta.pro secondary industry

Design & Maker Skills (Graphic Design, Calligraphy, Lettering) (EDAAAGAJ)

Keywords

• Fashion design education
• Vocational training programs
• Graphic design courses
• Design school programs
• Creative arts education

Headquarters

HQ city

Düsseldorf

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Tuition Fees: Monthly tuition fees for fashion design and communication/graphic design training programs, with additional one-time registration and examination fees
2. Bachelor Program Fees: Fees for partner university programs including Griffith College Dublin, FHM, and Steinbeis Business Academy with varying payment structures
3. Continuing Education Courses: Fashion Stylist certification course and Summer Camp programs offered as intensive supplementary education

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Mode Design College is a private vocational design school in Düsseldorf that delivers full-time training programs in fashion design and communication/graphic design. Programs combine hands-on atelier practice with digital design tools and prepare students for the Chamber of Crafts journeyman examination, with optional bachelor's top-up pathways available through partner universities.

Product overview

Mode Design College (MDC) is a private, state-recognized vocational fashion and design school in Düsseldorf offering a portfolio of educational programs. The core offerings are two 3.5-year vocational training programs: 'International Fashion Design' and 'Kommunikations- und Grafikdesign.' These can be complemented with three bachelor's degree top-up programs through partner institutions (Griffith College Dublin, FHM Frechen, and Steinbeis Business Academy Berlin). The school also provides supplementary programs including an 8-week Fashion Stylist certification course and an annual Summer Camp for youth. All programs emphasize practical training, international orientation, and industry connections.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Fashion Design Vocational Training Program A full-time vocational training program in fashion design covering pattern-making, draping, sewing, illustration, and collection development, preparing students for the German Chamber of Crafts journeyman examination and progression to a bachelor's top-up degree. Targeted at prospective students seeking a practice-oriented route into the fashion industry.
• Communication/Graphic Design Vocational Training Program A full-time vocational training program in communication and graphic design covering typography, layout, branding, and digital design tools, aimed at students preparing for entry-level roles in graphic design, advertising, or visual communication.
• Bachelor's Degree Top-Up Program A bachelor's top-up pathway delivered in cooperation with partner universities, enabling graduates of Mode Design College's vocational programs to convert their qualification into a full undergraduate degree.
• Continuing Education Design Courses Short-form continuing education courses in fashion design and graphic design topics, targeted at working professionals or hobbyists seeking focused upskilling rather than a full vocational qualification.

Quantifiable outcome

• Students can earn both the 'International Fashion Designer' qualification and a Bachelor's degree through partner universities
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• PETA DeutschlandminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2025PETA conducted guest lecture on vegan fashion future, presenting innovative vegan leather alternatives from plant materials like pineapple fibers, cactus, and mushrooms.
• Handwerkskammer DüsseldorfcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2021Düsseldorf Chamber of Crafts confirmed that MDC's 'International Fashion Designer' training provides skills aligned with tailor training regulations. Graduates eligible for external journeyman examination.
• Fachhochschule des Mittelstands (FHM)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2020State-recognized private university with 5,311 students, 250 staff, 95 professors at 8 campuses. MDC graduates can complete BA Fashion Management in 1.5 years. Tuition: 695 EUR/month.
• Griffith College DublincoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015Ireland's largest private university with over 8,000 students from 80+ nations. MDC graduates can complete BA (Hons) Fashion Design in 2 semesters (60 ECTS). Language of instruction: English. Tuition: 6,000 EUR total + 250 EUR enrollment fee.
• Steinbeis Business Academy (SBA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015Part of Steinbeis-Hochschule Berlin, promotes knowledge transfer between academia and business. MDC offers BA in Management with specialization in Communication and Design. Duration: 36 months, 332 EUR/month.
• Erasmus+ ProgramminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean Union program enabling students to complete internships abroad, providing international experience opportunities for MDC trainees.
• Textile Partners (RE/SOURCE)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with European textile manufacturers including Berto, Besani, Beste, Bottoli, Faliero Sarti, Gruppocinque, Libeco, Luigi Ricceri, Lyria, Maggia, Paoletti, Scabal, Serica 1870, Sophie Hallette for fabric sourcing and student exposure.
• iGEM Team Heinrich-Heine-Universität DüsseldorfminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic collaboration for sustainable textile innovation. iGEM team develops colored fabrics from bacterial cellulose; MDC students participate in workshops on sustainable textile production.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• IFA Paris: IFA Paris is a private international fashion school with multiple campuses and BA pathways, directly comparable to MDC's degree-affiliated vocational model and similar international student targeting.
• Polimoda: Polimoda is a Florence-based international fashion school offering BA-level fashion design and management programs. Comparable to MDC's BA top-up offerings via Griffith/FHM/Steinbeis in terms of curriculum scope and international orientation.
• AMD Akademie Mode & Design: AMD is one of Germany's largest private fashion and design schools, with campuses in multiple German cities (including Düsseldorf). It directly competes with MDC for the same pool of vocational and BA fashion-design students in Germany.
• Istituto Marangoni: Istituto Marangoni is a major international private fashion and design school with campuses across Europe. It overlaps directly with MDC's value proposition of combining vocational fashion training with bachelor's degree pathways and a strong employer brand in fashion.
• Modeschule Brigitte Keuth: A German private fashion school offering vocational fashion training comparable to MDC's 3.5-year program. Targets the same German and German-speaking student pool seeking journeyman/craft qualifications.
• ESMOD Berlin / ESMOD München: ESMOD is an international fashion school network with German locations (Berlin, Munich). It offers comparable fashion-design vocational and degree-track programs in the same German market, serving the same target student profile as MDC.

Broad incumbents

• Fachhochschule des Mittelstands (FHM): FHM is one of MDC's own partner universities (BA Fashion Management top-up), but also operates broader BA/MA programs across business and design. Comparable as a German private higher-education provider targeting similar students.
• Steinbeis Business Academy (SBA): SBA is another MDC BA-partner institution (BA Management) and operates as a broader German private business academy with design-adjacent offerings - comparable as a degree-granting partner and competitor for the same dual-qualification-seeking students.
• Hochschule Niederrhein (Department of Textile and Clothing Technology): Public German university in NRW with established textile and clothing design programs. Competes for the same regional student pool but as a state-funded, broader-incumbent institution rather than a private vocational specialist like MDC.

Regional players

• Akademie Mode Design Berlin: Berlin-based private fashion and design school offering vocational and BA-level programs. Comparable curriculum and target student to MDC but operating in a different German city, making it a regional rather than direct Düsseldorf competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCyFczF6TP7AggPGcI8NOq5Q
• Facebookfacebook.com/modedesigncollege
• Instagraminstagram.com/modedesigncollege
• Xx.com/mdc_dusseldorf
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mode-design-college

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Mode Design College