Schule für Gestaltung Bern/Biel

What Schule für Gestaltung Bern/Biel does

Schule für Gestaltung Bern und Biel (SfG BB) is a publicly funded higher educational institute owned and operated by the Canton of Bern in Switzerland. Founded in 1826 and operating as an independent institution since approximately the 1970s, the school delivers design, media, and craft education across two campuses — a landmark nine-story building at Campus Bernapark in Stettlen (Bern) and a bilingual (German/French) facility on Salzhausstrasse in Biel — plus a satellite site at PROGR Ost for select courses. Its core portfolio spans dual vocational training for 17 creative, craft, and technical professions (leading to Swiss Federal Certificates of Competence, EFZ/CFC), full-time Fachklassen in graphics and ceramics design, five part-time Höhere Fachschule (HF) degree programs (Photography, Interaction Design, Media Economics/Management, Product Design, Visual Design), preparatory programs for universities of applied sciences (Propädeutikum, Vorkurs, ZweiJahrVorkurs, Fachmaturität), professional Lehrgänge in animation/film/illustration/media publishing, the K'Werk BE youth program for ages 8-16, and ~150 public courses for adults. Technology consists of traditional and digital design workshops (printmaking ateliers, 3D workshops, photography studios, screen printing, ceramics studios with 3D scanners/printers); the institution has no proprietary software or AI systems.

Revenue mechanics are predominantly cantonal: as a state institution of Kanton Bern, the school is funded through direct government allocation, with tuition for in-canton students covered by the canton and municipalities. Course fees apply to continuing-education and public-course participants (e.g., ~CHF 890 per semester module in ZweiJahrVorkurs; CHF 3,200 plus CHF 750 materials for Propädeutikum; CHF 150-250 for examination and presentation fees; CHF 250 for K'Werk Summer School). Go-to-market is event- and community-led, relying on info evenings (online and in-person), the annual Infotag open house, and education fairs such as BAM at BERNEXPO. The institution serves roughly 3,500 learners annually across all programs, has 51-100 employees, and holds no venture, private-equity, or external investor ownership.

Name

Schule für Gestaltung Bern/Biel

Legal name

Schule für Gestaltung Bern und Biel

Website

https://sfgb-b.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

1826

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Schule für Gestaltung Bern und Biel is a publicly funded design, media, and craft education institution owned by the Canton of Bern, Switzerland, operating two campuses in Bern and Biel to deliver vocational training, HF degrees, university preparation, and public courses to roughly 3,500 learners annually.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Design and Vocational Education

NAICS

Fine Arts Schools (611610), Fine Arts Schools (61161), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (61131)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Art & Design Teacher Education Colleges (Art Education, Music Education) (EDAHAJAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Personal Enrichment & Creative Arts Programs (EDAAAEAG), Subject-Specific Short Courses & Academies (e.g., STEM, Business, Arts) (EDAIAIAC)

Keywords

• Design education
• Vocational training
• Higher professional education
• Continuing education courses
• Preparatory art courses

Headquarters

HQ city

Bern

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Public Education Funding: As an institution of the Canton of Bern, the school receives direct government funding. For students domiciled in the Canton of Bern, tuition fees are covered directly by the canton and municipalities.
2. Course Fees: The school charges course fees for various continuing education programs and public courses. Fees vary by program, with semester modules costing approximately CHF 890 per course and additional material fees.
3. Registration and Examination Fees: One-time fees including registration fee of CHF 200 for ZweiJahrVorkurs and examination fees of CHF 150 for specialized maturité admission.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Schule für Gestaltung Bern/Biel is a public Canton of Bern educational institution that delivers design and creative-arts education across two campuses in Bern and Biel. It offers dual vocational apprenticeships in 17 creative trades, full-time vocational classes (Grafik, Keramikdesign, médias et design), five part-time higher professional degree programs (HF), preparatory courses for arts universities (Propädeutikum, Fachmaturität, Vorkurs, ZweiJahrVorkurs), continuing professional development (Lehrgänge in Animation, Film, Illustration, Media Publishing), and approximately 150 public courses including K'Werk BE courses for children aged 8–16.

Product overview

Schule für Gestaltung Bern/Biel is an educational institution offering a comprehensive portfolio of design-focused programs. The core offerings include: Berufsfachschule (dual vocational training for 17 professions), Fachklassen (full-time vocational classes in Graphics and Ceramics Design), Höhere Fachschule HF (five part-time professional degree programs: Photography, Interaction Design, Media Economics/Management, Product Design, Visual Design), and preparatary/continuing education programs (Propädeutikum, Fachmaturität, Vorkurs, ZweiJahrVorkurs). Professional development is offered through Lehrgänge (Animation, Film, Illustration, Professional Media Publisher) and public courses. K'Werk BE provides creative courses for children and youth aged 8-16. The institution operates at two locations (Bern and Biel) with 58 offerings serving approximately 3,500 learners annually.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• K'Werk BE: Courses for children and adolescents aged 8-16 years covering various design disciplines including ceramics, design, bookbinding, photography, digital design, drawing, film, and printing.

Products and services

• Berufsfachschule (Vocational School) Dual vocational education programs combining workplace apprenticeship with school-based learning in 17 creative, craft, and technical professions (including Graphic Designer, Interactive Media Designer, Mediamatician, Photographer, Ceramics Designer, Goldschmied, Polydesigner 3D, Polygraf, Printmedienpraktiker, Druckausrüster, Bindetechnolog, Fotomedienfachmann, Gestalter Werbetechnik, Glasmaler, Industriekeramiker, Medientechnolog, Oberflächenveredler Uhren und Schmuck, Vergolder-Einrahmer), leading to a Swiss Federal Certificate of Competence (EFZ/CFC). Intended for young people who have completed mandatory schooling and wish to enter a creative trade.
• Fachklassen (Full-Time Vocational Classes) Full-time vocational classes (Grafik Fachklasse, Keramikdesign Fachklasse, and Fachklasse "médias et design" in Biel) providing integrated vocational education with optional professional maturity (BM) qualification, intended for school leavers seeking an immersive full-time design training route.
• Höhere Fachschule HF (Higher Vocational School) Part-time higher professional degree programs (Federal Diploma of Higher Education) in five specialisations — Photography, Interaction Design, Media Economics/Management, Product Design, and Visual Design — for working professionals seeking to advance or transition into creative fields.
• Propädeutikum Kunst und Design Full-time one-year foundation program providing access to Swiss universities of the arts, offered in both Bern and Biel with bilingual German/French instruction at the Biel location. Intended for maturité graduates preparing portfolios and applications.
• Maturité Spécialisée / Fachmaturität Gestaltung (Specialized Maturity in Design) One-year full-time specialised maturity program in Biel, run jointly with the Ecole de culture générale de Delémont, providing French-language access to arts universities and including a one-week study visit to HEAD Genève.
• Vorkurs Kunst und Design (Preliminary Course Art and Design) Orientation year for discovering artistic talents and interests, providing preparation for vocational training in design or for full-time class education at SfG BB.
• ZweiJahrVorkurs Kunst und Design (Two-Year Preliminary Course) Part-time two-year continuing education program providing foundational experience in perception and visual design, structured around mandatory and elective course modules (CHF 890 per mandatory course, ~CHF 600 per elective) totalling around CHF 3,270 per semester.
• Lehrgang Animation (Animation Program) Professional continuing education program in animation, part of the school's public Lehrgang offerings for adults seeking formal animation training.
• Lehrgang Film (Film Program) Professional continuing education program in film, part of the school's public Lehrgang offerings for adult learners.
• Lehrgang Illustration (Illustration Program) Professional continuing education program in illustration, including a graduate works exhibition, for adults seeking to develop an illustration practice.
• Lehrgang Professional Media Publisher Part-time professional program for individuals seeking to transition into graphic-design-oriented publishing career paths.
• K'Werk BE (Courses for Children and Youth) Creative courses for children and youth aged 8–16 covering ceramics, design, bookbinding, photography, digital design, drawing, film and printing; participants receive a certificate after 400 lessons.
• Öffentliche Kurse (Public Courses) Approximately 150 public courses for adults and youth covering a wide range of design disciplines and techniques, offered at the Bern and Biel campuses (and at PROGR Ost for summer school).
• HFP Intermediale Kunsttherapie (Higher Professional Examination in Intermedial Art Therapy) Part-time preparatory course for the Swiss higher professional examination (Höhere Fachprüfung) in intermedial art therapy, for practitioners seeking federal certification.
• Classe professionnelle médias & design French-language full-time vocational training at the Biel campus for Interactive Media Designer CFC, Photographer CFC, and Mediamatician CFC, with a common foundation year and integrated professional maturity option.
• Fachklasse «médias et design» Bilingual French/German Fachklasse offering vocational training toward Interactive Media Designer, Photographer, and Mediamatician CFC qualifications.

Quantifiable outcome

• 3,500 learners attend annually
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Stiftung Thomas DemarmelscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Long-term teacher Thomas Demarmels founded the foundation in 2018 with the goal of promoting art in general and hyperrealistic art specifically, including through art competitions. The foundation collaborates with SfG BB to organize annual drawing and painting competitions with prizes totaling CHF 7,000.
• HEAD Genève (Haute école d'art et de design)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership school for the specialized maturité program. Includes a one-week study visit to Geneva providing direct contact with professors and students of the partner institution.
• Ecole de culture générale de DelémontminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint responsibility for the specialized maturité (Fachmaturität) Gestaltung program offered at the Biel location.
• ACT Performance FestivalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCultural partnership for the propädeutikum program, providing students with exposure to contemporary performance art.
• Photoforum PasquartminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCultural partnership providing exhibition opportunities and professional network connections for photography students.
• Espace LibreminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCultural partnership providing additional exhibition and project opportunities for propädeutikum students.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• ECAL – École cantonale d'art de Lausanne: Lausanne-based design school with strong international reputation in industrial, graphic, and media design. Competes for top design students nationally and operates a similar HF/degree program structure.
• ZHdK – Zürcher Hochschule der Künste: Switzerland's largest arts university, offering design, film, art, and music degree programs at HF and university level. Most comparable in product scope (vocational to HF design) with a larger scale and national profile.
• Hochschule Luzern – Design & Kunst: Lucerne University of Applied Sciences' design and art department, offering BA and MA design programs. Peer institution in the same Swiss HF/arts-applied framework.
• F+F Schule für Kunst und Design: Zurich-based private art and design school offering vocational and continuing education programs in design, film, and photography. Comparable in program mix (vocational + continuing education) but operates as a private institution.
• HGK Basel – FHNW Academy of Art and Design: Part of the University of Applied Sciences Northwestern Switzerland, offering BA/MA in design, art, and media. Comparable in offering applied design education at the higher education level and competes for the same student pool.
• HEAD – Haute école d'art et de design Genève: Geneva-based HES-SO design school offering BA/MA in visual arts, cinema, and design. Direct peer in the Swiss HF/arts-applied education system and an explicit partner of SfG BB for the maturité program.

Regional players

• Schule für Gestaltung Aargau: Aargau cantonal design school offering vocational training and continuing education in design. Comparable in scale and program structure, serving a different Swiss canton.
• Schule für Gestaltung St.Gallen: Canton of St. Gallen design school with vocational and HF programs in similar design disciplines. Operates in a different Swiss region with the same Swiss vocational/HF framework.

Broad incumbents

• BFH – Berner Fachhochschule: Bern University of Applied Sciences, the parent higher education ecosystem for the Canton of Bern. Includes design-adjacent departments and is the natural academic progression destination for SfG BB HF graduates.
• HES-SO – Fachhochschule Westschweiz: University of Applied Sciences and Arts Western Switzerland, parent network of HEAD and other design schools. Comparable as the broader higher-education ecosystem that includes design HF programs.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/schule-f-r-gestaltung-bern-biel

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 Schule für Gestaltung Bern/Biel