École Supérieure de Design • Villefontaine

Name

École Supérieure de Design • Villefontaine

Legal name

Lycée des métiers de l'Audiovisuel et du Design — Léonard de Vinci

Website

https://designvillefontaine.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education Design

NAICS

Fine Arts Schools (61161), Fine Arts Schools (611610), Technical and Trade Schools (61151)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Makerspaces & Fab Labs (Open Build Studios) (EDAMADAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Additive Manufacturing Education & Academic Programs (IMAAAJAB), Instructional Equipment & Classroom Tools (Whiteboards, Lab Kits, Manipulatives) (EDAEAIAB)

Keywords

• Design higher education
• Public design school
• Professional design training
• Alternating design programs
• Design pedagogy programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Villefontaine

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Public Education Funding: As a public school under the French Ministry of Education and Académie de Grenoble, the institution is entirely publicly funded and free for students. No tuition fees are charged. The school is operated by the Lycée des métiers de l'Audiovisuel et du Design — Léonard de Vinci, with the second year of DSAA supported by Greta Nord-Isère.

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

École Supérieure de Design • Villefontaine is a public, tuition-free French design school delivering secondary (Bac STD2A), undergraduate (DN MADe in Objet, Graphisme, and Numérique mentions), advanced master-level (DSAA in Produits and Interactions tracks), and continuing professional education programs (CS Maquettes & Prototypes, Licence Professionnelle Design de Produits et Packaging). Instruction combines project-based pedagogy, hands-on digital fabrication in a 700 m² prototyping workshop, and an alternating apprenticeship model, primarily serving individual students seeking design qualifications.

Product overview

École Supérieure de Design • Villefontaine is a public, tuition-free design school located at Lycée Léonard de Vinci in Villefontaine, France. It offers a portfolio of eight named educational programs spanning secondary (Bac STD2A), undergraduate (DN MADe in three mentions: Objet, Graphisme, and Numérique), advanced master-level (DSAA in two tracks: Produits and Interactions), and continuing professional education (Certificat de Spécialisation Maquettes & Prototypes, Licence Professionnelle Design de Produits et Packaging). The DN MADe programs are three-year undergraduate diplomas, the DSAA is a two-year master-grade program with a unique alternation model in its second year, and the CS and Licence are one-year specialization certificates. The school emphasizes project-based pedagogy, partnerships with industry and research labs, digital fabrication workshops, and maker culture.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Bac STD2A (Sciences et Technologies du Design et des Arts Appliqués) French baccalauréat-level diploma specializing in design and applied arts, covering graphic design, space design, fashion design, product design, and craft professions. Targeted at secondary-school students entering design education.
• DN MADe Objet (Diplôme National des Métiers d'Art et du Design) Three-year undergraduate diploma in industrial product design, training students through hands-on and technical means. Targeted at post-secondary students pursuing product design careers.
• DN MADe Graphisme (Diplôme National des Métiers d'Art et du Design) Three-year undergraduate diploma in graphic design, focused on interface design for digital and print media. Targeted at students pursuing careers in visual and interface design.
• DN MADe Numérique (Diplôme National des Métiers d'Art et du Design) Three-year undergraduate diploma in digital design training designer-makers in interactive device conception, digital experimentation, creative coding, electronic prototyping, and maker culture. The third year is conducted in alternation (work-study). Targeted at students seeking careers in interaction and digital fabrication.
• CS Maquettes & Prototypes (Certificat de Spécialisation) One-year alternating specialization certificate in models and prototypes (products and architecture option), providing foundations in rapid prototyping, digital fabrication, traditional machining, CNC, vacuum casting, and finishing in a 700 m² workshop. Targeted at students or professionals seeking prototype-making expertise.
• DSAA Produits (Diplôme Supérieur d'Arts Appliqués — Design, produits et pratiques situées) Two-year Master-grade advanced diploma in product design and situated practices, preparing designers to take charge of product and service conception with attention to ecology of environments and the ecological transition. Second year delivered in full alternation. Targeted at post-baccalaureate designers seeking advanced expertise.
• DSAA Interactions (Diplôme Supérieur d'Arts Appliqués — Design, interactions et alternatives numériques) Two-year Master-grade advanced diploma in interaction design and digital alternatives, training designers to conceive interactions with digital media and services through exploratory and critical approaches (UX, UI, web design, tangible and immersive interfaces, low-tech, open source). Second year delivered in full alternation. Targeted at designers pursuing advanced interaction design expertise.
• Licence Professionnelle Design de Produits et Packaging One-year alternating professional degree in product design and packaging, focusing on design product projects, packaging projects, and a personal tutored project. Jointly delivered with Université Savoie Mont Blanc and IUT de Chambéry. Targeted at students holding a Bac+2 seeking applied design expertise.

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 60% of DSAA graduates are hired by their alternation company as CDI upon graduation.
• +3 more outcomes

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature6 records

Partnerships

35 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• CEA List (Nano-INNOV, Y.SPOT)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012Ongoing collaboration with CEA List including visits to the Nano-INNOV showroom and VR room, and the CEA Y.SPOT demo lab program. DSAA students conduct workshops and research projects with CEA researchers. The school has collaborated with CEA since 2012, including multiple Démo Lab workshops on topics such as cybersecurity, quantum computing, and energy.
• Inria Grenoble (teams PERVASIVE, Maverick, IIHM)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012Strong research partnership with Inria Grenoble across multiple teams. Students conduct design research projects with Inria teams including PERVASIVE (autonomous vehicles), Maverick (interactive systems), and IIHM (human-computer interaction). Several DSAA alumni have completed their alternance year within Inria teams.
• LIRIS (Laboratoire Interdisciplinaire des Sciences du Numérique, team SICAL)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012Long-standing collaboration with LIRIS research laboratory, particularly the SICAL team. DSAA students conduct mémoire (research thesis) projects with Liris researchers. The school collaborates on projects including Ex)Situ, ILDA, and physicalization research. Several students complete their alternance at LIRIS.
• Science Po MédialabmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for design fiction and speculative design projects. Students collaborate with the Médialab on workshops including 'Habiter les internets' and research on data archaeology, datasets, and social media moderation.
• Zoepolis (Nicolas Roesch)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOngoing collaboration with the design research collective Zoepolis (founded by Nicolas Roesch, DSAA faculty). Students conduct speculative design and ecological design research with Zoepolis on topics including biosemiotics, post-carbon futures, urban biodiversity, and ecological design practices.
• Cité du designmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on research projects including 'Les nouvelles formes de réciprocité et de contractualisation' and design fiction projects. Cité du design participates in DSAA juries and hosts student work. Students also collaborate with the Deep Design Lab at Cité du design.
• Erasme — Métropole de Lyon (UrbanLab)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerErasme is the public innovation laboratory of Lyon Métropole. DSAA students regularly use the UrbanLab space for prototyping and co-creation projects. The partnership includes design fiction, service design, and urban innovation workshops. DSAA students have conducted residencies at Erasme developing interactive installations.
• Groupe SEBmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGroupe SEB has collaborated with DSAA since 2013 on multiple innovation design projects. Students work on product design challenges including testing prototypes at Décathlon's design center in Hendaye (Subéa brand). Design projects have explored home appliance innovation, cooking equipment, and connected objects.
• Orange LabsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrange Labs collaborates with DSAA on smart home application design and UX projects. Students design applications and interactive services in partnership with Orange Labs teams in Meylan. The collaboration includes co-creation workshops and design projects.
• FermobminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFermob (outdoor furniture manufacturer) has hosted DSAA alternants in design roles. Collaboration on product design and innovation projects.
• SomfyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSomfy (connected devices and home automation) has hosted DSAA alternants. Collaboration on product design for connected objects and services.
• Decathlon (Subéa)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDecathlon Subéa brand collaborates with DSAA students on product testing (prototype testing in swimming pool at Décathlon design center, Hendaye) and design projects in sports equipment and connected devices.
• Frog DesignminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal UX/design agency Frog has hosted DSAA alternants and collaborated on design projects. Alumni have been hired as UX designers at Frog.
• Kairn Design StudiominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKairn Design Studio founders are alumni of the school. Pierre Francos and Pierre Vioules (co-founders) gave a conference at the school. The studio represents the professional outcomes of the school's design education.
• ENS Paris-Saclay and Centre de Recherche en DesignminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDSAA research study trip to plateau de Saclay including visits to ENS Paris-Saclay and the Centre de Recherche en Design (with Emile De Visscher). Students also visit Télécom Paris (with Samuel Huron and Emilien Ghomi).
• Big bump studiominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrench design studio behind whocares.bigbump.fr. Their interactive experience framework is used as a pedagogical reference for DN MADe Numérique 'Drag & Explore' student projects.
• Kikk FestivalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean digital art festival held annually in Namur, Belgium. Students created interactive exhibition objects ('Emotive Instruments') for the 2021 edition, working with Arduino and Processing to design responsive poster installations.
• Faïencerie de CharollesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCeramic manufacturer collaborated with DSAA students on practical workshop sessions at the Charolles manufactures in 2022. Students engaged in design and craft practices at the facility.
• Université Grenoble Alpes (UGA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUGA is the institutional partner for conferring DSAA grade Master from 2025. The school collaborates with multiple UGA labs including PACTE, IXXI, and the Design Factory. Joint workshops and research projects are conducted with UGA departments.
• Université Savoie Mont Blanc / IUT de ChambérymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Licence Professionnelle design de produits et packaging is jointly delivered by Université Savoie Mont Blanc and IUT de Chambéry, with 95% of teaching at the Villefontaine campus and 5% at IUT Chambéry.
• Groupe Fournier HabitatminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGroupe Fournier (home equipment manufacturer) has collaborated with DSAA students on product design projects and hosted alternants. Collaboration on connected home and housing innovation.
• La Casemate (Grenoble)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGrenoble's digital culture and innovation space. DSAA students participated in 're-fighter!' tangible games workshop at La Casemate and collaborated on the 'Monstru'Eux' exhibition at the Muséum d'histoire naturelle de Grenoble.
• CID Grand Hornu (Belgium)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCentre d'Innovation et de Design du Grand Hornu in Belgium collaborated with DSAA students on the 'Au Charbon!' (On Coal!) design fiction project, creating a boutique of post-carbon souvenirs from the archives of the Grand Hornu mining heritage.
• Musée de l'imprimerie et de la communication graphique (Lyon)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe museum collaborated with DSAA students on a mediation application for the 'Icônes' exhibition dedicated to Susan Kare, exploring design history and graphical communication.
• TheorizminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLyon-based immersive experience studio has hosted DSAA alternants in interactive installation design roles. Collaboration on immersive and spatial interactive design projects.
• NemeraminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNemera (drug delivery devices and connected services) has hosted DSAA product design alternants. Collaboration on connected healthcare device design.
• ACCRA StrasbourgminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on 'Type versus Standard' workshop with CRD ENS Paris-Saclay, ECCLA, and École supérieure d'art et design de Nancy, exploring typographic design components.
• Making TomorrowminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDesign fiction facilitation collective that accompanied the 'Au Charbon!' student project at CID Grand Hornu, supporting speculative design methodology.
• Super DemainminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnual exhibition-event on digital culture and innovation. DN MADe students exhibit interactive mediation devices and prototypes at Super Demain (November 2024 edition).
• JAW StudiominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDesign studio collaborated with DSAA students on Silmo Next (optical industry trade show) design fiction workshops at Paris, exploring future scenarios for the eyewear industry.
• Lycée Philibert Delorme (excellence internat)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe excellence-labeled boarding school at l'Isle d'Abeau accommodates Bac STD2A students from École Supérieure de Design. The internat offers a supportive environment for students traveling from outside the region.
• Greta Nord-IsèrecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGreta Nord-Isère is the administrative body that carries the second year of DSAA. It manages the apprenticeship contracts, salary payments, and administrative relationship between the school and alternating companies.
• Extra (design agency)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLyon-based design agency has hosted DSAA Design Interactif alternants. Student Thea Lefeuvre joined the agency in her second DSAA year.
• ISKNminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTechnology company specializing in connected drawing devices. Has hosted DSAA product design alternants working on digital-physical interaction design.
• EDF LabminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEDF Lab research facility was visited by DSAA students on the Saclay research study trip. Students explored EDF's digital lab, Smart Home laboratory, and R&D showroom.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• École de Design Nantes Atlantique: Major French design school with extensive industry partnerships and programs spanning digital design, product design, and social design. Comparable as a leading French design school with strong innovation focus and similar industry integration.
• École Boulle: Paris public design school focused on applied arts, furniture design, and craft trades with strong workshop-based pedagogy. Comparable as a French public design school with similar Maker culture and technical workshop infrastructure.
• Strate École de Design: French design school based in Lyon offering bachelor's and master's programs in product, transport, and interaction design with strong industry partnerships. Directly comparable as a French design school with similar program portfolio, industry-aligned pedagogy, and a Lyon-region base.
• KASK School of Arts Ghent: Belgian art and design school offering programs in product design, graphic design, and audiovisual techniques. Comparable as a European public design school with similar applied arts focus and project-based pedagogy.
• ENSCI - Les Ateliers: Elite Paris-based French design school with selective admission offering programs in industrial design, textile design, and interaction design. Comparable as a top-tier French public design school with similar workshop-based pedagogy and Maker culture.
• Ensad (École nationale supérieure des arts décoratifs): French public school of decorative arts in Paris offering programs in design, fashion, and visual arts under the French Ministry of Culture. Comparable as a French public applied arts school with similar government-funded structure and program portfolio.
• ECAL (École cantonale d'art de Lausanne): Swiss art and design school in Lausanne internationally recognised for product, graphic, and interaction design programs. Comparable as a European public design school with strong industry partnerships and contemporary design practice.
• ENSAAMA Olivier de Serres: French public school of applied arts in Paris offering programs in product design, fashion, and craft métiers d'art. Comparable as a French public design school with strong technical workshop focus similar to ESDV's CS Maquettes & Prototypes model.
• HEAD Genève: Geneva University of Art and Design, a Swiss public institution offering programs in design, fine arts, and visual arts. Comparable as a public European design school with similar applied arts and design focus.

Broad incumbents

• Central Saint Martins: London-based internationally renowned art and design school within University of the Arts London. Comparable as a much larger, broader art and design institution with significantly larger scale, global brand recognition, and a wider portfolio of design and fine arts programs.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/dnmadenumerique
• GitHubgithub.com/dsaadesignv
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/ecoledesignvf
• Instagraminstagram.com/ecoledesignvf

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 École Supérieure de Design • Villefontaine