What ESDAC, école de Design, Arts Appliqués et Communication does

ESDAC is a French private higher education institution founded in 2009 and headquartered in Aix-en-Provence, specialising in design, applied arts, and communication. It operates 12 campuses across all major French metropolitan areas — Paris, Lyon, Marseille, Bordeaux, Lille, Rennes, Nice, Strasbourg, Montpellier, Nancy, Clermont-Ferrand, and Aix-en-Provence — and delivers Bachelor (BAC+3) and Mastère (BAC+5) programmes in five design verticals: graphic design, space/interior design, product/object design, fashion design, and animation. The school is part of the ACE Education group, a private higher-education conglomerate that also owns AMOS (sport business), CMH (luxury hotel management), EIDM (fashion), and ENAAI (applied arts), enabling cross-school resources, shared services, and international mobility. ESDAC uses a competency-based pedagogy (approche par compétences) delivered by practising industry professionals rather than academic researchers, and explicitly distinguishes itself from research-focused institutions whose diplomas would be 'visés par l'État'.

The school's programmes are validated through France Compétences-registered professional certifications (RNCP 39221 Level 6, RNCP 37269 Level 7, RNCP 38595 Level 7, and previously RNCP 37081 Level 6), with each academic year earning 60 ECTS credits. ESDAC holds Qualiopi certification for training quality, operates as a Centre de Formation d'Apprentis (CFA) with CFAI accreditation at its Aix-en-Provence campus for interior architecture, and is GDPR-compliant. The alternance pathway is supported by a network of 1,500+ partner companies — including Décathlon, Bo Concept, Maison et Objets, Paris Design Week, Salon de l'Habitat, and La Tiny House — that host students and apprentices and serve as the primary work-placement ecosystem.

ESDAC monetises primarily through tuition fees for students on the initial training (formation initiale) track, with apprenticeship contracts funded by OPCO skills operators and partner employers under the alternance pathway. Secondary revenue streams include a €90 paid 'Stage Découverte' discovery workshop, optional seminars, language courses, and a non-refundable €30/year BDE student-association fee, alongside a €200 administrative fee on cancellation. Recruitment runs on a direct-to-consumer model: open days across all 12 campuses, scheduled information sessions, downloadable brochures, social media (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn), a monthly newsletter, and an online admissions portal with motivation interview; selected programmes also offer a January 'Rentrée Décalée' intake with the first semester delivered via distance learning (FOAD). The firm employs 516 people and operates as ESDAC HOLDING (RCS Paris 831 024 013 group context), with no public listing, no disclosed venture or private-equity funding, and no material M&A activity.

Name

ESDAC, école de Design, Arts Appliqués et Communication

Legal name

ESDAC HOLDING

Website

https://ecole-esdac.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

ESDAC is a French private higher education institution operating 12 campuses across France, delivering Bachelor and Mastère programmes in graphic, space, product, fashion, and animation design. It operates as a CFA with 1,500+ apprenticeship partners and is part of the ACE Education group.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Paris

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices12 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Tuition fees – initial training: Students enrolled in initial training (formation initiale) pay tuition fees directly. The school also charges optional seminar fees, language course fees, and BDE (student association) membership fees of €30 per year.
2. Apprenticeship/alternance contracts: Under apprenticeship contracts (contrat d'apprentissage), tuition fees are fully or partially covered by the OPCO (skills operator) and the employer. Students on apprenticeship pathways may also pay for optional seminars and options not covered by their employer or OPCO.
3. Discovery workshop (Stage Découverte): A discovery workshop is offered for €90.00 for prospective students to experience the school before committing to enrolment.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

ESDAC is a private higher education institution delivering Bachelor (BAC+3) and Mastère (BAC+5) programmes across five design disciplines — graphic design, space/interior design, product design, fashion design, and animation — through 12 campuses in France. Programmes are delivered via initial training or apprenticeship (alternance) tracks, lead to RNCP-registered Level 6 and Level 7 professional certifications, and award 60 ECTS per academic year. The school also operates as a Centre de Formation d'Apprentis (CFA) and offers paid discovery workshops (Stage Découverte) for prospective students.

Product overview

ESDAC is a private higher education institution specializing in design, applied arts, and communication. The school operates as both a training organization and a CFA (apprenticeship training center) within the ACE Education group. Its portfolio consists of Bachelor programs (BAC+3, 3 years) covering five design disciplines: Graphic Design, Space Design, Product Design, Fashion Design, and Animation; and Mastère programs (BAC+5, 2 years) providing advanced specialization. Programs are delivered across 12 campuses in France (Aix-en-Provence, Marseille, Montpellier, Bordeaux, Nancy, Strasbourg, Clermont-Ferrand, Lyon, Lille, Rennes, Paris, Nice) through initial training or apprenticeship tracks, with some programs offering international seminars. The school prepares students for RNCP-certified professional qualifications and uses a competency-based pedagogical approach emphasizing practical, hands-on learning with industry professionals.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Bachelor Design Graphique Three-year Bachelor (BAC+3) programme in graphic design covering digital and print design, awarding 60 ECTS per year and leading to the Level 6 RNCP certification 'Designer en Communication Graphique Eco-responsable' (RNCP 39221). For prospective students interested in graphic design careers.
• Bachelor Design d'Espace Three-year Bachelor (BAC+3) programme in space/interior design focusing on spatial design and environment creation. For prospective students interested in space and interior design careers.
• Bachelor Design d'Objet (Produit) Three-year Bachelor (BAC+3) programme in product/object design focusing on industrial design and product innovation. For prospective students interested in product/object design careers.
• Bachelor Design de Mode Three-year Bachelor (BAC+3) programme in fashion design and styling, part of a five-year pathway leading to Level 7 certification. For prospective students interested in fashion design careers.
• Bachelor 1 Animation First-year foundation programme (BAC+1) in animation within the design curriculum, providing transition into the second- and third-year advanced animation programme.
• Bachelor 2 & 3 Animation Second and third-year advanced animation programme (BAC+2 to BAC+3) following the Bachelor 1 Animation foundation year, leading to the Bachelor in Animation.
• Bachelor 1 Arts & Design Foundational first-year Bachelor (BAC+1) in arts and design providing multidisciplinary exposure to graphic design, fashion, space, and product design disciplines, awarding 60 ECTS and preparing students for specialisation in Year 2.
• Mastère Direction Artistique Graphique Two-year Mastère (BAC+5) programme in graphic artistic direction leading to the Level 7 RNCP certification 'Directeur Artistique en Design Graphique' (RNCP 38595), certified by AUTOGRAF. For graduates of the Bachelor Design Graphique or equivalent.
• Mastère Design Architecture d'Intérieur Two-year Mastère (BAC+5) programme in interior architecture and space design leading to the Level 7 RNCP certification 'Architecte d'intérieur – designer' (RNCP 37269), certified by AUTOGRAF. For graduates of the Bachelor Design d'Espace or equivalent.
• Mastère Scénographie & Paysagisme Two-year Mastère (BAC+5) programme specialising in scenography and landscaping design, an advanced space-design pathway.
• Mastère Design Produit & Innovation Two-year Mastère (BAC+5) programme in product design and innovation, providing advanced specialisation in the product/object design pathway.
• Mastère Design Mode & Innovation Two-year Mastère (BAC+5) programme in fashion design and innovation, providing advanced specialisation in the fashion design pathway.
• Stage Découverte (Discovery Workshop) Paid discovery workshop priced at €90, allowing prospective students to experience the school and its design programmes before committing to enrolment.
• Apprenticeship (Alternance) Track — SAS Alternance Support Apprenticeship/alternance study track delivered under the school's Centre de Formation d'Apprentis (CFA) status, with tuition funded by OPCO and partner employers plus apprenticeship search support to help students secure an employer placement.

Quantifiable outcome

• Graduates receive RNCP-registered certifications recognised by the French State and aligned with European ECTS and international credit systems.

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• 1,500+ partner companiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOver 1,500 companies host ESDAC students and apprentices annually for workplace-based training. These partnerships are central to the school's industry-integrated pedagogy and represent the primary work-experience ecosystem for graduates.
• Maison et ObjetscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partnership with Maison et Objets, a leading international design and lifestyle exhibition, providing students with industry exposure and participation in major professional events.
• Paris Design WeekcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Paris Design Week, enabling student involvement in one of the most prominent design events in France.
• Salon de l'HabitatminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Salon de l'Habitat (home and interiors trade show) offering students industry access in the habitat/design sector.
• Bo ConceptminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Bo Concept, an international furniture and interior design brand, providing industry collaboration and project opportunities.
• Biennale des Imaginaires NumériquesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with the Biennale des Imaginaires Numériques (digital design biennial) offering interdisciplinary exposure to digital design and new media.
• DécathlonminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Décathlon, providing project collaboration opportunities at the intersection of product design and sports/lifestyle innovation.
• La Tiny HouseminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with La Tiny House, a company in the alternative/sustainable housing sector, offering student projects in spatial and product design for compact living.
• AUTOGRAF (certifying body)coreOthersAUTOGRAF is the certifying body for the RNCP 38595 (Directeur Artistique en Design Graphique, Level 7) and RNCP 37269 (Architecte d'intérieur-designer, Level 7) certifications. ESDAC is authorised by AUTOGRAF to deliver these professional certifications.
• SUPDEMOD (certifying body)minorOthersSUPDEMOD is the certifying body for the RNCP 37081 (Styliste modéliste concepteur de mode, Level 6) certification. The certification is reported as in renewal as of the source date.
• ACE Education groupcoreOthersESDAC is part of the ACE Education group, which encompasses five specialised schools: AMOS (sport business), CMH (luxury hotel management), ESDAC (design and image), EIDM (fashion), and ENAAI (applied arts). The group enables shared resources, cross-school programmes, and international mobility.
• International partner universitiesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerESDAC offers international mobility options through partner universities, with seminar destinations including Valence, Londres, and Milan. International mobility is available across Bachelor and Mastère years.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• École de Condé: French private school offering programs in applied arts, graphic design, fashion, and interior architecture across multiple French cities. Directly comparable to ESDAC's portfolio mix and multi-campus structure.
• Gobelins, l'école de l'image: Paris-based private school specialised in animation, graphic design, photography, and digital media. Directly comparable to ESDAC's Animation and Design Graphique programs and to its RNCP-certified professional pathways.
• Strate School of Design: French private design school delivering industrial, transportation, and product design programs with a practice-based pedagogy. Comparable to ESDAC's design d'Objet pathway and competency-based teaching model.
• ENSCI Les Ateliers: French prestigious design school focused on industrial and product design ('design par le projet'). Comparable to ESDAC's Mastère Design Produit & Innovation in offering advanced, project-led design training.
• LISAA (L'Institut Supérieur des Arts Appliqués): French private applied-arts school offering Bachelor and Mastère programs in graphic design, interior architecture, fashion, and animation across multiple French campuses. Closely comparable to ESDAC in discipline mix, level structure, and target student profile.

Broad incumbents

• IONIS Education Group: Large French private higher-education group operating ISG, EPITA, EPITECH, and art/design schools such as Sup'Internet and Créative. Comparable as a multi-vertical private higher-education group serving similar French student demographics.
• Parsons Paris / The New School: US-based international design school with a Paris campus offering design, fashion, and strategic design programs. Comparable at the premium Mastère level and competes for internationally mobile design students in France.
• Galileo Global Education: One of Europe's largest private higher-education groups, parent of multiple French design schools (LISAA, Strate, Paris School of Business, etc.). Comparable as a diversified private-education operator with overlapping student segments.

Regional players

• HEAD – Genève (Haute école d'art et de design): Geneva-based public school of art and design offering Bachelor and Master degrees in visual arts, spatial design, and product design. Comparable in program structure to ESDAC but operates in a different geographic and accreditation environment.
• ECAL (École cantonale d'art de Lausanne): Swiss public design and art school offering Bachelor and Master programs in product, graphic, and media design. Comparable in pedagogy and discipline mix but operates in a different (Swiss Francophone) market.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/ecoleesdac
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/esdac
• Instagraminstagram.com/ecole_design_esdac

Compliance6 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 ESDAC, école de Design, Arts Appliqués et Communication