PXL-MAD | School of Arts

What PXL-MAD | School of Arts does

PXL-MAD School of Arts is a public higher education institution based on Campus Elfde Linie in Hasselt, Belgium, operating as an academic department of PXL University College within the Flemish government's publicly funded education system. The school delivers academic Bachelor, Master, and Postgraduate programs across visual arts disciplines: Graphic Design (three-year bachelor with four specialized studios from year 2), Vrije Kunsten (Free Arts bachelor), Fine Arts Master (five studios: Ceramics, Open Senses Lab, Painting, Printmaking, Sculpture & Installations), Objecthood in Expanded Field (Jewellery Design, Gold & Silversmithing), an Educatieve Master for teaching credentials, and a new Postgraduate in Fashion Technology Futures. Pre-Master preparatory programs support degree-completion entry. Enrollment is open to domestic, EU, and non-EU applicants via direct application, with international mobility through Erasmus+ KA131 (European), KA171 (non-European), and Erasmus Belgica exchange corridors.

The school's intellectual infrastructure is anchored by MAD-Research, organized into four domains — ART EDUCATION, MANUFrACTURE, READSEARCH, and VISUAL VISIONARIES — and conducted in collaboration with Hasselt University's Faculty of Architecture and Arts. READSEARCH houses a unique international Master in Reading Type & Typography, with faculty research such as Ann Bessemans' work on visual prosody demonstrating how type design can improve reading aloud for deaf and hard-of-hearing readers. Teaching leverages industry-standard tools (Adobe Creative Suite, Figma, Procreate, Blender, Unity, Unreal Engine, TouchDesigner, CLO3D), supplemented by a transversal Emerging Technologies theme covering AI/ML, VR/AR, IoT, Big Data, and robotics. Community engagement runs through MAD-PROJECTS (student design commissions for non-profit/public clients), the WOEKRR SDG think tank that converts volunteering into study credits, and public exhibitions via MAD Gallery, Het AudiTorium, KRIEG?, and the GYM venue.

Revenue is dominated by Flemish government subsidy routed through PXL University College, with tuition fees as a secondary stream: €305.40 fixed + €14.60 per credit for EU students (€1,181.40 for a 60-credit year), €2,350 fixed + €117.50 per credit for non-EU students (€9,400 per 60-credit year), and a flat €3,000 for the Fashion Technology Futures postgraduate. Supplemental income comes from MAD-PROJECTS design commissions executed for non-profits and public institutions (e.g., Domein Bokrijk, Stad Hasselt, CAW Limburg, Jenevermuseum Hasselt, Flanders DC) and from research grants. International Master Mind scholarships and Erasmus mobility funding further offset student costs.

Name

PXL-MAD | School of Arts

Legal name

PXL-MAD School of Arts

Website

https://pxl-mad.be

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

PXL-MAD School of Arts is a public higher education institution in Hasselt, Belgium, part of PXL University College. It delivers academic Bachelor, Master, and Postgraduate programs in Graphic Design, Jewellery Design, Fine Arts, Educational Master, and Fashion Technology Futures to domestic and international students.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education (Arts & Design)

NAICS

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

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Design Colleges (Graphic, Industrial, UX/UI, Interior) (EDAHAJAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Fine Arts Colleges (Painting, Sculpture, Printmaking) (EDAHAJAA), Animation, Game Art & Digital Arts Colleges (EDAHAJAI), Art & Design Teacher Education Colleges (Art Education, Music Education) (EDAHAJAJ)

Keywords

• Higher arts education
• Graphic design programs
• Fine arts studios
• Jewellery design education
• Fashion technology postgraduate

Headquarters

HQ city

Hasselt

HQ country

Belgium

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Tuition Fees: PXL-MAD generates primary revenue through tuition fees charged per academic year. EU students pay a fixed fee of €305.40 plus €14.60 per credit; for a standard 60-credit registration the total is €1,181.40. Non-EU students pay a substantially higher rate of €9,400 per year (fixed €2,350 plus €117.50 per credit). Postgraduate Fashion Technology Futures costs a flat €3,000 per student.
2. MAD-Projects (Maatschappelijke Dienstverlening): Second and third-year Graphic Design students work on project commissions for external clients (primarily non-profit sector) under the MAD-PROJECTS module, providing societal service. Revenue from these projects supports school operations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

PXL-MAD School of Arts delivers academic higher-education programs in visual arts, graphic design, jewellery design, fine arts, and fashion technology at Bachelor, Master, Pre-Master, and Postgraduate levels, alongside artistic research through its MAD-Research division. Programs combine studio-based creative practice with theoretical research, taught by internationally recognised faculty using industry-standard creative software and tools. It also operates non-degree offerings such as Erasmus exchange, MAD-Projects societal service modules, and public exhibitions (MAD Gallery, MAD EXPO).

Product overview

PXL-MAD School of Arts is a higher education institution offering a portfolio of academic programs in media, arts, and design. The core offerings include Bachelor programs in Graphic Design and Vrije Kunsten (Free Arts), Master programs in Fine Arts and Objecthood in Expanded Field (Jewellery Design), an Educatieve Master for teaching credentials, and a Postgraduate Fashion Technology Futures program. The institution operates MAD-Research, its research division with four domains (ART EDUCATION, MANUFrACTURE, READSEARCH, VISUAL VISIONARIES), and provides Pre-Master preparatory programs for degree completion. Supplementary offerings include MAD-Projects for community engagement, the MAD Gallery exhibition space, and Erasmus exchange opportunities. The institution positions itself at the intersection of tradition and innovation in the arts.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• MAD-Research: The research division of PXL-MAD focusing on artistic research across four domains: ART EDUCATION, VISUAL VISIONARIES, MANUFrACTURE, and READSEARCH.
• MAD EXPO
• MAD-Projects
• WOEKRR

Products and services

• Graphic Design (Bachelor) Three-year Bachelor program (specialisation of the Visual Arts degree) focused on art direction, visual communication, and experience design across four specialised studios. Targets prospective students with secondary education seeking a portfolio-led design career.
• Vrije Kunsten (Free Arts, Bachelor) Bachelor program in Free Arts that encourages students to question and redefine existing artistic solutions, part of the academic Visual Arts degree.
• Fine Arts (Master) One-year Master program in Fine Arts across five major studios (Ceramics, Open Senses Lab, Painting, Printmaking, Sculpture & Installations). Targets graduates with a Bachelor in arts seeking advanced studio practice.
• Objecthood in Expanded Field (Jewellery Design, Gold & Silversmithing, Master) Master's program exploring objecthood, jewellery design, metalwork, and sculptural objects within an expanded field. Targets students seeking advanced jewellery and material practice.
• Educatieve Master (Educational Master) Master's program that prepares students to become qualified art educators, combining artistic practice with pedagogical training.
• Postgraduate Fashion Technology Futures One-year postgraduate program exploring the intersection of fashion, body, material, technology, and visual culture, with emphasis on digital production and immersive media. Targets creative professionals globally.
• Pre-Master Program (Opleiding Beeldende Kunsten) One to two-year preparatory program for students with existing bachelor's degrees seeking entry to master's programs at PXL-MAD.
• Erasmus Exchange Program Exchange program for international students officially nominated by PXL partner universities to study for 3-10 months in third-year bachelor programs via Erasmus KA131, KA171, Erasmus Belgica, or non-Erasmus international exchange.

Quantifiable outcome

• Research conducted in collaboration with Faculty of Architecture and Arts at Hasselt University, with PhD programs supported by Doctoral School of Behavioral Sciences & Humanities.
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Cultuurcentrum Hasselt (CCHA)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 November 2023CCHA hosted Exhibition II of the Agents of Concern project (November 26, 2023–January 28, 2024), featuring photography and lens-based art from PXL-MAD researchers and students.
• KRIEG? (PXL-MAD University Gallery)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 November 2023PXL-MAD university gallery KRIEG? collaborated with Hasselt University and CCHA on the Agents of Concern conference and exhibition project (November 2023–January 2024).
• Hasselt University (UHasselt)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMAD-Research conducts its research projects in collaboration with the Faculty of Architecture and Arts at UHasselt. Many PXL-MAD lecturers are affiliated researchers at Hasselt University and act as PhD supervisors. The Doctoral School of Behavioral Sciences & Humanities (UHasselt) provides support for PhDs in the arts.
• City of HasseltminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe City of Hasselt is listed as a partner for the Postgraduate Fashion Technology Futures program, creating opportunities for real-world projects, networking, and visibility for students.
• Flanders DCminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFlanders DC (Flanders District of Creativity) is a cultural and professional partner in the Postgraduate Fashion Technology Futures program, providing industry connections and collaborative project opportunities.
• Flemish GovernmentcoreOthersThe Flemish Government provided support for the Agents of Concern conference and exhibition project, as well as for general operations of PXL-MAD through funding of higher education in Belgium.
• Doctoral Schools UHasseltminorOthersDoctoral Schools of Hasselt University co-supported the Agents of Concern conference, bringing together PhD researchers who responded to the project's themes.
• MuHKAminorOthersMuHKA (Museum of Contemporary Art Antwerp) supported the Agents of Concern conference and exhibition as a collaborating cultural institution.
• VUURDOOPminorOthersStudent design projects created for VUURDOOP as part of MAD-PROJECTS societal service module.
• AdoptiehuisminorOthersStudent Graphic Design projects created for Adoptiehuis vzw as part of MAD-PROJECTS societal service module.
• Ligant vzwminorOthersStudent Graphic Design projects created for Ligant vzw as part of MAD-PROJECTS societal service module.
• PXL-CateringminorOthersStudent projects created for PXL-Catering as part of MAD-PROJECTS societal service module.
• PXL (PXL University College)coreOthersPXL-MAD is a department/school within PXL University College, which provides institutional infrastructure, student administration, financial services, housing service, international office, and social services.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Gerrit Rietveld Academie: Dutch art school in Amsterdam offering bachelor programs in fine arts, design, and applied arts with a research-led, studio-based pedagogy. Comparable to PXL-MAD on teaching model and creative disciplines, but operating across the border in the Netherlands.
• ECAL (École cantonale d'art de Lausanne): Swiss university of art and design offering bachelor and master programs in design, fine arts, and visual communication with strong industry ties. Comparable as a small, research-led European art and design school, but operating in Switzerland.
• Konstfack University of Arts, Crafts and Design: Sweden's largest university of arts, crafts and design, offering bachelor and master programs across fine arts, design, and crafts. Comparable in scope across art and design disciplines, but operating in Sweden with a national mandate.
• Design Academy Eindhoven: Dutch bachelor and master program in design with a strong research and concept-development orientation. Comparable to PXL-MAD's Graphic Design and research-through-design emphasis, but specializing in design rather than fine arts and based in the Netherlands.
• Willem de Kooning Academy: Rotterdam-based art school (part of Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences) offering bachelor and master programs in design, fine arts, and media — comparable in program structure and Erasmus-driven international orientation, but operating in the Netherlands.

Direct peers

• LUCA School of Arts: Largest art school in Belgium, offering bachelor and master programs across visual arts, design, film, and music. Directly comparable as a Flemish/Belgian higher-education art school with multiple disciplines, Erasmus integration, and degree-granting structure similar to PXL-MAD.
• KASK School of Arts Ghent: Flemish art school offering bachelor and master programs in fine arts, design, film, drama, and music. Closely comparable in scale, geographic region, and degree mix, including a research-led curriculum and international exchange structure similar to PXL-MAD.
• Royal Academy of Fine Arts Antwerp: Historic Belgian fine arts and design academy (now part of University of Antwerp), offering programs in painting, sculpture, graphic design, jewellery design, and fashion — overlapping heavily with PXL-MAD's specializations and the Belgian art-school competitive set.

Broad incumbents

• Royal College of Art: UK postgraduate-only university of art and design, with programs spanning fine arts, design, architecture, and humanities. Comparable as a globally recognized research-led art school, but operating at much larger scale and higher price point in London.
• Parsons School of Design (The New School): US-based design school offering bachelor and master programs across graphic design, fashion, fine arts, and design studies. Comparable as a globally recruited art and design institution with international student pipeline, but operating at much larger scale in the US market.

Market position

Strengths1 record

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/MadAbout.be
• Instagraminstagram.com/pxlmad_schoolofarts
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/pxl-mad-school-of-arts

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 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 PXL-MAD | School of Arts