Schule für Gestaltung Basel

What Schule für Gestaltung Basel does

Schule für Gestaltung Basel (SfG Basel) is a public educational institution in Basel, Switzerland, operated under the Erziehungsdepartement Basel-Stadt (Education Department of the Canton of Basel-Stadt). The school delivers a multi-tier design and art education portfolio structured along the Swiss vocational and higher-education framework: preparatory courses (Vorkurs / Propädeutikum) in full-time, part-time, and Vorkurs Plus formats; federal apprenticeship programs (Berufliche Grundbildung) leading to EFZ certifications in graphic design, interactive media design, polygraphy, 3D design, and goldsmithing; vocational baccalaureate programs (Berufsmaturität BM 1 / BM 2); Höhere Fachschule diplomas in Interaction Design, Spatial Design, Textile Design, and Visual Design; and public continuing education courses (Öffentliche Weiterbildungskurse) across approximately 17 creative disciplines. It also operates the K'Werk Bildschule sub-brand for children's and Kita-professional creative education.

The institution serves four primary learner segments: young people seeking foundational design and art education; apprentices and advanced vocational students pursuing EFZ and HF qualifications; the general public taking continuing-education hobby courses; and vocational baccalaureate candidates. Programs are delivered primarily on-campus at three locations—Vogelsangstrasse 15 in Basel (main campus), Freilager-Platz 6 in Münchenstein (Plakatsammlung poster collection), and Hanro Areal, Benzburweg 22 in Liestal (Textilsammlung textile collection)—with a supporting cloud-based learning platform called SfG Wolke (wolke.sfgbasel.ch).

As a public institution under cantonal oversight, SfG Basel does not operate a commercial revenue model. Tuition is regulated by the canton and is not publicly disclosed; the school is funded through the Swiss public education system. Its competitive moat derives from its state-mandated authority to issue regulated qualifications (EFZ, HF), its geographic positioning in Basel, its specialized institutional collections (poster, textile, library), and its teaching staff of practicing professionals. Industry engagement is evidenced through partnerships such as the 2025 collaboration with Basel-based startup Maus Robotics, in which HF Interaction Design students developed UX concepts for an automated crêpe robot.

Name

Schule für Gestaltung Basel

Legal name

Schule für Gestaltung Basel

Website

https://sfgbasel.ch

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Schule für Gestaltung Basel is a public Swiss design and art school in Basel, operated under the Canton of Basel-Stadt's Education Department. It offers preparatory, vocational (EFZ), higher vocational (HF), and public continuing education programs across design disciplines.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Design and Art Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Technical and Trade Schools (61151), Fine Arts Schools (611610)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Personal Enrichment & Creative Arts Programs (EDAAAEAG), Technical Universities with Architecture, Built Environment & Design Engineering (EDAHAEAJ)

Keywords

• Design education
• Vocational training
• Art school
• Continuing education
• Higher vocational diploma

Headquarters

HQ city

Basel

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Others

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Schule für Gestaltung Basel is a public educational institution delivering design and art education across multiple tiers: preparatory courses (Vorkurs/Propädeutikum), federal vocational apprenticeships (EFZ) in graphic design, interactive media design, 3D poly-design, polygraphy, and goldsmithing, higher vocational diplomas (HF) in Interaction Design, Spatial Design, Textile Design, and Visual Design, vocational baccalaureate programs (Berufsmaturität), public continuing education courses, and a community art school (K'Werk Bildschule) for children. It also maintains specialized resources including a design library, poster collection, and textile collection.

Product overview

Schule für Gestaltung Basel is an educational institution offering a comprehensive portfolio of design and art programs. The school operates a multi-level educational architecture consisting of: (1) Preparatory courses (Vorkurs/Propädeutikum) for students entering creative fields, including full-time, part-time, and extended formats; (2) Vocational education programs (Berufliche Grundbildung) leading to EFZ federal certificates in graphic design, interactive media design, polygraphy, 3D design, and goldsmithing, with specialized graphic design classes; (3) Vocational baccalaureate programs (Berufsmaturität) taken during or after apprenticeship; (4) Higher vocational diploma programs (Höhere Fachschule) in Interaction Design, Spatial Design, Textile Design, and Visual Design; (5) Public continuing education courses (Öffentliche Weiterbildungskurse) in drawing, painting, photography, typography, digital design, and crafts; (6) Community art education (K'Werk Bildschule) for children and families. The school also maintains institutional resources including a design library, poster collection, and textile collection, and operates SfG Wolke as its digital learning platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• K'Werk Bildschule: An image school offering creative courses for children and professional development for Kita (nursery) educators, part of the school's public continuing education offerings.

Products and services

• Vorkurs Gestaltung und Kunst

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Maus RoboticscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 July 2025Basel-based startup collaborating with HF Interaction Design students (4th semester) on practical projects. Students developed user experience concepts for an automated crêpe robot, from ordering to maintenance interfaces. Student Alexandra Stöckli's solution was selected by Maus Robotics for potential further development. Project leadership by Daniel Hunziker with support from Mario Giudici, Dennis Schmidlin, and Marc Strebel.
• Erziehungsdepartement Basel-StadtcoreOthersThe Erziehungsdepartement (Education Department) of the Canton of Basel-Stadt is the governing authority overseeing Schule für Gestaltung Basel as a public educational institution.
• Swiss Design SchoolscoreOthersA network of Swiss design schools for collaboration and knowledge sharing among design education institutions in Switzerland.
• Bildschulen SchweizcoreOthersAssociation of Swiss image/design schools, representing and connecting institutions focused on visual arts and design education.
• ODECminorOthersODEC is a professional organization related to Swiss continuing education, suggesting quality standards and professional development support.
• ZemCes (Schulevaluation)minorOthersZemCes provides school evaluation services, indicating quality assurance and institutional self-assessment practices.
• SGS – Q2EminorOthersSGS Q2E appears to be a quality certification or evaluation body for educational institutions.
• movetiaminorOthersMovetia is the Swiss agency for mobility and exchange programs, suggesting student exchange and international mobility opportunities.

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• ZHdK Zürcher Hochschule der Künste: Switzerland's largest arts and design university offering design, media, and arts programs across multiple tiers. Strong overlap with SfG Basel's HF design portfolio and shares the 'Swiss Design Schools' network.
• FHNW Hochschule für Gestaltung und Kunst: Closest geographic peer — a Swiss public arts and design university offering design, fine arts, and crafts programs in the same Northwestern Switzerland region. Overlaps directly on interaction, visual, spatial, and textile design offerings.
• Schule für Gestaltung Bern und Biel: Berne/Biel public design school offering similar EFZ vocational tracks in graphic design, interactive media, and 3D design. Co-member of the Swiss Design Schools network with SfG Basel.
• HSLU Design & Kunst: Lucerne University of Applied Sciences design and art department offering product, graphic, and interaction design programs. Comparable Swiss public design institution with federal HF credentialing.
• Schule für Gestaltung St.Gallen: St. Gallen public design school covering preparatory courses, EFZ vocational training, and continuing education in design — a regional analog of comparable size and scope.
• ECAL École cantonale d'art de Lausanne: Lausanne-based public design school with strong international profile in industrial, graphic, interaction, and type design. Directly comparable in target learners and HF-level design curriculum.
• Schule für Gestaltung Zürich: Zurich-based public design school offering vocational EFZ and preparatory programs in graphic and interactive media design. Nearest analog to SfG Basel's Berufliche Grundbildung portfolio.
• HEAD Genève: Geneva-based public arts and design school covering visual communication, interaction, space, and object design. A French-language analog delivering comparable HF and design program types.

Regional players

• Schule für Gestaltung Aargau: Aargau canton public design school offering EFZ vocational training in graphic, interactive media, and 3D design. Comparable portfolio but distinct regional catchment from Basel.
• Schule für Gestaltung Winterthur (ZHW): Winterthur-based design education offerings through ZHAW's School of Applied Psychology and other design education outlets. Comparable in delivery to initial vocational design training but operating in a different geographic catchment.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/Schule-f%C3%BCr-Gestaltung-Basel-157466974293836
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/schule-f%C3%BCr-gestaltung-basel
• Instagraminstagram.com/sfg_basel

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 records

Subsidiaries4 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 Basel