Kortrijk and the region
The city of Kortrijk in Belgium is known for its design history and atmosphere. The design culture is embraced in the industrial activity of the region as well. E.g., there’s lots of businesses in lighting, innovative textiles or furniture.
The Howest campus in Kortrijk offers among others unique higher education programs
in industrial design engineering, industrial product design, digital arts & entertainment, devine (digital
design and new media). Howest has launched The Studios, a unique accelerator and business incubator for young start-ups and entrepreneurs in multimedia, gaming and product design.
The annual week of design in Kortrijk takes place in the month of June. ‘week van het ontwerpen’ has become the annual highlight for every student following a technical-creative course in Kortrijk and beyond, be it at secondary, higher, post-university or evening-course level. Participating students
get in contact with federations, freelance designers, innovative companies and design bureaus, all of whom have their own stand at the fair.
Designregio Kortrijk is a regional platform and community
promoting design as a lever for economic and cultural development of the region.
The Interior Foundation Kortrijk promotes creativity in product development and design, through the means of a major international Biennale in October, which offers an overview of the most recent developments and the most successful projects in product development and design. Many international manufacturers of contemporary design introduce their latest and best products to professional and public visitors at the Interieur Biennale.
Besides these major companies, however, the young talents of today and tomorrow, the educational establishments and supporting organizations with interest in design, are not absent from the Biennale. Their work is shown at the YoungDesignersFair part of the fair. www.interieur.be
ECTS credits
An official certificate of participation will be rewarded to everyone on Friday, September
7th.
Furthermore, the Summer School covers 3 ECTS credits.
Participants wanting to convert those 3 ECTS credits at their institution, have to write a report after the summer school. Evaluation occurs on the basis of a final report.
The ECTS practical info package
of HOWEST University College.
Insurance
Howest doesn’t automatically stand in for your insurance during the summer school. Please double check your insurance before you come to Belgium.
Belgian students who subscribe at Howest for the academic year 2012-2013 are automatically covered by the Howest student insurance.
International students have to check if the student insurance of their university covers this summer school program. If you need an official proof of your participation, please contact us.
All other people, graduates and professionals, need to check if they can count on their own hospitalization/family/travel insurance.
Laptop & internet access
There is a fluent WIFI internet access during the summer
school. We will ask you to prepare your laptop on beforehand.
You’ll have to
install software for the workshops laser cutting, CNC, 3D printing and arduino.
More instructions will follow via e-mail in a final briefing 2 weeks before the course takes off.
Fun & Evening Program
Our summer school includes social activities, such as a welcome evening, a guided tour around Kortrijk and a barbecue on Thursday. Several open atelier moments in the evening will allow you to work freely and to finish your prototypes.
You can bring music and movies on your laptop. Projection is possible in the building.
Luggage
Belgian weather is unpredictable, so be prepared for cold/rainy and warm/sunny days. As far as you have this at your disposal, please bring with you: laptop, photo camera, overall or clothes which may become messy, swimming suit (there is a swimming pool besides the campus), small digital 3D models for 3D printing.
(depending on our time and planning, we will give you the opportunity to print your models at our advantage rate for students).
Locker
Every participant will get 2 personal lockers at the entrance of the Industrial Design Center building - the keys will be distributed on Sunday evening.