Strate School of Design: Shaping Tomorrow’s Leaders in Bangalore with a Global Legacy
India’s booming design industry, fuelled by economic growth and a focus on sustainability, demands innovative design solutions. This surge in demand has created a need for designers who not only possess cutting-edge skills but also understand the power of design to create a more sustainable future. Strate School of Design, a global leader with a 30-year legacy, answers this call with its Bangalore campus, offering a unique blend of French ingenuity and a UGC-approved curriculum tailored specifically for the Indian market.
Strate sets itself apart by fostering a close-knit learning environment. Small class sizes, capped at 25 students, allow faculty to provide personalized attention and mentorship, ensuring each student thrives and unlocks their full potential. “We don’t believe in a one-size-fits-all approach,” explains Mr. Thomas Dal, Dean of Strate School of Design. “Our faculty works closely with each student to understand their individual goals and aspirations. This personalized approach guides their academic journey and helps them develop the specific skillset needed for their chosen design path.”
Strate offers a comprehensive suite of programs designed to equip students with the knowledge and skills necessary for success in the design industry. These programs include a Bachelor of Design (B.Des.), a Master of Design (M.Des.), and a unique five-year integrated program combining both degrees. Students can specialize in Product Design, Transportation Design, or Communication Design. Each program is enriched by a global immersion experience at Strate campuses in Lyon and Paris, exposing students to diverse design perspectives and fostering a global network. These experiences often lead to full-time employment for the students. Dal states, “One of our students from the Bachelor’s program received a placement with a big brand in Munich, Germany, with an annual package of 35 Lakhs yearly.”
Strate goes beyond theoretical knowledge. The program integrates four mandatory internships throughout the curriculum, strategically placed across different semesters. These internships offer invaluable real-world experience, with students working alongside seasoned designers at industry leaders like Tata Motors, a titan in the Indian automotive industry. Imagine collaborating with the design team at Bosch, a global leader in technology, tackling the design challenges of next-generation smart appliances. Strate doesn’t simply place students; they curate opportunities. “We take meticulous care in selecting internship opportunities,” says Mr. Dal. “We ensure each internship aligns with a student’s individual career goals and provides them with the chance to tackle real problems on live projects. These projects are not hypothetical exercises; they are genuine design challenges that are directly implemented by the company.”
Unlike schools that focus solely on software and drawing, Strate takes pride in cultivating well-rounded designers equipped to lead with purpose. They achieve this through their ‘360 approach’, which emphasizes understanding the entire problem before making decisions. Think of it as design thinking, but with a twist: Strate encourages students to take a moment and gain a complete picture of the situation before taking action. Furthermore, Strate goes beyond simply teaching students how to answer questions. They foster critical thinking by encouraging students to question the question itself. “We ask ‘why’ before they start answering ‘how,'” explains Mr. Dal, “ensuring they understand the purpose behind the task.”
Strate boasts an impressive placement record, with over 90% of graduates securing placements within six months of graduation, significantly higher than the national average for design graduates, highlighting the program’s effectiveness in preparing students for the demands of the industry. Strate alumni consistently command starting salaries that are well above the national average. For instance, the average starting salary for a Strate graduate in product design is 20% higher than the national average, with some graduates securing packages exceeding ₹12 lakhs annually at companies like Maruti Suzuki, a leading automobile manufacturer.
Central to Strate’s educational philosophy is personalized mentorship and experiential learning. Mr. Thomas Dal, Dean of Strate School of Design, emphasizes the importance of hands-on experience: “Placing a designer amidst a group of engineers yields little. But when surrounded by seasoned designers, they flourish.” This guiding principle underpins Strate’s internship program, where students engage with real-world design challenges at esteemed companies like Tata Motors and Decathlon.
Strate’s commitment to excellence extends far beyond the classroom. Through strategic partnerships with industry titans like Tata Motors, Alstom, and Decathlon, students gain invaluable exposure to real-world design scenarios, equipping them for the rigors of professional life. “Our students aren’t just designers; they’re agents of change,” affirms Mr. Dal. “They’re actively shaping a better world.”
“In the heart of Strate’s educational philosophy, a transformative student story shines. One of the students at Strate Bangalore came from a farming family”, shares Mr. Dal, the Dean. “With the help of a scholarship, this student’s natural talent and enthusiasm for design blossomed. Now, he is one of Strate’s most accomplished graduates, working on an impressive project at a top startup in Bangalore. This story exemplifies Strate’s dedication to nurturing design leaders, regardless of their background.”
About Strate School of Design
Strate School of Design was founded in 1993 and has a 30-year legacy of training future-ready designers globally. Strate graduates are the thinkers, doers, and innovators who are shaping the systems and services of tomorrow. The Bangalore campus opened its doors in 2018 and was recognized for its academic excellence by Eduawards at the National Educational Awards & Conference 2021. The Bangalore campus is a member of prestigious design organizations including Cumulus Association, World Design Organization, and Association of Designers of India.
