Special Projects & Programs

In this series, which runs throughout the academic year, distinguished interior designers and architects from Israel and abroad are invited to present their projects. The lectures take place every week and are open to the public. Among the lecturers who have spoken at the Department are: Els Verbakle, an architect from Princeton University, and Senan Abdelkader, an architect.

The Department organizes an intensive two-week series of master classes every year. The classes are led by prominent international architects, designers and artists as well as professionals from other related fields. Any students' work produced in these master classes is published and/or exhibited, and may be further developed as part of the regular studio program.

Well-known figures in the field of design and architecture who have led master classes at the Department include: Josef M. Botey (architect from Spain) and representatives from Mechthild Stuhlmacher – Kortekene Stuhlmacher Architecture in Holland.

The Department maintains students exchange programs with leading schools and departments of design and architecture around the world. We encourage our students to study in academic institutions overseas, in order to enhance themselves with new knowledge and techniques. We also welcome students from overseas institutions, who can study alongside of our Israeli students (for a semester, an entire year, or just one workshop) and utilize our rich academic and practical platform.

Applications for the exchange program are submitted through the exchange coordinator at the respective school. The institutions involved agree to recognize each other’s study programs, grades and accreditation systems. Exchange students pay the standard tuition to their home institution and are exempt from any such fees at the College of Management - Academic Studies (COMAS).

Student exchange can currently be done with the Elisava design school of Barcelona, as well as the Dessau Institute of Architecture in Germany (master’s degree).  

Distinguished guest lecturers frequently speak at departmental events and deliver thought-provoking lectures to the faculty and students, as well as the public –at –large. These guest speakers include: Michael Hanzel, architect from AA London, Manuela Gatto, architect from Zaha Hadid Architects, and Lars Spuybroek, architect and artist from Holland. 

The following are some examples of international workshops in which the Department was involved:

"Moving in Urban Space" was held in Paris, in collaboration with five European schools of interior design and architecture.

"Living in a European City" was held in Brussels, in collaboration with five European schools of interior design and architecture from Europe.

"Preserving Old Structures in a Modern City" was a series of several workshops held in Venice.

Throughout the year, the Department sponsors and organizes numerous workshops led by prominent individuals in the field: "Dance and Plan" led by choreographer Sharona Florsheim and architect Shoshi Bar-El, "Words Floating in Space" led by journalist Maya Dvash, and "Branding and Interior Space" led by Efrat Yadid Ben Ezra.