The Design StudiesInstitute (DSI) is a private, licensed institutionofhighereducation in Anguilla, British West Indies that is preparinglearnersforthe creative economy.DSIoffers a rangeofrigorousacademicprogramsthatexpandthe application of design practice by accelerating career growthforlearnersandshapingthecommunitiesandorganizations in whichthoselearnersoperate.Thisself-evaluationreportforprogrammatic accreditation focusesontheBachelorof Design (BDes) degree - a four-year, 120-credit hourundergraduate degree developedthat is scheduledtolaunch in January 2027, pendingsuccessfulprogrammaticaccreditation.Theprogramemphasizestheintegrationof liberal arts, design foundations, specialized professionaleducation in specific design disciplines (graphicdesign,UX/UIdesign,fashionDesign),and an integrativecapstoneexperience.
The Design StudiesInstitutecurrentlyoffersprofessional certificates, masters,anddoctoral degrees in design.Theminimum criteria for a professional certificate is a Bachelorʼs degree orhigheror an Associateʼs degree withoneyearoffull-timeworkexperience.However, an analysisofinquirydata collected fromJuly 1, 2025 toMay 10, 2026 reveals a significant gap between expressed interestandprogram eligibility. Duringthisperiod, 345 individualsfromacrosstheglobe expressed generalinterest in the Design StudiesInstituteor specifically requestedinformationabouttheProfessionalCertificateprogram.Ofthese, 159 (the largest single group),representingapproximately 46% of all inquiries,holdonly a highschooldiploma as theirhighest level ofeducationandtherefore do notmeettheminimum eligibility requirementsfortheProfessionalCertificate.Thisdatasuggeststhatnearlyhalfofthoseexpressinginterest in theInstitute'sofferings are currently ineligible for its entry-level credential, pointingto a substantialunmetdemandamongprospectivestudentswhosehighestcredential is a highschooldiploma.
Additionally, a bachelor'sprogramwouldcontributetothelocalandregional creative economies in Anguilla, whichmay broaden DSIʼs appeal toresidentsandthose living withintheregion. In Jamaica,forexample,the creative industriessectorhas been estimatedtocontribute as much as 5.2%ofGDP.¹ Yet despite thispotential,theCaribbeanCommunity (CARICOM) (theregionaleconomicblocofwhich Anguilla is an associatemember)capturedonly 0.01% ofworldtrade in creative goodsand0.04%ofworldtrade in creative services as of2008.¹ Tertiary educationplays a centralrole in unlockingthiseconomicvalueregionally. Establishing a Bachelor's degree program in design would address this gap directly for Anguilla andoffer a contributiontothelocal creative economy.
1Hendrickson,M.,Lugay,B.,PérezCaldentey,E.,Mulder,N., & Alvarez,M. 2012. Creative industries in the Caribbean: A new road for diversification and export growth Studies andPerspectivesSeriesNo. 19, LC/L.3540, LC/CAR/L.348.
ECLAC SubregionalHeadquartersfortheCaribbean.
TheBachelorof Design is a 120 credit hourprogramthatrequiresstudentstocompletecourses in required areas.
30 credit hoursmust be earned in the Liberal Arts forDesignersrequirementand 30 credit hoursmust be earned in theFoundationsof Design requirement.Thesecoursesequences establish foundationalthinkingand skills foremergingdesigners. All 60 credit hoursshould be completedbeforemovingto design specialization coursework.
Studentsthen select two design specializationstocomplete, each 24 credit hours. Design specializations allow forstudentstocustomizetheirstudy in areas of design practice that are specific totheirinterests.Theprogramcurrently is plannedtoofferGraphicDesign,UX/UIDesign,andFashionDesign. It is anticipated thatadditional specialization will be added as theprogrammatures per internalapprovalprocessesfornew specialization proposalsbythefaculty.
Followingthecompletionof all requirements,studentscomplete a 12 credit hourCapstone in Design Practicerequirementthatresults in theproductionof a baccalaureatecapstoneprojectwithaccompanying career readinesscoursework.
BACHELOR OF DESIGN PROGRAMSPECIFICATIONS
|
Title ofthestudyprogram(s) |
Bachelorof Design (BDes) |
|
Standardtimeto degree in terms |
20 terms (4 years) |
|
Academic termsoffered per year |
5 terms |
|
Final degree (s)andtotal credits |
BDes- 120 CreditHours |
|
Typeof degree program |
Undergraduate |
|
Programstarting date |
January 2027 |
|
Modeofattendance |
Part-timeorfull-time,online;studentsmayoptionally participate in in-personresidencyprogramming. Based onmarketdemand,on-siteinstructionmay be requestedforauthorizationbytheDSI Board. |
|
Enrolledstudents |
0 (Program is in development) |
|
Fees |
$175 per credit hour $60 library fee per term $2,500 fee per residency(optional) |
|
Estimated Degree Costs |
$22,200 |
|
Vision for BDes StudentAchievement |
A DSI BDes studentdevelops as a pre-professional design practitionerwhounderstandssystems,thinksindependently, acts collaboratively in realconditions,andmakes design decisionswithawarenessofsocialandglobalimpact. |
|
Key deliverables forstudentassessment |
Completionof a bachelorʼs capstoneprojectand a professionalportfolio. |
Applicants seekingadmissiontotheBachelorof Design programmust satisfy thefollowingrequirements:
●Submit a completed Design StudiesInstitute application form.
●Possess a highschooldiploma,secondaryschoolcompletion certificate, or an equivalentqualification.
●Demonstrate English languageproficiencythroughoneofthefollowing:
○Official transcriptsshowingsuccessfulcompletionofsecondaryorpost-secondaryeducationconducted in English;
○Evidenceof at least twoyearsofresidency in an English-speakingcountrywithdocumentationdemonstratingregularuseofEnglish;or
○Minimum acceptable scoreson an approved English proficiencyexamination:
■TOEFL Paper-Based Test (PBT) 530
■TOEFLInternet-Based Test (iBT): 71
■DuolingoEnglishTest (DET) 120
■IELTS 6.5
●Submit an application essayrespondingto a designatedwritingprompt.
●Submit a portfoliocontainingupto five creative worksthatdemonstrate creative potentialandreadinessforundergraduatestudy in design.
Converted to HTML with WordToHTML.net | Document Converter for Windows
