PENNINGHEN – ACADEMIE JULIAN RIVE GAUCHE

Mission Statement

Penninghen is a prestigious five-year art and design school in Paris, offering specialized programs in Interior Architecture, Creative Strategy & Brand Communication, and Art Direction in Image & Media. Renowned for its blend of artistic expression and practical industry skills, Penninghen prepares students to excel in the evolving creative world.

The school’s rigorous curriculum begins with a foundational year focused on drawing, design principles, and composition. This builds technical expertise while fostering creativity and critical thinking. As students progress, they specialize in their chosen fields, continuously blending imagination with real-world applications. Penninghen encourages collaboration and interdisciplinary learning, creating a dynamic environment where students expand their creative potential.

Penninghen’s approach to education is holistic, nurturing the development of the eye, the hand, and the idea—the essential tools of creativity. The teachers, all experts in their fields, provide personalized mentorship, helping students cultivate their artistic identity and professional agility. 

For more than fifty-five years, Penninghen has been training innovative and visionary graduates, ready to shape the future of the creative industry in all its dimensions, by combining technical mastery with an entrepreneurial spirit.

International Role

The school fosters international exposure through partnerships and exchange programs, giving students a global perspective on design. The school’s close ties with the worldwide creative industries ensure that its programs remain relevant and up-to-date. Students gain hands-on experience through internships, live projects, and industry partnerships, which facilitate their transition into the professional world. At Penninghen, the emphasis is placed not only on developing technical skills, but also on fostering a personal, creative, and international vision, alongside the ability to think critically about design. Moreover, the connection to the professional world is further strengthened through graduation juries, where students present their projects to industry professionals, offering them the opportunity to validate their work in a rigorous, real-world context.

National Role

Penninghen also continues to maintain close links with the creative industry at national and European level, developing strong business relationships and holding regular workshops with other partner universities to encourage professional collaboration.

Graduates can benefit from our comprehensive alumni network of design agencies and specialized companies, which facilitates contact with over 2000 design professionals, ranging from creative directors of small to medium-sized agencies and freelance designers to renowned Art Directors in large advertising and visual communication agencies.

Main Focus

Interior Architecture
The Master's degree in interior architecture trains as interior architect and designer : layout of the built environment, control of volumes and spaces, ergonomics (sales spaces, retails, offices, hotels, scenography, theaters, museums, ephemeral places, public and collective spaces…..). The interior architect conceives and thinks spaces consistent with the brand’s aesthetic values and activity from conception to realization. Penninghen has been recognized since its inception by the CFAI (Conseil Français des Architectes d'Intérieur).

Creative Strategy & Brand Communication
The Master's in Creative Strategy & Brand Communication at Penninghen is a cutting-edge program designed to develop the future leaders of brand management. It equips students with a unique blend of skills in communication, brand strategy, and value creation, while emphasizing the importance of knowledge sharing and interdisciplinary collaboration. The program prepares graduates to navigate and lead through societal, ecological, and technological transitions, fostering a forward-thinking approach to innovation and sustainable brand development.

Art direction Image & media

The Master's degree in art direction images and media trains as artistic director and creative director: image, visual communication (graphic art, press, video, television, cinema) digital design. The art director assists and advises the company in its development project, translates its communication strategy into visual elements, giving it meaning.