In 1991 the course »free art« was abandoned and the design degree program was transferred into the so-called "Cologne Model", which was mainly characterized by a project-oriented teaching and the abolition of traditional disciplines and semester structures.

In 2002, the organization was abandoned in departments as part of a high school internal reform.

Since then KISD forms with the CICS - Institute for Conservation Sciences and the CGL and the Cologne Game Lab (since 2013) the Faculty of Cultural Studies.

Key aspects of the areas of expertise are e.g. healthcare, mobility, work environment, knowledge and educational organisations.

Students have to enroll for at least ten areas of expertise and can develop their own focus: