Toss Launches Design Education Subsidiary ‘Phi Institute of Design’

• Eight-week intensive program designed to build adaptable thinking through hands-on, iterative learning in a rapidly evolving tech landscape
• Two human-centered tracks featuring project-based learning with AI as a collaborative tool

Toss announced the launch of its design education subsidiary, the Phi Institute of Design (“Phi Design School”), alongside its first official program of 2026, the Pre-Course. Established in October 2025, Phi Design School aims to strengthen expertise across the design industry – including UI/UX – and contribute to the broader design ecosystem in Korea.

Phi Design School was founded to cultivate designers with strong fundamentals, capable of delivering clear, high-quality outcomes in an era of rapidly evolving tools and technologies. The Pre-Course, its inaugural program, reflects this philosophy by helping creators develop their own approach to problem-solving, independent of specific tools.

The Pre-Course begins in mid-April and runs for eight weeks. It is open to individuals with hands-on experience using tools such as Figma, coding environments, or 3D software, regardless of formal design education. The program will be conducted primarily in person at the Phi Design School campus in  Seoul.

The curriculum is divided into two tracks based on participants’ focus: Track A (Liberal Arts), which takes a humanistic approach, and Track B (Engineering), which emphasizes technical depth. Across both tracks, participants will study Human Interface Design (HID), which explores interactions between humans and machines, and Aesthetic Literacy, which develops visual judgment. A core component of the program is learning to use AI not only as a tool, but as a collaborative partner in the creative process.

Phi Design School takes a distinct approach from traditional universities and bootcamps. Rather than relying on lecture-first models, the program encourages participants to engage with challenges before formal instruction, helping them identify gaps and take ownership of their learning. Instructors act as guides throughout the process, supporting participants while allowing them to shape their own direction.

Over the course of the program, participants progress from foundational challenges to track-based projects, culminating in work that can be refined into publishable outcomes. Phi Design School plans to expand this into a full-time, one-year, in-person program in September.

“As tools evolve, what really matters is the ability to define problems and develop your own way of thinking,” said Jihong Kim, Principal of Phi Institute of Design. “At Phi Design School, we focus on helping individuals build that foundation.”