The Textile Design Foundation (FUNDIT) was created in 1989 with the aim of promoting a culture of design and providing the necessary educational and research-related resources to do so. That same year, FUNDIT created the Higher School of Design (ESDi). ESDi began its educational activity by offering a course in textile design that was adapted to the needs of the Spanish textile industry. fundit@esdi.es
ESDi's mission is to transmit knowledge about art and design.
ESDi's educational and research activities are organised by university departments that encompass teaching, research, and knowledge transfer and dissemination.
Three years after the creating ESDi, FUNDIT signed an association agreement with Ramon Llull University (URL), Spain's first private university. On 9 January 2009, the Catalan government recognised ESDi's affiliation with the URL.