Graphic Design in Branding

Language

English

Start date

July 2026

Frequency

Part-time

Fruition

On campus

Duration

3 Weeks

Put your creative talent to work developing engaging, strategic branding proposals for a variety of formats.

The Summer Course in Graphic Design in Branding helps you to take your first steps in visual identity design and learn to use print or digital media in a strategic, responsible way to create a better user experience.

In this course, taught in English, you’ll be working with case studies and other types of projects, using the best materials, tools and technologies to create the most effective graphic design and visual communication.

Information to decide

A course that stimulates your creativity as you acquire the skills you need to develop a visual identity project and put your newfound knowledge into practice.

A learning experience based on case studies and other design methodologies, such as Visual Design Thinking. Particular emphasis is placed on observing, analysing, comparing, creating and developing strategies, resources and methodologies to design visual identity systems for products, exhibition spaces, branding, wayfinding, corporate identity, event design, social and digital media.

In this course, you’ll be encouraged to explore new creative avenues, design trends and adopt a designer's (knowledge-based) way of thinking, to plan and design in a responsible way and play a pro-active role in transitional design for a sustainable future.

This course is for people who want a solid grounding in the basics of graphic design and, in particular, visual identity, branding and brand culture, to acquire or further their knowledge of the most effective visual communication and design tools used in the sector.

Designers from a variety of fields, Fine Arts or Communication graduates and students, photographers, editors, advertising agents, printers and entrepreneurs looking for in-depth knowledge of strategic graphic design will find the course both interesting and useful. The same is true for university students or people who’ve already graduated in Graphic Design or visual and interactive communications.

Previous knowledge of Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign and Acrobat is an asset; there will be no lectures on these tools, and each individual student is free to develop their project using the program they’re most comfortable with.

If you’re looking for a personal, learning experience to put your creative skills to the test and take your first steps in the field of graphic design, this is the course for you.

You’ll be studying at IED Barcelona in the emblematic Gràcia district, a vibrant community of students and top professionals from all over the world.

Syllabus

FOUNDATIONS

The foundations of visual identity and brand design

The iconographic message 

Adaptive, dynamic and evolutionary visual identity systems (case studies)

Personal branding (case studies)

Project management: basics of project management



STRATEGY

Brand purpose, personality, essence and guidelines 

Brand language, naming/phonetic brand, verbal brand

Users/consumers, market research and benchmarks 

Storytelling: brand communication and narratives 

Branding brief

Brand Management

Notions of marketing: advertising and propaganda



DEVELOPMENT

Visual identity: logo design, basic elements of brand identity (typography, colour, shape, identification unit, priorities)

Development of visual identity system 

Identity manual: rules for use and application



IIMPLEMENTATION

Brand touchpoints: interaction or communication between a brand and its customers 

Media: digital, print, physical

Brand experience: customer experience, brand environment 

User experience (UX)

Principles of digital brand/social media branding

Brand positioning

Public engagement: social media, marketing and advertising campaigns

Projects

Graphic Design and Visual Communication

Barcelona

Pont al Palau. Clásicamente contemporáneo

News

Overhead view of a labyrinth of fabric panels and light

10 February 2026

IED Barcelona bathes Llum BCN 26 in warm light

The lighting design installation “Fabric Maze”, a labyrinth of fabrics, lights and shadows inspired by the textile past of the Poblenou neighbourhood, created warm visual compositions with each visitor’s passage.

09 February 2026

Creativity, design and architecture at the Workshop Week 2026

From 2 to 6 February, 430 students at IED Barcelona took part in this annual multidisciplinary academic activity, which offered 25 multidisciplinary workshops inspired by the Barcelona World Capital of Architecture 2026 event. And, for the first time, it included mobility between campuses.

04 February 2026

punto—trama LAB: workshops for young designers

After its first edition, punto—trama continues its journey as a space for dialogue and experimentation dedicated to young designers.

Poster for the Saló Ensenyament 2026 showing two cheerful young people against a blue background

03 February 2026

IED Barcelona at Saló de l’Ensenyament 2026

From 18 to 22 March, attendees at this event focused on educational guidance will have the opportunity to explore the school’s design training programmes at stand D-453, located at the Fira de Barcelona Montjuïc venue.

A table with various posters and images from graphic design campaigns

30 January 2026

Portfolio Review Day Visual Arts 2026

The third edition of the annual exhibition showcasing the best work by fourth-year students from the Visual Arts School at IED Barcelona brought together the personal perspectives of a new generation of creative talent.

Valentino: Après moi, le déluge!

30 January 2026

Valentino: Après moi, le déluge!

In January and February 2026, a small exhibition will be held in the Franca Sozzani Fashion Reading Room at IED Milan, paying tribute to Valentino, a great master of Italian fashion, who passed away on January 19.

29 January 2026

An exhibition on the value of resources and collective action

A group exhibition exploring the value of environmental resources and the role of collective action in shaping a sustainable future. The project stems from a collaboration between IED Firenze and Gruppo Plures.

26 January 2026

IED’s campuses in Madrid, Bilbao and Barcelona are hosting Valor Ancestral, the travelling exhibition by Latam Creative Talent.

The exhibition will debut in Madrid on February 17 as part of the Madrid Design Festival.

Bachelor of Arts (Hons) University of Westminster and IED Madrid

22 January 2026

IED Madrid launches two University of Westminster BA (Hons) degrees

The first intake of Creative Media Arts and Fashion Marketing and Promotion begins in September 2026

Don't miss it

05 February 2026 - 07 March 2026

Madrid

IED Madrid · Official School of the Madrid Design Festival

From 5 February to 7 March, IED Madrid presents a diverse program deeply connected to the city, positioning it as the festival’s largest creative hub.

Lecture and Panel discussion

25 February 2026 - 25 February 2026

Barcelona

IED MUSES Talks: Omar Sosa

The co-founder of ‘Apartamento Magazine’ will be the second guest of the second season of the IED’s inspirational talk series. The event will take place on 25 February 2026 at 6:30 pm at IED Barcelona.

Lecture and Panel discussion

05 March 2026 - 05 March 2026

Bilbao

IED MUSES Talks: Albert Folch

Creative director Albert Folch, currently working as an independent creative, headlines a new IED MUSES Talks session on March 5, 2026 at 7:00 pm at IED Kunsthal Bilbao.

Exhibitions and Festival

18 March 2026 - 22 March 2026

Barcelona

Saló de l’Ensenyament 2026

From 18 to 22 March, we look forward to welcoming you at stand D-453 at the Montjuïc venue of Fira de Barcelona, where you will be able to discover our educational offer in Design, Fashion, Visual Arts, Marketing and Communication. Come and visit us!