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

Faculty

Course Leader

Anna Serra

Creative Director

Job Vives

Brand Narrative and Creative Direction Specialist

Projects

Graphic Design and Visual Communication

Barcelona

Pont al Palau. Clásicamente contemporáneo

News

11 May 2026

Design tells its story at the Turin International Book Fair with EDICOLA IED

From 14 to 18 May, a newsstand of creativity presents the first two issues of Notes on Plural Intelligences alongside a selection of the best Italian and international magazines, accompanied by a programme of talks and workshops exploring themes of design, publishing and contemporary communication

11 May 2026

The creative talent of IED Barcelona takes the stage at ADC*E High Potentials 2026

Irina Kavtaradze, a fourth-year Advertising student, was one of the 30 new talents selected from 170 international applications to present her portfolio on the DHub stage before leading European agencies and studios.

07 May 2026

IED.60 Public Program - May: between Plural Intelligences and the culture of design

The programme of IED events open to both the internal and external communities continues in may; it was launched to mark the 60th anniversary as a collective reflection on the role of design.

06 May 2026

The gaudeamusPROJECTA Awards recognise IED Barcelona Visual Arts

“Sutura”, by IED Barcelona Graphic Design alumnus Carmina Goran, is one of the 24 projects selected in the 9th edition of the awards celebrating emerging talent in graphic design and excellence in education.

30 April 2026

IED Milano partner in an international collaboration programme with Dnipro University of Technology

Communication Design students taking part in an interactive workshop with faculty members from the Ukrainian university.

28 April 2026

IED Milano partner in the international Blended Intensive Programme

The programme has been coordinated by ENSAV La Cambre, Brussels.

Forbes Next Leaders – IED Student designs the April cover of Next Leaders | © Forbes Next Leaders - Studentessa IED firma la copertina di aprile di Next Leaders

27 April 2026

Forbes Next Leaders: the April cover designed by Giada Boselli

IED and Forbes Next Leaders continue their shared journey with the development of the third cover of the magazine, created for the month of April.

22 April 2026

IED Madrid plays a leading role at Brut! Madrid with nominations for “ABONO 03: Hogar” and “TypoLAB”

Brut! Madrid is bringing together design students and professionals at La Nave on Friday 8 May for an event dedicated to emerging talent

20 April 2026

IED Barcelona, finalist in the HUMANSDID - Movistar Pantallas para la Reflexión competition

Three projects by Visual Arts students, selected among design, communication and creativity schools from across Spain, will be screened on outdoor advertising displays and in Movistar stores for one week from World Creativity and Innovation Day (21 April).

Don't miss it

Type Design Month → un mes dedicado a la tipografía en IED Madrid
Exhibitions and Festival

07 May 2026 - 29 May 2026

Madrid

Type Design Month → a month dedicated to typography at IED Madrid

Until the 29th of May, IED Madrid Design District explores typography as a contemporary language across practice, experimentation, and visual culture.

HYPER FUTURES. DISEÑAR MÁS ALLÁ DEL CAPITALISMO
Lecture and Panel discussion

08 May 2026 - 22 May 2026

Madrid

HYPER FUTURES. DESIGNING BEYOND CAPITALISM

Exhibition from 8 to 22nd May. On 8th of May we will celebrate an event with a workshop on the future, a panel discussion and the opening of the exhibition featuring dj Umami

Exhibitions and Festival

15 May 2026 - 15 May 2026

Turin

When Images Speak: IED at the Turin International Book Fair with Cecilia Campironi

A workshop to explore illustration and understand its role in contemporary communication

Exhibitions and Festival

16 May 2026 - 16 May 2026

Turin

Graficologia. Designing the Present: IED at the Turin International Book Fair with Andrea Viberti

Editorial graphic design as a lens on the present

Exhibitions and Festival

17 May 2026 - 17 May 2026

Turin

The writing professions today: IED at Turin International Book Fair with Damiano Gui

Schools in dialogue across creativity, languages, and emerging professions

Lecture and Panel discussion

22 May 2026 - 22 May 2026

Rome

Twins: Conversations on the Duality between Identity, Transformation and Contemporary Imaginaries

Four lectures and a final talk exploring how brands, organizations and individuals navigate change and redefine their identity across physical, symbolic and digital dimensions.

Lecture and Panel discussion

28 May 2026 - 28 May 2026

Florence

Reflections with Emiliano Ponzi

Emiliano Ponzi will lead a conversation exploring his visual universe and the relationship between image-making, storytelling, and contemporary experimentation.