First Level Academic Diploma in Fashion Design - IED Firenze

Language

Italian, English

Start date

October 2026
January 2027

Frequency

Full time

Fruition

On campus

Duration

3 Years

Credits

180 CFA/ECTS

Course Coordination

Vivetta Ponti

Course also available in:

Cagliari
Milan
Rome
Turin

The Bachelor of Arts in Fashion Design at IED Firenze combines artisanal expertise with advanced technologies, fostering a dialogue between tailoring skills and digital tools - from garment construction to 3D design. 

The course offers an immersive learning experience within contemporary fashion processes, with a particular focus on production systems, sustainability, and innovation. Situated in an area known for a well-structured and internationally recognized fashion supply chain, the program turns the local production environment into a real-world laboratory, providing comprehensive future-oriented training grounded in a solid design culture.

Course structure and contents:

The IED programme spans three years, during which design is integrated with cultural knowledge, dialogue with professionals, technical skill development, and the use of innovative tools.

Year One: Establishes a solid and transversal foundation, integrating technical, cultural, and design tools for an informed first approach to fashion design. Courses combine theoretical subjects such as fashion history and art semiotics with practical disciplines including pattern-making, graphic design, and textile culture, translating creative intuition into structured projects. Students begin to develop a personal design language, producing initial prototypes in denim and natural fibres. Sustainability is emphasised through upcycling practices and textile manipulation. At the end of the year, students may choose a specialisation in clothing or accessories, while maintaining an integrated approach to the total look.

Year Two: Dedicated to experimentation and the definition of individual style. Projects move closer to professional contexts through capsule collections inspired by international brands, with teaching guiding the entire creative process – from research to concept, through to product communication. Workshops, competitions, and interdisciplinary activities enrich the pathway, allowing students to personalise their training. Theoretical studies expand to include photography history, marketing, and communication. Design skills deepen according to the chosen specialisation: clothing or accessories and footwear. Students work on specific prototypes such as knitwear pieces and genderless looks, or, in the accessories minor, leather goods and footwear components.

Year Three: Focused on developing a personal collection that reflects the student’s stylistic identity, designed within a simulated professional context where new materials, tailoring techniques, and visual languages are explored. Theoretical subjects such as phenomenology of contemporary arts and film analysis broaden critical and cultural perspectives. The thesis project, developed with faculty support, includes a professional portfolio, complete outfits, physical prototypes, and visual materials for concept presentation.

Final outputs may range from ready-to-wear collections to experimental fashion product projects, from accessory and footwear lines developed in collaboration with local companies to sustainable capsules created with innovative fabrics and digital printing techniques.

Faculty

Course Coordinator

Vivetta Ponti

Luca Parenti

Art Director    

Guido Riccitelli

Fashion Professor

Simona Ciacchi

Creative Designer    

Domenico Strecapede

Antonella Pilichi

Fashion Designer    

Emanuele Poli

Designer

Leonardo Galeassi

Livia Ridondelli

Fashion Designer

Virginia Fani

University Lecturer    

Marco Innocenti

Art Director

Giovanni Iozzi

Professor

Rita Quinto

Designer

Susanna Spoto

Professor

Stefania Pelliccia

Illustrator    

Elisabetta Digiugno

Art Historian

Rodolfo Bargelli

Professor

Eva Di Franco

Fashion Designer    

Laura Corvino

Fashion Designer

Jl Young Hur

Accessory Designer    

Walter Bolognino

Graphic Designer and Art Director

Pier Fioraso

Art-Creative Director

Renato Stasi

Designer

Serena Signorini

Chiara Mosti

Fashion Professor

Giuseppe Moretti

Professor

Sara Piccolo Paci

Professor and Author

Projects

Fashion Design and Styling

Florence

Final projects / thesis projects
MNEME

Fashion Design and Styling

Florence

Final projects / thesis projects
Anomalia

Fashion Design and Styling

Florence

CIEMMECI Group

Fashion Design and Styling

Florence

Amorfo

Fashion Design and Styling

Florence

Maeba International

News

07 September 2026

Fashion show and festival: the IED Public Programme is back

In September, IED's Public Program returns with a calendar of events across its campuses in Italy and Spain, offering opportunities for dialogue, exchange and discovery open to the community and the wider public.

07 September 2026

From Turin to Tokyo: IED and Pioneer Denim bring new visions of denim to the international runway

Projects by students on IED Torino’s Undergraduate Programme in Fashion Design, developed using materials supplied by the company, are heading to Tranoï Tokyo and Denim Première Vision as part of the collaboration with Pioneer Denim, bringing together research, experimentation and product culture.

02 September 2026

Three Talents from the IED Madrid Community to Take Part in the EGO Runway at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week

The runway show, dedicated to emerging fashion designers, will feature two alumni and one student from our community this year

28 August 2026

What does sustainability mean for a design school?

When discussing sustainability, the debate often focuses on environmental impacts and the responsible use of resources. But what does sustainability mean, in practical terms, for a school that educates future designers, creatives and professionals capable of driving change?

25 August 2026

IED Barcelona Master's and Postgraduate Final Presentations 2026

A showcase of creativity and talent in fashion design, bridalwear, fashion marketing and communication, fashion product management, and interior design for hotels and food & beverage spaces.

24 August 2026

IED Madrid to Present Its Fashion Show as Part of OModa Madrid es Moda, Showcasing Talent from Its Classrooms

The runway show will begin at 6:30 p.m. at Espacio Jorge Juan

27 July 2026

IED Barcelona Graduation Day – Master's Degrees and Postgraduate Programmes 2026

Held on 23 July, the graduation ceremony marked the successful completion of this stage of academic study at the school for 67 students.

13 July 2026

IED Barcelona Takes to the Runway at 080 x Cruïlla

Three recently graduated Fashion Design alumni showcased four looks each at the festival’s fashion runway, demonstrating how the new creative voices of the future dress.

IED Ranked Among the World's Best Fashion Schools in 2025

10 July 2026

IED Ranked Top 20 Fashion School Worldwide 2026

IED has once again been ranked among the world’s best fashion schools in 2026: 18th place in the CEOWORLD ranking

Don't miss it

Open Day

07 September 2026 - 10 September 2026

Multiple

IED OPEN - THE FUTURE IS LOOKING FOR YOU

Online 7 - 9 September. In person (Italian campuses) -10 September.

14 September 2026 - 18 September 2026

Barcelona

IED Barcelona 2026 Undergraduate Welcome Week

The welcome event for undergraduate students, teachers and staff to mark the official opening of the new academic year will take place on Monday 14 September.

An open notebook showing two pencil sketches, one of a lamp and the other of designer handbags
Exhibitions and Festival

17 October 2026 - 17 October 2026

Barcelona

Barcelona Dibuixa 2026: “The Power of Hand Drawing”

IED Barcelona is offering this workshop, where participants will discover, guided by architect and lecturer Gianfranco La Cognata – Laco 2, how design takes shape through illustration.