First Level Academic Diploma in Advertising Communication - IED Firenze

Language

Italian

Start date

October 2026

Frequency

Full time

Fruition

On campus

Duration

3 Years

Credits

180 CFA / ECTS

Course Coordination

Alessandra Foschi

The evolution of communication and digital technologies has made it essential to train professionals who can conceive and develop effective and innovative visual strategies. For this reason, the Bachelor of Arts in Visual Communication Design offers comprehensive training combining theory, practice and experimentation across the various fields of visual communication and advertising design.

Throughout the programme, you will learn how to design and develop integrated advertising campaigns, craft visual narratives and use key graphic, digital and multimedia tools to enhance the identity of brands and institutions. You will explore subjects such as art direction, copywriting, storytelling, web and interaction design, social media management, photography and video techniques, building a solid skill set that combines visual culture with practical expertise.

Course structure and contents:

The programme spans three years, integrating design with cultural knowledge, dialogue with professionals, technical skills and innovative tools. The aim is to train students to experiment with the different modes and expressive possibilities of visual communication design.

First Year: Students acquire the foundations of visual design and communication, learning to use the main graphic software (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign) and to develop a sound design approach through practical exercises, supported by theoretical courses in art history and communication. Theory, techniques and practices of copywriting are also introduced.

Second Year: Technical and creative skills are strengthened through the design of complete advertising campaigns and digital content, with a focus on branding, social media and multimedia. Exercises include video, web design and digital marketing. Theoretical subjects such as media history and phenomenology, and sociology of communication, support the practical disciplines, enabling students to produce finished projects.

Third Year: Students tackle complex projects and simulated professional contexts, culminating in the thesis, which may consist of an advertising campaign, an editorial or multimedia project such as a web video commercial, interactive social media content or an experiential website for a brand launch. Through interdisciplinary workshops, real projects and professional simulations, students develop a personal expressive language that prepares them to work across the various sectors of visual communication: advertising, digital publishing, events, visual storytelling and multimedia production.

Faculty

Course Coordinator

Alessandra Foschi

Architect

Elena Paganelli

Copywriter    

Elisa Barbieri

Brand Strategist & Communication Consultant

Paola Donatiello

Professor

Cristina Andolcetti

Photographer

David Hartono

Visual Artist

Elena Fei

Graphic Designer

Piero Fragola

Diego Fontana

Andrea Paglia

Communication and Marketing Consultant

Maurizio Rossi

Strategy Analyst and Copywriter    

Tommaso Bovo

Art Director & Graphic Designer

Simone Petracchi

Photographer

Marco Innocenti

Art Director

Camilla Mozzato

Curator

Cecilia Lentini

Performance Art Director    

Francesca Pazzagli

Architect & Set Designer

Luca Parenti

Art Director    

Jany Martelli

Digital Consultant & Front-end developer    

Alessio Bertini

Responsible for the area of education, accessibility and special projects

Laura Ottina

Professor    

Roberta Parollo

Marketing and Communication Consultant

Francesco Marcantoni

Project Manager    

Stefania Pelliccia

Illustrator    

Projects

Creative and Art Direction

Florence

Nature where you least expect it

Creative and Art Direction

Florence

Maggio Musicale Fiorentino

Creative and Art Direction

Florence

Didactic projects
Deliveroo

Creative and Art Direction

Florence

Estate Fiorentina

Course partner

News

06 October 2026

Public Program IED.60, October 2026

This month, IED’s Public Program continues to take design beyond the classroom, creating opportunities for dialogue with audiences, cultural institutions, businesses and professional communities.

05 October 2026

IED Kunsthal Bilbao opens the 2026/27 Master and Postgraduate academic year with Toni Segarra

The day combined an institutional welcome for new students with an open, intergenerational conversation on creativity, talent, teamwork and the transformation of the profession.

02 October 2026

AQU Catalunya grants favourable accreditation to IED Barcelona’s Bachelor of Arts in Design

Once again, IED Barcelona has received a favourable report from the Catalan University Quality Assurance Agency (AQU Catalunya), certifying the quality of the Bachelor of Arts in Design (Título de Grado en Enseñanzas Artísticas Superiores de Diseño) delivered by the centre.

Two girls holding a paper program in front of a design festival poster

02 October 2026

Brut! 2026 brings two new creative voices from IED Barcelona to the stage

Visual Arts graduates Irina Kavtaradze and Kyla Henry took part in the event where leading design schools showcase their outstanding final degree projects, held on 1 and 2 October at Disseny Hub Barcelona.

Runners starting a mountain race

01 October 2026

A graphic design by IED Barcelona features on the 2026 Travessa Matagalls-Montserrat T-shirt

The design by Visual Arts student Hannah Bokelman was chosen for the T-shirt worn by the 3,000 participants in the event, a non-competitive endurance walk held on 19 and 20 September.

29 September 2026

Six emerging IED designers reach the final stage of the Arts Thread Global Creative Graduate Showcase 2026

Alumni Mariona Panés, Sara Vainer, Miranda Sanz, Malak Yahia and Victoria Escobar (IED Barcelona), together with Zuriñe Berrueta (IED Kunsthal Bilbao), are finalists in the competition, which last year attracted more than 5,000 creatives from 117 countries. Discover their projects and vote!

24 September 2026

IED Madrid alumni Moisés Nieto Receives the Maison Pyramide Showroom Award at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Madrid

The designer has been recognised with the Commercial Potential Award for his latest collection, presented at the 84th edition of the Madrid runway

18 September 2026

Inclusion, equity and diversity: the journey continues

One year after achieving the UNI/PdR 125:2022 certification, we reaffirm our commitment to fostering an increasingly inclusive, equitable workplace culture that values diversity.

Crowded stalls of an auditorium

15 September 2026

More than 200 students from 52 nationalities open the 2026-2027 academic year of the IED Barcelona

On 14 September, the Welcome Event welcomed a new generation of creatives and designers joining the undergraduate programmes.

Don't miss it

Exhibitions and Festival

10 October 2026 - 11 October 2026

Mexico City

Edicola IED Travels to Mexico Design Week

Notes on Plural Intelligences will be showcased at Latin America's leading design event as part of Diseño Contenido on 10 and 11 October.

Workshop

15 October 2026 - 15 October 2026

Multiple

IED Creative Workshop

Come and discover IED’s Creative Workshops — a unique experience that will let you immerse yourself in the world of design in a fun and creative way!

Illustration of a person holding various drawing tools, set against a yellow background.
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.

Exhibitions and Festival

23 October 2026 - 25 October 2026

Madrid

IED Madrid in the 7th Edition of Recreo Book Art Fair

The school is developing GRADA, a collaborative project with Recreo that transforms the fair’s auditorium into a space for meeting, play and participation

Exhibitions and Festival

06 November 2026 - 07 November 2026

Barcelona

Mira Digital Arts Festival 2026

IED Barcelona returns as an artistic partner and will take part in the digital arts and contemporary music festival with “Ananke: A Liturgy”, an interactive installation by Motion Graphics and Video alumna Malak Yahia.