Language

English

Start date

September 2027

Frequency

Full time

Duration

9 Months

In this course you’ll discover what design is, what exactly you can do with it, and how far you can go in each area, developing your ideation skills and creative talent in a cross-disciplinary syllabus based on learning by doing.

You’ll develop your artistic identity as a designer with a full understanding of exactly which areas of design are best suited to your skills and create your first portfolio in those areas.

The course gives you an overall view of the sector: product design, interior design, fashion design and graphic design. In this 1-year course you’ll acquire the comprehensive fundamentals of design, essential for taking your first steps as a designer. 

This programme is taught at IED Madrid Design District - Carabanchel. 

Information to decide

This course lets you try your hand at all areas of design, so you can make the best decision when choosing your specialty. 

The focus of the course is mainly on hands-on experience, so you’ll acquire theoretical knowledge to be used in an applied way, with priority given to dynamic experimentation and active participation. In other words, as well as studying theory and technique, you’ll gain experience in design workshops to put what you’ve learnt into practice.

The course is split into didactic blocks where you’ll learn to use basic design tools as you get to know and find your feet in its four fundamental fields: product design, fashion design, interior design and graphic design. 

You’ll find a strong commitment to encouraging creative design for sustainable development and innovation in this course, a common goal shared by lecturers and student alike.

This course is for creative people who want to find out more about all areas of design in a cross-disciplinary learning experience. 

If you’re thinking about taking a degree in design at IED Madrid, but aren’t sure which speciality is best, you’ll be in a better position to make an informed decision with the knowledge acquired in this Foundation Course in Total Design.

This 1-year course is also worth considering if you need to create a portfolio in Design Fundamentals to apply for a Bachelor's degree at another university, as you’ll be developing a portfolio as the course progresses. 

Madrid is a city with a thriving design culture so you’ll be close to a variety of institutions dedicated to art, and it’s also the place some of the top professionals choose to make their base, both for the Spanish and the international markets.

Syllabus

What will you learn?

In this 1-year course you’ll discover the fundamentals of design and learn to use the most useful tools for various design specialties: product design, fashion design, interior design and graphic design. We’ll also help you focus on the speciality you’re most interested in and create your own global design portfolio. 



Subjects

Design Fundamentals

Design Process

Drawing

Volume

Artistic Thinking

Sustainable Thinking

Systems Thinking

Digital Tools

Drawing Expression

Ideation and Creative Process

Fashion Design

Product Design

Graphic Design

Interior Design

Personal Portfolio

Faculty

Teacher

Oskar Ranz

Visual Artist

Teacher

Nadia Nadesan

Teacher

Lorena Madrazo

Teacher

Alex Henkes

Teacher

Cris Argüelles

Architect, researcher, and educator

Projects

Graphic Design and Visual Communication

Madrid

Special projects
Abono 03. Hogar

Graphic Design and Visual Communication

Madrid

Didactic projects
9.132.000 Historias de Reconstrucción

Graphic Design and Visual Communication

Madrid

Didactic projects
NEU

Graphic Design and Visual Communication

Madrid

Final projects / thesis projects
Sólidos Amorphos

News

07 October 2026

Irene Fonseca takes part in Lights in Alingsås, marking the fourth consecutive scholarship for IED Kunsthal Bilbao

The alumni of the 2025/26 Specialisation Course in Architectural Lighting Design took part in the international workshop held in Sweden thanks to IED Kunsthal Bilbao’s collaboration with Lightecture.

06 October 2026

150 students begin the 2026–2027 Academic Year on IED Barcelona’s Master’s, Postgraduate and Foundation Courses

The Welcome Event for Master’s and Postgraduate students took place on 1 and 2 October, featuring a new edition of the “Designing for the Many” workshop and the opening lecture. Foundation students received their welcome on 5 October.

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.

02 October 2026

IED Lands in Mexico with Federico Antelo

From 10 to 22 October, the IED Madrid Fashion Director brings talks and workshops to Mexico's top design events.

Fashion sketch with four male silhouettes

02 October 2026

IED Barcelona Alumni Albert Porta named finalist in Sangue Novo

ModaLisboa’s platform and competition for emerging young designers has selected him to present his collection “Branco” on 9 October at Pátio da Galé in Lisbon.

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.

Don't miss it

Two reusable bottles, one green and one yellow respectively.
Exhibitions and Festival

06 October 2026 - 01 September 2027

Barcelona

“The Beetle Bottle” and “Mis queridos Ascos” at “Matter Matters. Designing with the World”

The projects created by IED Barcelona alumni Abdelaziz Moustafa (Product Design) and Violeta Mata (Fashion Design) have been selected to be part of this exhibition at the Museu del Disseny-DHub.

Exhibitions and Festival

08 October 2026 - 31 October 2026

Turin

IED Torino x Torino Design City

From October 8 to 31, 2026, IED Torino will take part with three student projects exploring ecological and environmental transition, as part of a programme of exhibitions, talks and workshops focused on design and innovation.

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

14 October 2026 - 14 October 2026

Barcelona

Service Design Disrupted - Satellite Workshops

IED Barcelona hosts one Satellite Workshop ahead of the international conference organised by Service Design Disrupted as part of Barcelona Design Week.

Medium shot of a middle-aged man looking at the camera with his arms crossed
Lecture and Panel discussion

14 October 2026 - 14 October 2026

Barcelona

"Future life positions through Food Design"

An online masterclass in which renowned designer Martí Guixé will explore creative perspectives and innovative ideas for rethinking how we design, produce and experience food for a more sustainable future.

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.