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

Art and design exhibition featuring two central rocks sewn with printed fabrics

23 October 2026

“Valor Ancestral: Latam Creative Talent 2026” makes a stop at IED Barcelona

Following its presentation at IED Madrid and ahead of its move to IED Kunsthal Bilbao, the latest edition of the international exhibition, an initiative promoted by IED since 2022, was on display to coincide with the Barcelona campus’s activities as part of Barcelona Design Week.

Carousel of models on the catwalk of a fashion show

23 October 2026

Acceptance Letter, the label founded by IED Barcelona lecturer Jeakyong Sim, wins the 080 Barcelona Fashion / Rec.0 competition

The label has been recognised as the best emerging local fashion proposal in the 15th edition of the initiative, which has previously awarded IED alumni such as Guillermo Justicia and Elna Solans.

22 October 2026

One student and four alumni from IED Kunsthal Bilbao, alongside two alumni from IED Madrid, awarded scholarships to study at Central Saint Martins

The selected designers have taken part in an intensive two-week programme in London, linked to the Cristóbal Balenciaga Museum's Transmissions project.

21 October 2026

IED Torino at Torino Art Week 2026

IED Torino at Torino Art Week with a series of collaborations and projects involving students from different courses, from Photography to Communication Design.

Young woman showing off her award at the event's photocall

20 October 2026

Pentawards 2026 recognises IED Barcelona’s packaging design with Gold and Silver awards

“SOLMOD”, by Sofía Millán, and “Drop”, by Livia Ylldiz Struga, both second-year Product Design students, competed in the category for student concepts that have not yet been brought to market.

16 October 2026

The Word for Border is Water

IED participates for the third time at the Class of 26 exhibition during Dutch Design Week

16 October 2026

From Zero to Future 2026

Opening of the Academic Year in Visual Arts and Communication with a Three-Day Workshop for New Students

14 October 2026

TypoLAB by Gonzalo Muñoz wins a LADAWARD 2026 Award

The project adds another international accolade to its list of achievements, winning in the Student–Digital category.

13 October 2026

Public Spiritualism: rethinking public space through design

IED Milano hosts the danish artist Thomas Poulsen for the workshop Public Spiritualism addressed to 3rd year Product Design students.

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.

21 October 2026 - 15 November 2026

Bilbao

IED Kunsthal Bilbao participates as an academic partner in TAC! Festival of Urban Architecture

A lecturer and two Interior Design graduates are taking part in Young Architecture Encounters, as part of the festival's programme in Sestao, running until 15 November.

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

29 October 2026 - 15 November 2026

Madrid

IED Madrid takes part in BID26 with a project exploring identity and identification systems

The project combines installations, interfaces and immersive experiences to reflect on depersonalisation, exclusion and the role of digital and social codes in shaping identity.

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.

Lecture and Panel discussion

19 November 2026 - 19 November 2026

Barcelona

“Future Frugal: Crafting conviviality in a new ‘age of scarcity’“

Renowned architect Francesca Sarti will lead this online masterclass, exploring how craft, design and anthropology can help us reimagine our relationship with food, materials and the environment.