Diploma Accademico di Secondo Livello (DASL) in Visual Communication - IED Milano

Language

English, Italian

Start date

October 2027

Frequency

Full time

Fruition

On campus

Duration

2 Years

Credits

120 CFA / ECTS

Course Coordination

Franco Achilli

How can visual communication tell, influence, and shape the way we experience the world and the cultural identity of the communities living in it?

In a fast-moving technological world, where imagery and information are constantly streaming in, visual communication plays a growing role as the need to build reliable and effective narratives is feeling ever more urgent today.

The Master of Arts investigates how the culture of visual communication can generate meaningful narratives where technology is seamlessly integrated into communication exchange patterns between communities and the environment. This approach fits into the vision of DesignXCommons, where design is regarded to integrate the commons and regenerate the planet.

This course has a focus on media analysis as a way towards building independent critical thinking and creating visual communication systems that carry meaningful and self-aware cultural and social contents. Using an interdisciplinary approach, technical and cultural skills will be expanded as part of a curriculum where semiotics, cultural anthropology and graphic design are brought together with interaction design, motion graphics, artificial intelligence, augmented reality and video storytelling to create analogue or digital projects with awareness of diverse cultural identities, while promoting social inclusion and environmental sustainability.

Designing effective communication systems and strategies as part of complex scenarios calls for a thorough understanding of both social and cultural contexts where communication patterns will be placed. Likewise, an ethical and responsible use of evolving technological tools will also be implemented. Theory training is complemented by on-site practice through collaborative workshops to encourage teamwork in multidisciplinary teams while also developing projects in real-world and diverse contexts.

Career roles that can be pursued with the course in Visual Communication. Critical Narratives in Post-Digital Worlds will be able to better facilitate complexity storytelling through critical, strategic, and technical skills in advertising, corporate communications, creative direction in fashion and interactive media, art communication, organising events, products and services. Continuing in Ph.D. trajectories at Italian and foreign universities will also be an option.

 

Faculty

Course Leader

Franco Achilli

Architect and designer trained at G&R Associati

Chiara Grandesso

Graphic Designer and Researcher

Carlo Branzaglia

Strategic Design and Design Education

Gian Luca Fracassi

Creative Director

Massimo Pitis

Graphic Designer and Art Director

Erica Petrillo

Curator and Researcher

Laura Lisi

Translator and Interpreter

Alessandro Curti

Journalist

Cinzia Bongino

Graphic, Information, Web designer

Erik Kessels

Curator and communication designer

Jonathan Wajskol

Visual Communication designer

Justus Oehler

Graphic Designer

Maurizio Tafuro

Director, videomaker and Photographer

Dimitris Stefanidis

Creative Director

Projects

Graphic Design and Visual Communication

Milan

Didactic projects
Fregüj

Graphic Design and Visual Communication

Milan

Didactic projects
Workshop Design methodology: research and discovery

What people say

Visual Communication. Critical Narratives in Post-Digital Worlds

Course coordinator describes the goal, the methodology and the professional opportunities of the Master of Arts in Visual Communication.

Franco Achilli

DesignXCommons

The world could be otherwise: making by making strange

"The world has become so flattened by routine that we no longer fully see the objects around us; we merely recognize them."

The workshop took place at Rifugio Amprimo (Val di Susa- Italy) and has been inspired by the statement of Russian theorist Viktor Shklovsky.

News

Graduation Days 2026 IED Italia

05 November 2026

Laurea and Laurea Magistrale: New Official Names for IED Academic Qualifications

Italian legislation has introduced new names for first- and second-cycle qualifications in the AFAM higher education system. Here’s what this means for current and former IED students.

04 November 2026

ADCI Awards 2026: IED wins two Golds and two Bronzes

Projects from IED Torino and IED Milano receive four awards, spanning social communication and brand campaigns, recognising the work of Communication Design and Master’s in Creative Direction students.

03 November 2026

IED joins LADFEST 2026 to support emerging Latin American talent

Puño will take part in the festival, while IED will award a scholarship to the LAD Young Talent 2026 winner.

02 November 2026

Irina Kavtaradze, IED Barcelona Alumni, shortlisted at the International Creative Awards 2026

Her final degree project, “Querencia”, continues to receive recognition and, after impressing audiences and industry experts at festivals such as ADC*E High Potentials, Brut! and Blanc!, has been nominated in the “Good Cause” category.

02 November 2026

Selekted 26 selects Carmina Goran’s “Sutura” as one of the projects competing for the Stone & Wood Awards

The final degree project by the IED Barcelona Graphic Design alumna is among the finalists in the New Talents category.

30 October 2026

IED joins the Chile Diseño 2026 Awards as institutional partner, speaker and jury contributor

IED supports the awards through jury participation and a talk by Spanish illustrator Puño.

30 October 2026

IED and the Francesco Morelli Foundation in the Changemaker Scholarship Programme of the TSH Talent Foundation

IED and the Francesco Morelli Foundation Join the Changemaker Scholarship Programme of The Social Hub Talent Foundation

30 October 2026

IED Madrid shines with GRADA at the 7th Edition of Recreo Book Art Fair

The collaborative project, developed by Graphic Design students in partnership with the fair and Carton Lab, transforms the auditorium into a space for play, interaction and connection.

28 October 2026

National Portfolio Day Milan 2026

In its 60th anniversary year, IED hosts the Milan edition of National Portfolio Day, the international event for anyone who wants to study or specialize in art, design, fashion and visual communication.

Don't miss it

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

10 November 2026 - 04 December 2026

Madrid

Fulvio Roiter’s Photography Exhibition Deus mihi dixit

IED Madrid hosts an exhibition by the renowned Italian photographer from 10 November to 4 December.