Specialization Course in Art Direction - IED MIlano

Language

Italian

Start date

November 2026

Frequency

Part-time

Fruition

Blended

Duration

6 Months

Course Coordination

Valentina Stucchi

Price

3.300 €

This is an intensive course to gain in-depth knowledge on the role of the Art Director in a creative agency

To learn the creative, organisational and production logics and languages of an all-round communication project.

The course aims to train future Art Directors who will be able to study and convey winning concepts in line with the brand image and understand the needs of the target audience. You will also understand how to work closely and communicate effectively with different professionals, such as Copywriters, Graphic Designers and Producers.

Through the partnership with the creative agency DUDE, you will be able to gain a deeper understanding of the dynamics and peculiarities of your future profession. In addition, you will be able to participate in various workshops in order to put your theoretical knowledge into practice through the development of original and innovative projects.

Information to decide

You will improve your problem solving and teamwork skills

The course objectives include presenting today's production logics in an advertising agency as well as diving into all the tools of art direction: media, photography, illustration, copywriting. During the five modules, you will learn how to design the different phases of a communication campaign, from the idea to the setting up of an innovative strategy, through to its approval and production, and the realisation of creative content, such as illustrations, copy, photos and videos.

As part of the course's final module, you will be given the opportunity to create an original portfolio of work to present your skills in future interviews.

The course is designed for all those who have already gained experience in the industry or who wish to enhance their skills in the specific areas of advertising and communication in order to become qualified Art Directors. The advanced level of the course involves mastering basic technical knowledge related to the digital and printing world. It also includes basic training  in the main graphic design tools, such as Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign.

Thanks to its vertical development approach, this training programme allows you to acquire advanced and employable skills within a short period of time. There are several important and competitive aspects to consider, including:

●      The chance to participate in the D&AD New Blood. This is a worldwide competition that annually rewards creative excellence in digital advertising and advertising;
●      An overview of the latest developments in the sector and particularly the profession of the Art Director, from tools to communication logics;
●      An in-depth look at winning case histories to gather insights and best practices.

Syllabus

The following topics will be addressed during the course of study: agency organisation and art direction, the tools of art direction, integration and the new languages of the profession, and finally the creation of a work portfolio and CV.

Faculty

Valentina Stucchi

Communication Strategist and Educational Designer

Luca Riva

Creative Director

Sebastiano Morando

Post Production Manager and Supervisor

Davide Barco

Illustrator specialising in the field of sport.

Laura Boy

Head of Events and Special Projects at DUDE

Lorenzo Picchiotti

Executive Creative Director - DUDE

Lorenzo Del Bianco

CEO & Founder - DUDE

Elena Panza

Client Director - Dude

Mirko Mantellato

Digital Executive - DUDE

Davide Labò

Creative Director - Dude

Federica Avanzi

Head of Editorial, Branded Content & Entertainment - DUDE Originals

Projects

Creative and Art Direction

Milan

Didactic projects
Swap On

Creative and Art Direction

Milan

Beat Your Mum

Creative and Art Direction

Milan

The CheersBox

Creative and Art Direction

Milan

Back to the city - GiffGaff

Creative and Art Direction

Milan

The Eternal Influencers - Penguin

News

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.

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.

23 October 2026

Forbes Next Leaders: Alumna Chiara Filiasi creates the September cover

The collaboration between IED and Forbes Next Leaders continues: for the month of September, the cover has been created by Chiara Filiasi, an Alumna of the BA in Illustration and Animation at IED Roma.

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.

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.

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.

11 September 2026

Issue 4: Material World - Plural Intelligences

What happens when we recognize the intelligence of materials and learn to work with it responsibly, collectively, and collaboratively?

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.

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.