First Level Academic Diploma in Communication and Promotion of Contemporary Artistic Heritage - IED - Milano

Language

English, Italian

Start date

October 2026

Frequency

Full time

Fruition

On campus

Duration

3 Years

Credits

180 CFA / ECTS

The art and cultural communication market is highly competitive and constantly evolving. Its unique nature requires professionals capable of applying a dual perspective—one that focuses both on content and execution—across all communication activities aimed at audiences, as well as in education, curation, and cultural mediation.

The Bachelor of Arts in Art and Communication was created to train professionals who can combine strategy and creativity in the development of cultural projects at any scale, from exhibitions and events to cross-media communication campaigns.

Milan is the ideal place to study cultural communication.
The city’s vibrant ecosystem of public and private institutions, companies, foundations, and creative industries active in art, cinema, photography, theatre, publishing, music, and beyond offers students direct access to the professional world. Throughout the program, students gain hands-on experience through collaborations with companies and cultural institutions, turning learning into real-world practice.

Course structure and contents:

The first year provides a multidisciplinary foundation in visual communication and the arts, offering the theoretical and practical tools needed for advanced study. Through courses in photography, directing, and audiovisual languages and techniques, students develop a critical and informed understanding of contemporary expressive tools. Historical subjects such as art and fashion history and architectural history explore the evolution of visual languages and their cultural impact. The year is completed with visual communication design methodology, alongside marketing and management, building a strong, professional-oriented design mindset.

The second year marks the transition into professional practice. Students apply their skills to real projects, often developed in collaboration with external partners, companies, and cultural institutions, under close faculty supervision. Alongside aesthetics and further studies in art and fashion history, the curriculum includes exhibition design and museography, cultural anthropology, and the history of new media, offering a deeper understanding of the relationship between communication, culture, society, and technological innovation.

The third year focuses on advanced design and professional integration within the cultural and creative industries. Students work on real-world projects proposed by companies, institutions, and organizations, refining specialized skills and a clear professional identity. Courses in art and performing arts law and economics provide essential tools to navigate the legal and managerial landscape, while museology, museography, and exhibition system design explore the dialogue between content, space, and audience.

The program concludes with a Final Thesis Project, a key moment of synthesis where students can develop a personal concept or respond to a professional brief, often in collaboration with companies, cultural institutions, and industry professionals—a concrete gateway into the creative and cultural job market.

News

11 May 2026

Design tells its story at the Turin International Book Fair with EDICOLA IED

From 14 to 18 May, a newsstand of creativity presents the first two issues of Notes on Plural Intelligences alongside a selection of the best Italian and international magazines, accompanied by a programme of talks and workshops exploring themes of design, publishing and contemporary communication

07 May 2026

IED.60 Public Program - May: between Plural Intelligences and the culture of design

The programme of IED events open to both the internal and external communities continues in may; it was launched to mark the 60th anniversary as a collective reflection on the role of design.

IED Italy and Spain Summer Courses

10 April 2026

IED Italy and Spain Summer Courses

An international educational experience in Italy and Spain that integrates learning, research, and the exploration of dynamic and stimulating cultural contexts.

25 March 2026

IED ranked among the world's top 100 academic institutions in the QS World University Rankings® by Subject 2026

Europe's largest Art and Design school network secures 78th place worldwide in the Art & Design discipline, marking its 60th anniversary year.

19 March 2026

Plural Intelligences: IED Announces the Theme of Its 60th Anniversary

IED reveals Plural Intelligences, the theme dedicated to the 60th anniversary of its foundation, which will take place in 2026.

IED Expands Its English-Language Offer with New Courses in Design, Fashion and Film

27 February 2026

IED Expands Its English-Language Offer with New Courses in Design, Fashion and Film

IED – Istituto Europeo di Design is broadening its international offer with a new range of English-taught courses. A strategic move that strengthens IED’s position as Europe’s largest design network, opening its doors to students and creative professionals from across the globe.

Valentino: Après moi, le déluge!

30 January 2026

Valentino: Après moi, le déluge!

In January and February 2026, a small exhibition will be held in the Franca Sozzani Fashion Reading Room at IED Milan, paying tribute to Valentino, a great master of Italian fashion, who passed away on January 19.

Communicating art from the museum to social media: skills required today

19 December 2025

Communicating art from the museum to social media: skills required today

What new skills, emerging professions and strategies are needed to engage audiences today.

30 April 2026

IED Milano partner in an international collaboration programme with Dnipro University of Technology

Communication Design students taking part in an interactive workshop with faculty members from the Ukrainian university.