First Level Academic Diploma in Communication Design - IED Milano

Language

Italian, English

Start date

October 2027

Frequency

Full time

Fruition

On campus

Duration

3 Years

Credits

180 CFA / ECTS

Course Coordination

Gianluca Felice

Course also available in:

Cagliari
Rome
Turin


The Bachelor of Arts in Communication Design at IED Milano trains professionals capable of creating advertising campaigns, developing narratives, and building visual identity systems for brands as well as commercial and cultural institutions.

The Communication Design program at IED Milano maintains a close relationship with the city itself—an ideal observatory of the present and future of communication—addressing topics such as destination branding, sustainability, artificial intelligence, diversity, and inclusion.

Structure and Content

The IED educational path is structured over three years, during which design practice is integrated with cultural knowledge, dialogue with industry professionals, the development of technical skills, and the use of innovative tools. The program aims to train students to experiment with different methods and expressive possibilities within communication design.

First Year

During the first year, students acquire foundational skills essential for the entire program: key graphic design software from the Adobe suite, layout and presentation techniques, creative writing, and principles of marketing and communication. The curriculum also includes more theoretical courses such as contemporary art history, advertising history, and semiotics.

Second Year

In the second year, students deepen their knowledge and practice writing across various formats, including institutional, advertising, digital, editorial, podcast, and video content. They further explore brand management strategies, media planning, accounting, and strategic design. Students learn to conceive, organize, and communicate events while developing integrated content and strategies. Courses such as phenomenology of contemporary art and sociology help students understand how diverse audiences respond to visual languages and societal changes.

Third Year

The third year focuses on advanced design and professional simulation. Students work on complex projects such as integrated communication campaigns, branding and positioning strategies, brand experiences, and influencer marketing. The curriculum also includes a course dedicated to international competitions such as The One Club for Creativity (One Show) and D&AD.

Students also develop their personal branding to prepare for entry into the job market through courses in creative portfolio development, public relations, and public speaking.

The program concludes with a final thesis project, in which students may propose their own ideas or develop a brief provided by a real client, collaborating with companies, institutions, and industry professionals. The thesis methodology is designed to simulate as closely as possible real professional contexts within companies or communication agencies combining strategy and creativity.

Faculty

Course Coordinator

Gianluca Felice

Brand Strategist, Consultant, and University Lecturer

Astrid Luglio

Product Designer

Maddalena Selvini

Product designer

Lorenzo Picchiotti

Executive Creative Director - DUDE

Daniele Dodaro

Trend & Market Research Director, SQUADRATI

Cinzia Pallaoro

Creative Director at Leagas Delaney Italy

Lorenzo Del Bianco

CEO & Founder - DUDE

Emanuele Basso

Creative Director

Marco Frugiuele

Global Strategy Director - Snack Content

GIulia Sutto

Senior Strategist at AKQA Milan

Mirco Cucina

Tv Writer

Ornella Lameri

Head of Strategy

Ruggero Faggioni

Head of Content di DECODE70

Teresa Martini

Communication Consultant

Filippo Ferraro

Chief Strategy Officer

Lorenza Daverio

Photographer, lecturer, and curator

Sebastiano Morando

Post Production Manager and Supervisor

Fabio Pedroni

Art Director, Copywriter

Claudia Neri

Designer, Art Director

Projects

Marketing and Communication

Milan

Didactic projects
Because we are Clashy

Marketing and Communication

Milan

Didactic projects
VASELENS

Marketing and Communication

Milan

Didactic projects
The Jolly Jelly

Marketing and Communication

Milan

Didactic projects
Kinklopedia

Marketing and Communication

Milan

Didactic projects
Thankfools

Marketing and Communication

Milan

Didactic projects
Hot Tea Time

Marketing and Communication

Milan

Didactic projects
Sky Scents

Marketing and Communication

Milan

Didactic projects
Off the Map

Marketing and Communication

Milan

Didactic projects
Stolen Phones

What people say

"One of my fondest memories of IED is my thesis. Six months spent with ten crazy individuals who have different ways of working and building projects. But after an intense period, you all reach the same common objective, the graduation, and the presentation of your project to the client, like a real agency."

Federico Bruno

IED Alumnus - Head of Account & New Business at CreationDose

"Being an IED student means embarking on a journey that when pursued with passion, can open the door to great opportunities."

"My experience was incredibly enriching. It allowed me to learn from knowledgeable professors with established careers in the industry, develop both technical and creative skills, and grow in many different ways, including culturally. During my three years of study, I had the opportunity to take part in international competitions that marked an important first step in my career. They also gave me the skills and confidence to approach similar challenges with solid preparation once I entered the professional world. After winning awards that took me to Barcelona, London and New York, I now work as a Junior Copywriter at DUDE, an incredibly creative agency I first discovered during my years at IED. IED taught me how to work as part of a team, nurture my passions and dream big. Something I still do every day as I continue to build my career."

Roberto Schettino

IED Alumni - Copywriter at DUDE

News

OPEN CALL· XMAS MARKET IED MADRID · 10 DE DICIEMBRE

13 November 2026

OPEN CALL· XMAS MARKET IED MADRID · 10th OF DECEMBER

REGISTER BY 18th OF NOVEMBER

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.

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.

Side view of a presentation with the audience seated and five panelists

28 October 2026

“Strategic Design Clinic” explores disruptive futures at IED Barcelona

Held to mark 20 editions of the Master in Strategic Design Management and as part of Barcelona Design Week, the clinic brought together professionals, innovation leaders and students to tackle real-world challenges through strategic design thinking.

Poster with the program of activites for a two-day conference

28 October 2026

The IED Barcelona community takes part in the conference that brings together the world’s leading figures in Design Management

“Service Design Disrupted” explored the future of design with contributions from lecturers Alessia Rullo, Mabel Lazzarin and Markel Cormenzana, Business Design student Fer Herrera, and Manuela Procopio, Academic Manager at IED Barcelona, who moderated a panel discussion.

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.