First Level Academic Diploma in Communication Design - IED Milano

Language

Italian, English

Start date

October 2026

Frequency

Full time

Fruition

On campus

Duration

3 Years

Credits

180 CFA / ECTS

Course Coordination

Ruggero Faggioni, Cinzia Piloni, Teresa Martini

Course also available in:

Cagliari
Rome
Turin


The First-Level Academic Diploma (DAPL) 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 in Italian

Ruggero Faggioni

Head of Content di DECODE70

Course Coordinator in Italian

Cinzia Piloni

Creative, Copywriter, Story Teller, Strategic Planner, Researcher, Poetess

Course Coordinator in English

Teresa Martini

Communication Consultant

Michele Arlotta

Head of Sales Fandango Club spa

Mirco Cucina

Tv Writer

Filippo Ferraro

Chief Strategy Officer

Daniele Dodaro

Trend & Market Research Director, SQUADRATI

Lorenzo Picchiotti

Executive Creative Director - DUDE

Sebastiano Morando

Post Production Manager and Supervisor

Fabio Pedroni

Art Director, Copywriter

Cinzia Pallaoro

Creative Director at Leagas Delaney Italy

Ornella Lameri

Head of Strategy

Emanuele Basso

Creative Director

Giorgio Andrea De Stefano

Associate Creative Director

Piera Cusani

Communication PR, Media Relations

Lorenzo Del Bianco

CEO & Founder - DUDE

Claudia Neri

Designer, Art Director

Roberta Parollo

Marketing and Communication Consultant

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."

IED Alumnus - Head of Account & New Business at CreationDose

News

12 May 2026

One Show New York: IED stands out with a Silver Pencil and 7 Merits

Students representing IED’s Milan, Rome, and Turin campuses received their prizes at the official New York City ceremony held on May 11th.

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.

06 May 2026

IED at the “Lápiz de Acero” Award in Colombia

IED joins Lápiz de Acero 2026 in Bogotá, supporting emerging talent and the future of design.

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.

28 April 2026

IED Milano partner in the international Blended Intensive Programme

The programme has been coordinated by ENSAV La Cambre, Brussels.

Forbes Next Leaders – IED Student designs the April cover of Next Leaders | © Forbes Next Leaders - Studentessa IED firma la copertina di aprile di Next Leaders

27 April 2026

Forbes Next Leaders: the April cover designed by Giada Boselli

IED and Forbes Next Leaders continue their shared journey with the development of the third cover of the magazine, created for the month of April.

22 April 2026

IED Madrid plays a leading role at Brut! Madrid with nominations for “ABONO 03: Hogar” and “TypoLAB”

Brut! Madrid is bringing together design students and professionals at La Nave on Friday 8 May for an event dedicated to emerging talent

17 April 2026

Vote for IED Madrid projects among the ten finalists in Accor Design Awards 2026

For the second year running, four IED Madrid students have reached the grand final, placing their projects among the best in the world

Don't miss it

Type Design Month → un mes dedicado a la tipografía en IED Madrid
Exhibitions and Festival

07 May 2026 - 29 May 2026

Madrid

Type Design Month → a month dedicated to typography at IED Madrid

Until the 29th of May, IED Madrid Design District explores typography as a contemporary language across practice, experimentation, and visual culture.

HYPER FUTURES. DISEÑAR MÁS ALLÁ DEL CAPITALISMO
Lecture and Panel discussion

08 May 2026 - 22 May 2026

Madrid

HYPER FUTURES. DESIGNING BEYOND CAPITALISM

Exhibition from 8 to 22nd May. On 8th of May we will celebrate an event with a workshop on the future, a panel discussion and the opening of the exhibition featuring dj Umami

Exhibitions and Festival

15 May 2026 - 15 May 2026

Turin

When Images Speak: IED at the Turin International Book Fair with Cecilia Campironi

A workshop to explore illustration and understand its role in contemporary communication

Exhibitions and Festival

16 May 2026 - 16 May 2026

Turin

Graficologia. Designing the Present: IED at the Turin International Book Fair with Andrea Viberti

Editorial graphic design as a lens on the present

Exhibitions and Festival

17 May 2026 - 17 May 2026

Turin

The writing professions today: IED at Turin International Book Fair with Damiano Gui

Schools in dialogue across creativity, languages, and emerging professions

Lecture and Panel discussion

22 May 2026 - 22 May 2026

Rome

Twins: Conversations on the Duality between Identity, Transformation and Contemporary Imaginaries

Four lectures and a final talk exploring how brands, organizations and individuals navigate change and redefine their identity across physical, symbolic and digital dimensions.