First Level Academic Diploma in Fashion Marketing and Communication - IED Milano

Language

Italian, English

Start date

October 2026

Frequency

Full time

Fruition

On campus

Duration

3 Years

Credits

180 CFA / ECTS

Course Coordination

Federico Poletti

Course also available in:

Florence
Rome

The Bachelor of Arts in Fashion Marketing and Communication at IED Milano trains professionals ready to develop marketing and communication strategies that combine design, culture, and digital languages.

The teaching method is strongly project-based and relies on constant collaboration with fashion companies, offering a concrete vision of different business models. A distinctive feature of the course is its integration with disciplines such as textile studies and visual culture, which broaden students’ understanding of the visual and material tools of communication.

Studying in Milan – the capital of the fashion system – means living at the heart of the fashion business: showrooms, events, companies, creative start-ups, and institutions. Students experience not only theory, but also direct practice, networking, and real projects with brands and professionals.

Course structure and contents:

The programme spans three years, during which design is integrated with cultural knowledge, dialogue with professionals, technical skill development, and the use of innovative tools.

Year One: Focuses on building theoretical and methodological foundations, learning to critically analyse the fashion system and its players through cultural, historical, and social approaches. At the same time, students deepen project methodology for marketing and communication, working on market segment analysis, brand positioning, and the development of strategies aligned with company values and objectives. Using graphic software such as Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign, they begin to translate strategies into visual tools and presentations, learning to structure layouts and marketing content.

Year Two: Moves towards more complex projects, integrating analytical and creative components with the economic dimension. Students draft business plans, assess project sustainability, and design branding strategies consistent with the fashion system’s supply chain – from collection to distribution, through to promotion via events and digital channels. Project activities are enriched by case studies and best practices, helping students understand how to build and grow a brand through strategic choices oriented towards innovation, ethics, and sustainability. Theoretical studies continue with contemporary art, cultural evolution, and fashion history, refining critical perspectives and the ability to interpret the present.

Year Three: Consolidates project autonomy, mastery of tools, and strategic vision. Students manage complex projects, integrating creative, economic, and legal aspects. Advanced visual communication is expanded through editorial languages, digital content production, and audiovisual creation using professional software such as Adobe Premiere Pro. The course also explores fashion buying, visual merchandising, and retail experience, with particular attention to the integration of physical and digital channels.

At a theoretical level, students analyse key business models in the fashion sector, addressing legal aspects, organisational processes, and brand management dynamics. The study of contemporary designers and new digital scenarios provides updated tools to interpret and anticipate industry transformations.

The programme culminates in the thesis project, which may take different forms: individual or group work, collaborations with companies or other courses, aimed at developing a start-up, a new service, or an omnichannel strategy. The thesis represents a professional simulation, integrating all acquired skills, enabling students to develop complex projects, experiment with interdisciplinary approaches, and prepare concretely for the world of work.

Faculty

Course Coordinator

Federico Poletti

Art Director and communication consultant

Manuela Colombini

Co-founder Strategist & Client Manager of M2 Consultancy Srl

Marco Basta

Visual Artist

Viviana Musumeci

Journalist and lecturer

Emanuela Franzese

Visual Merchandising Consultant

Letizia Buoso

Filmmaker

Fabio Foschi

Professional Consultant in Business Management and University Lecturer in Management Economics

Simona Bertoli

Communication consultant and lecturer

Davide Tran

CEO AdKaora

Salvatore Limblici

Strategy, Marketing and Communication Consultant

Marco Martello

Editor, Copywriter, Communication Specialist

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.

Dos premios para el documental The Designer is Dead de Gonzalo Hergueta, Alumni IED Madrid

13 April 2026

Three awards for the documentary The Designer is Dead by Gonzalo Hergueta, IED Madrid Alumni

The film has won the Jury Prize at the International Festival of Films on Art, the Best Documentary Award in the Official Selection at Moritz Feed Doc and the Audience Award at the Atlàntida Mallorca Film Fest

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.

25 March 2026

Inditex Talent Session at IED Barcelona

The Zara Talent programme brought together students from Fashion Design, Interior Design, Styling, Fashion Marketing and Communication, and Footwear Design for a day of one-to-one meetings with the group’s human resources teams.

Jaime Álvarez, alumni del IED Madrid, gana el Premio Mercedes‑Benz a Mejor Colección con su firma Mans

25 March 2026

Jaime Álvarez, IED Madrid Alumni, wins Mercedes‑Benz Award for Best Collection with his brand Mans

Designer Jaime Álvarez, creator of the Mans label, receives the award at Mercedes‑Benz Fashion Week Madrid, reaffirming the talent of the IED alumni community.

23 March 2026

MBFW honours designers Juan Vidal, a lecturer at IED Barcelona, and Jaime Álvarez (MANS), IED Madrid Alumni

Juan Vidal has been awarded the National Designer Award, whilst Jaime Álvarez has received the NARS Icon Award

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.

Don't miss it

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.

Lecture and Panel discussion

26 May 2026 - 26 May 2026

Florence

Andrea Batilla: reading Fashion today

A talk with Andrea Batilla, expert in communication and marketing strategies and brand storytelling, offering a critical reading of fashion shows and the ongoing transformations within the contemporary fashion system.