Fashion Styling and Art Direction
Milan
ITA
|
ENG
First Level Academic Diploma in Fashion Design - Specialization in Fashion Stylist
Language
Italian, English
Start date
October 2026
Frequency
Full time
Fruition
On campus
Duration
3 Years
Credits
180 CFA / ECTS
Course Coordination
Simona Dell'Unto
The Bachelor of Arts in Fashion Styling and Art Direction at IED Milano trains professionals capable of creating images and visual narratives that engage with the languages of contemporary culture. The programme addresses key themes such as aesthetics, the role of new visual communication media and digitalisation, ongoing social changes, and how fashion, photography and visual languages intertwine with these dynamics. The interdisciplinary teaching approach at IED combines theory and practice through hands-on workshops and hybrid design methodologies.
Milan, Italy’s fashion capital and a strategic hub for fashion houses, editorial offices and agencies, offers students direct access to the fashion system: events, fashion weeks, networking and professional opportunities. The city provides a rich cultural landscape essential for developing a critical and distinctive perspective, including exhibitions, art and design events, publishing fairs, concerts, festivals and music-related showcases.
Course structure and contents:
The programme spans three years, during which design practice is integrated with cultural knowledge, dialogue with industry professionals, technical skills development and the use of innovative tools.
In the first year, students acquire the theoretical and practical foundations of visual design within the scope of fashion styling, developing moodboards based on cultural sources applied to photographic shoots. They gain proficiency in technical tools such as Photoshop, InDesign and design and communication methodologies. Cultural education is complemented by courses in fashion history, art history, photography and new media, analysing the aesthetic and social evolution of fashion.
The second year builds on these foundations through more complex projects: starting from a macro theme of social and cultural relevance, each student creates an independent editorial project in the form of a fanzine, featuring photographic projects where they act as art director and stylist. This process further develops visual storytelling skills, through the interplay of fashion, photography and graphic design – with advanced use of Photoshop, InDesign and Illustrator – and the definition of a narrative aesthetic language. Students also engage in video production, beginning with the study of film history, leading to the creation of a fashion film. Theoretical subjects deepen knowledge of fashion history, photography history, and explore the aesthetics and semiotics of clothing and fashion.
In the third year, students refine their stylistic identity and analyse contemporary aesthetic and cultural phenomena through courses in sociology of cultural processes and phenomenology of contemporary arts. They develop artistic and creative direction skills, shaping an increasingly sophisticated visual storytelling approach. The major project of the third year focuses on digital innovation, with the creation of an aesthetic, narrative and innovative platform, where students independently apply all theoretical and practical skills acquired during the programme. This experimentation leads to full autonomy in creative planning and execution, culminating in the thesis project, which may be individual or group-based. The thesis simulates real professional dynamics, involving shooting production and video trailers, and delivering final outputs such as magazines, audiovisuals, performances or installations.
New competition for Undergraduate and Foundation courses 2026/2027
Win one of 140 partial Scholarships for courses starting in Italy and Spain.
Faculty
Course Coordinator
Simona Dell'Unto
Fashion and Music features Contributor and Creative Consultant
Tommaso Basilio
Stylist, Artdirector, Journalist
Guia Rossi
Professional Journalist and Fashion & Design Editor
Riccardo Slavik
Stylist freelance
Nicola Garzetti
Director and Videomaker in fashion, TV and music
Maela Basso
Digital and PR Consultant
Loredana Parmesani
Art Critic
Valentina Carrubba
Communication & Concept Designer
Elisa Andreini
Photographer
Marco Martello
Editor, Copywriter, Communication Specialist
Alex Vaccani
Co-founder TOH
Valeria Palieri
Journalist
Giulia Smith
Casting Director
Giangi Giordano
Fashion Stylist
Carlotta Crosera
Curator and Art Consultant
Michela Bonafoni
Cultural Advisor for companies in the fashion and beauty sectors
Giulio Vescovi
Art director, Graphic designer
Anna Frabotta
Founder Frab's srl - Founder and Director of Mag to Mag festival
Katherine Kennedy
Graphic Designer
Albert Hofer
Founder & Event Organizer of Le Cannibale
Ilaria Renoldi
Art Director
Margherita Caspani
Illustrator
Inside the labs
+3
FASHION PHOTO STUDIO
+3
WARDROBE
+2
FASHION COMPUTER LABORATORIES
+3
TEXTILE LAB
+3
FASHION LIBRARY
Projects
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