First Level Academic Diploma in Graphic Design - IED Milano

Language

Italian, English

Start date

October 2026
January 2027

Frequency

Full time

Fruition

On campus

Duration

3 Years

Credits

180 CFA / ECTS

Course Coordination

Dario Accanti, Giuseppe Liuzzo

Course also available in:

Rome
Turin

The Bachelor of Arts in Graphic Design and Art Direction at IED Milano trains professionals in visual communication through design methodologies that emphasise ethical awareness and social responsibility. The programme allows students to explore graphic design across different fields, including corporate and social identity and communication, social media, publishing and advertising. Skills range from publishing and branding to exhibit design, motion graphics, 3D modelling, web and app design. The productive environment of Milan fosters projects linked to sustainability, social design and services for integration and inclusion, as well as emerging scenarios in entertainment and digital ecosystems.

Course structure and contents:

The IED programme spans three years, during which design is integrated with cultural knowledge, dialogue with professionals, technical skills and innovative tools.

First Year: Students acquire the foundations of graphic design and visual communication, learning to use the main Adobe Suite software and exploring the potential of generative artificial intelligence. Theoretical courses provide tools to read and interpret visual language, covering topics such as colour theory, semiotics and art history.

Second Year: Students develop a more structured design approach, applying it to areas such as brand identity, packaging, advertising, UI/UX design and visual journalism. Techniques include animation, 3D modelling and editing, using software such as Figma, Blender, Cinema 4D, Midjourney and OpenAI. Theoretical lessons deepen knowledge of interactivity, digital content management and the languages of social and commercial communication, fostering greater autonomy and strategic vision.

Third Year: Students tackle complex projects applying all acquired skills, working on digital interfaces, motion graphics, spatial design and interactive communication. Theoretical courses accompanying workshops focus on the ethical role of the designer, market trend analysis and regulatory aspects, enabling students to manage design cycles responsibly.

The dissertation project is the moment of synthesis, integrating creativity, technical expertise and organisational skills to produce professional works ranging from institutional to interactive communication, often in collaboration with organisations and companies.

Faculty

Course Coordinator in Italian

Dario Accanti

Graphic Designer

Course Coordinator in English

Giuseppe Liuzzo

Graphic Design

Francesca Valan

Industrial Designer

Paolo Ravasi

Architect and Designer

Massimo Hachen

Architect, Designer, Artist

Davide Corno

Marketing and communication manager

Mauro Panzeri

Art Director for Edizioni Ambiente, Milan

Roberto Ghislandi

Photographer & Teacher

Mauro Paffi

Motion Graphics Artist, Editor & Dop

Marina Bonanni

Graphic Designer

Antonella Giardina

Philosopher and Designer

Mauro Santella

Graphic Designer

Stefano Uvietta

Photographer

Simona Marzorati

Creative director, journalist

Michelangelo Petralito

Creative Director / Owner of studio PR-A

Simone Baboni

Digital Designer

Daniele Mastrapasqua

Architect

Federico Sartori

Graphic Designer

Bruno D'Arrigo

Graphic Designer

Simona Bordone

Special projects for Domus, IED lecturer, chair of Fondazione Wurmkos onlus

Bruno Gregory

Digital Artist and Limited edition designer

Marco Pea

Owner and graphic designer at '48

Sara Caliumi

Visual Art Designer

Silvia Mainoni

Designer and co-founder of White Designer Studio

Angeleri Ulises

Graphic Designer

Arrighetti Alessia

Graphic Designer

Emanuele Basso

Creative Director

Nicoletta Cavallazzi

Packaging Designer

Giacomo Cusano

Director of Education at Krisalide Institute, Freelance consultant

Lodovico Gualzetti

Graphic Designer & Teacher

Michela Lazzaroni

Graphic Designer & Teacher

Rebecca Pedrazzi

Art historian and critic specialized in AI Art, curator, and journalist

Paolo Proserpio

Art Director, Graphic Designer

Luca Toccaceli

Lecturer in Communication and mass media

Vitale Graziano

Graphic Designer, Illustrator, Visual Recorder

Sergio Messina

Musician, Radio Author, Teacher, Researcher

Loredana Parmesani

Art Critic

Giulia Gravina

Graphic designer

Tiziana Gemin

A Lecturer in Phenomenology and Curator of Media Art

Francesco Casolo

Editor and Ghost Writer

Olga Salvoni

CMF Designer - Olga Salvoni Studio    

Laura Loprieno

CEO and Co-founder of Dynamo

Andrea Guccini

Co-founder of the graphic design studio But Maybe    

Stefano Polli

Graphic Designer, Live Media Artist

Andrea Gallo

Video Maker and Producer, Co-founder Sugodesign.tv

Matteo Nicoli

Motion Designer

Davide Sottile

Graphic Designer

Paula Andrea Callejas Greiffenstein

Designer and co-founder of Minrl jewels

Gianluca Schinaia

Head of Sustainability at FpS. Journalist, trainer and project manager for sustainable innovation. 

Matteo Gualandris

Art Director & Graphic Designer

Filippo Rossi

Show Designer at Galattico

Andrea Gelpi

Insight Specialist & Market Research Consultant

Raffaele Solaini

Philosopher and semiotic expert

Filippo Donisi

Product Designer in Bending Spoons

Ferrario Davide

Art Director & Graphic Designer

Maffei Lorenzo

Art Director and Motion Designer

Claudio Morelli

Journalist, photographer and filmmaker

Musio Alessia

Freelance Information Designer

Sebastiano Paccini

Founder of the project Libri Finti Clandestini

Alessandro Lucchini

Videomaker freelance, Editor and Motion Graphics Artist

Giulia Tacchini

Food and Communication Designer

Davide Colla

Founder & Creative Director of 150UP

Matteo Bollati

Designer

Cecilia Melli

Art Director and Strategist consultant

Massimo Salomoni

TV Producer, Creative Director

Projects

Graphic Design and Visual Communication

Milan

WILD ME

Graphic Design and Visual Communication

Milan

Tibet NSA

Graphic Design and Visual Communication

Milan

Compliments of 872

Graphic Design and Visual Communication

Milan

Special projects
TYPE OUT

Graphic Design and Visual Communication

Milan

Special projects
CICAP

Graphic Design and Visual Communication

Milan

Special projects
IED x Erreà FONT KIT DESIGN

Graphic Design and Visual Communication

Milan

Final projects / thesis projects
HANDSHAKE

Graphic Design and Visual Communication

Milan

Final projects / thesis projects
PATH

Graphic Design and Visual Communication

Milan

Final projects / thesis projects
LEAKS

What people say

"There are moments from my time at IED that still resonate with me today. I rememebr I was working with Marina Bonanni, who was teaching me editorial graphics, and the funny part is that I was copying the same article, page and cover of my references all the time, and she came and said to me 'You cannot keep copying, this is a starting point...then??' "

Davide Colla

IED Alumnus - Founder & Creative Director at 150UP

"The training I underwent at IED led me to a conviction: never be satisfied with what immediately seems beautiful, but always go one step further."

Luca Crescenzi

IED Alumnus - Co-founder at Crescenzi & Co.

News

15 April 2026

More than 9,800 students took part in the AQU Catalunya and Catalan universities' mass survey on recent graduate satisfaction

Responses will be used to identify areas for improvement in the higher education studies currently offered in the Catalan university system and in higher artistic education centres.

14 April 2026

Albert Folch leads a new session of IED MUSES Talks at Bilbao

A new session of IED MUSES Talks brings together Albert Folch and Isabel Fernández to explore design from an expanded perspective.

13 April 2026

IED presents The Searchlights: the urgencies of our time through the photographs of people in their twenties

As part of EXPOSED Torino Photo Festival, IED presents the second chapter of the three-year project Ti vorrei dire, developed in collaboration with Gallerie d'Italia - Torino, a part of Intesa Sanpaolo

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

13 April 2026

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

The film has won the Best Documentary Award in the Official Selection at Moritz Feed Doc 2026 and the Audience Award at the Atlàntida Mallorca Film Fest 2025

02 April 2026

Forbes Next Leaders: Noemi Giulianini designs the March magazine cover

Forbes Next Leaders and IED join forces to promote next-generation creativity, continuing the partnership dedicated to the Next Leaders covers.

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.

Forbes Next Leaders – IED Student designs the February cover of Next Leaders

12 March 2026

Forbes Next Leaders – IED Student designs the February cover of Next Leaders

Forbes Next Leaders and IED come together to promote the creativity of a new generation: the partnership dedicated to the covers of Next Leaders begins.

06 March 2026

IED Madrid’s Workshop Week 2026 explores new creative territories with international guest lecturers thanks to the Erasmus KA131 programme

Guest lecturers Lavinia Rosseti, Filippo Rossi, and Nicolas Lambouris brought new perspectives on materiality and contemporary audiovisual practices within the #TimesNew concept.