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

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 and Filippo Rossi brought new perspectives on materiality and contemporary audiovisual practices within the #TimesNew concept.

03 March 2026

This was IED MUSES Talks: Omar Sosa

The co-founder of ‘Apartamento Magazine’ shared his creative dynamics at the intersection of art, architecture and editorial design in the second episode of the second season of the IED’s inspirational talk series.

IED Expands Its English-Language Offer with New Courses in Design, Fashion and Film

27 February 2026

IED Expands Its English-Language Offer with New Courses in Design, Fashion and Film

IED – Istituto Europeo di Design is broadening its international offer with a new range of English-taught courses. A strategic move that strengthens IED’s position as Europe’s largest design network, opening its doors to students and creative professionals from across the globe.

Display case of a typography exhibition

26 February 2026

TDC 71: The Power of Typography Arrives at IED Barcelona

From 25 February to 25 March, the campus will host, for the second consecutive year, the exhibition of the finest international works awarded by the Type Directors Club (TDC) of New York in 2025.

23 February 2026

IED Kunsthal Bilbao presents “¿Y TÚ? TA ZU? ” in collaboration with the Bilbao Guggenheim Museum and the Mayor of Bilbao.

The graphic intervention emerges from the students’ direct engagement with the exhibition dedicated to Barbara Kruger at the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, inviting the public to reflect on their role within today’s complex reality.

23 February 2026

IED Kunsthal Bilbao launches 4 new postgraduate programs

IED Kunsthal introduces the Postgraduate format and begins a new academic phase focused on specialization.

20 February 2026

VISIONI DAL FUTURO - A century of posters from the Triennale Milano Archives, animated and reinterpreted by young designers

The installation, part of the European project SISS – Sounding Images, Screening Sounds, was presented in the Agora of IED Kunsthal Bilbao with a live performance.

Overhead view of a labyrinth of fabric panels and light

10 February 2026

IED Barcelona bathes Llum BCN 26 in warm light

The lighting design installation “Fabric Maze”, a labyrinth of fabrics, lights and shadows inspired by the textile past of the Poblenou neighbourhood, created warm visual compositions with each visitor’s passage.

Don't miss it

Exhibitions and Festival

17 February 2026 - 23 March 2026

Madrid

Latam Creative Talent: Valor Ancestral

IED Madrid presents Latam Creative Talent: The Shapes of Nature, an exhibition led by Istituto Europeo di Design, highlighting Latin American talent and its contemporary dialogue with nature as part of the Madrid Design Festival.

Exhibitions and Festival

11 March 2026 - 15 March 2026

Madrid

AULA 2026

From 11 to 15 March, come and see us at Stand 10A12 in Hall 12 at IFEMA

Open Day

18 March 2026 - 21 March 2026

Multiple

IED Open Day Italy

A calendar of appointments to discover all IED Italia courses in the areas of Design, Fashion, Visual Arts, Cinema, Communication, Art and Restoration.

Exhibitions and Festival

18 March 2026 - 22 March 2026

Barcelona

Saló de l’Ensenyament 2026

From 18 to 22 March, we look forward to welcoming you at stand D-453 at the Montjuïc venue of Fira de Barcelona, where you will be able to discover our educational offer in Design, Fashion, Visual Arts, Marketing and Communication. Come and visit us!

IN-SONORA 2026
Exhibitions and Festival

19 March 2026 - 21 March 2026

Madrid

IN-SONORA 2026

From 19 to 21 March, IED Madrid Design District will host installations and performances from this international exhibition of sound and interactive art