Forbes Next Leaders and IED join forces to promote next-generation creativity, continuing the partnership dedicated to the Next Leaders covers.
Date
02 April 2026
Forbes Next Leaders and IED join forces to promote next-generation creativity, continuing the partnership dedicated to the Next Leaders covers.
The IED project with BFC Media continues, the company responsible for the Italian editions of the renowned international magazine Forbes and the Next Leaders publication. This partnership brings together education and the professional world, offering young creatives the opportunity to engage with a real and highly competitive editorial environment.
Created to recognise emerging talent and support the transition into the world of work, the project has led to the creation of a second official Forbes Next Leaders cover, designed by Noemi Giulianini, an IED student in her third year of the Illustration and Animation course.
The collaboration with Forbes Next Leaders is a concrete example of how IED’s teaching approach encourages continuous dialogue with the cultural and creative industries. Students are required to work with real briefs, professional deadlines and a clearly defined editorial vision, turning the learning experience into a genuine testing ground for their future careers.
Following the first cover published in February, the project evolved by giving space to a new creative voice, invited to visually interpret one of the key themes for younger generations: the transition from graduation to the world of work.
The cover created by Noemi Giulianini, entitled “Dalla laurea al lavoro”, explores the delicate transition from student to professional through a reassuring and thoughtful visual language. The project highlights not only the temporal and emotional change that accompanies this stage of life, but also the new responsibilities, the skills required by the market, and the transformation of personal and professional identity.
The image portrays the passage from the academic world to the professional one with clarity and reassurance, turning the future into a horizon of opportunities and continuous growth.
The publication of the cover in Forbes Next Leaders represents a significant milestone for Noemi Giulianini, as well as clear evidence of the value of an educational pathway capable of engaging directly with the world of work.
Once again, IED confirms its role as a bridge between education and professional practice, offering students real opportunities to express their talent within internationally recognised editorial and creative contexts.
A project that is not merely an academic exercise, but a professional experience offering visibility and direct engagement with industry dynamics.
Original artwork by Noemi Giulianini
Student IED Milano - Third year, Bachelor of Arts in Illustration and Animation