Graphic Design
Learning how to design communication projects and visual experiences of the future
Milan
On campus
ENG
First Level Academic Diploma in Visual Communication Design - Specialization in Graphic Design
Language
English
Start date
October 2025
Frequency
Full time
Fruition
On campus
Duration
3 Years
Credits
180
Course Coordination
Giuseppe Liuzzo
Take up a career that will turn you into a game-changer of future communication with the English-language Graphic Design Undergraduate Programme at IED Milano
On your English-language Graphic Design degree programme at IED Milano, you will be learning how to develop and translate your ideas into action. Over the three years, your aim will be to understand interaction between the many different factors involved in complex visual design projects, such as colours, fonts and symbols. Indeed, these are the elements that contribute most towards creating original content and meaningful concepts, that can have a significant impact on society.
Over the three-year English-language degree programme, you will have the opportunity to learn how to manage complex projects involving different types of media. You will practise technical tools, broaden your cultural knowledge and work with different applications of graphic design such as publishing projects, brand design, packaging and digital interface design.
You will put yourself to the test with projects where you can express your own creative talent and your project design skills. Your work will mainly focus on creating new solutions where care for aesthetics, social responsibility, environmental protection and sales targets are all mixed together. Upon completion of your training, you will be able to work as a freelance or be employed by a company as a Graphic Designer, Web and App Designer, Art and Design Director, Front End Designer, Data Visualizer, Content Creator and also Content Manager.
Issued Degree:
Diploma Accademico di Primo Livello (DAPL), corresponding to a Bachelor of Arts Degree (BA) – EQF6 Level (European Qualification Framework).
Credits:
The course awards 180 CFA (Academic Formative Credits), corresponding to 180 ECTS (European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System).
Information to decide
Progressing in graphic design as you learn methods, process development and a variety of applications
The English-language Graphic Design degree programme at IED Milano will give you the opportunity to explore a variety of theory subjects covering historical, critical, socio-economic, strategic, analytical and technical productive dimensions of your future career. And this is not all! You will also have the opportunity to get involved first-hand by taking part actively in projects contracted by partner companies of IED. This approach will allow you to explore the many different applications of visual communication over the three years of your training.
This programme was developed with a view to training up future graphic designers who can manage projects of a high complexity with confidence and self-reliance, as a result of technical skills acquired over the three years of study. Indeed, this type of training is designed to instruct you in the use of the most common tools and software applications for graphic design projects. At the same time, you will learn how to develop projects that can be of interest to companies, with a well-rounded approach to managing visual communication.
The lab-based focus of this programme is enhanced by practical learning opportunities such as workshops, contests and special projects, which will help you become more aware of your expertise and develop strategic thinking skills that will be useful to move successfully into the job market.
The English-language Graphic Design degree programme at IED Milano will give you the opportunity to enjoy a learning experience with curiosity as the driving force towards understanding what stands behind the appearance of things. You will learn to look at visual communication as a tool to support organizations, companies and people in their challenge to improve communication and lifestyle.
The aim of this programme is to train up future designers who can also come up with great ideas not just for business, but also with potential applications for social, ethical and human-centred thinking approaches. What will make the difference is your ability to embrace 'out of the box' strategic thinking as you move forward, keeping a close eye on social responsibility of your own work and projects at the same time.
The three-year programme in Graphic Design will help you develop your career path, as you study and learn about a variety of different but closely related subjects. We will walk you through an inspiring path towards becoming a designer, with the skills and experience required across all types of businesses, organizations, companies, and professionals. Your contribution will be key to make sure they can really make a difference and be recognized on the market.
The Graphic Design degree programme at IED Milano will provide you with background knowledge, skills and technical expertise like using relevant software tools to manage practical, real-life projects.
You will have the opportunity to exchange views with professionals from the industry, who will share with you their knowledge of current market conditions as you prepare to move into your future career. Students will also be encouraged to engage with a variety of opportunities as part of their training programme, such as workshops, seminars and other specialist events.
IED provides a motivating environment where the industry closely interacts with students’ ideas and experience. Here, there are so many companies, public institutions and brand partners who bring forward projects and welcome proposals on a regular basis.
In a city like Milan, where design has a prominent legacy, you will also be able to meet and connect with professionals from similar backgrounds who can provide full support as you work on projects of different kinds. This will be a great opportunity for you to benefit from a multi-skilled environment where different skills and strategic approaches come to work together successfully.
Syllabus
first year
On the first year of your English-language Graphic Design degree programme in Milan, you will be covering the main subjects involved in building basic cultural, project-oriented and technical background that will bring you closer to your future career as a graphic designer. You will focus on both theory and technical software-based subjects for vector drawing, photo editing and page setting.
HISTORY OF CONTEMPORARY ART
HISTORY OF DRAWING AND ARTISTIC DESIGN
DESIGN METHODS
INTRODUCTION TO PUBLISHING DESIGN
PERCEPTION THEORY AND THE PSYCHOLOGY OF FORM
GRAPHIC DESIGN 1
COMPUTER GRAPHICS 1
ARTS SEMIOTICS
second year
On your second year, you will experience graphic design across a variety of applications through specific lab work. In particular, you will be practising your skills in the areas of publishing graphics, brand design, packaging design, and digital interfaces. You will go deeper into the use of software tools for making videos, 3D animations as well as web and digital prototypes.
VIDEO GRAPHIC
GRAPHIC DESIGN 2
PHOTOGRAPHY
PHENOMENOLOGY OF CONTEMPORARY ARTS
BRAND DESIGN
DESIGN METHODS FOR VISUAL COMMUNICATION
SOCIOLOGY OF COMMUNICATION
HISTORY OF CINEMA AND VIDEO
PRINTING PROCESSING TECHNIQUES
DIGITAL MODELLING TECHNIQUES - COMPUTER 3D
third year
On your last year, you will focus on your final dissertation project. This will be a great opportunity for you to practise the skills acquired on advanced graphic systems design. Continuous exchange of ideas with our network partners and companies will help you deal with challenges of growing difficulty, as you expand your ability to work independently on projects of your own.
THEORY AND METHOD OF MASS MEDIA
GRAPHIC DESIGN 3
DIGITAL VIDEO
GRAPHIC DESIGN 4
DESIGN MANAGEMENT
EXPOSITION SETTINGS
Faculty
Giuseppe Liuzzo
Graphic Design
Course Coordinator
Graziano Vitale
Graphic Designer, Illustrator, Visual Recorder
Marina Bonanni
Graphic Designer
Carlo Branzaglia
Giulia Tacchini
Food and Communication Designer
Paolo Proserpio
Art Director, Graphic Designer
Davide Colla
Founder & Creative Director of 150UP
Paula Andrea Callejas Greiffenstein
Designer and co-founder of Minrl jewels
Claudio Morelli
Journalist, photographer and filmmaker
Cecilia Melli
Art Director and Strategist consultant
Gianluca Schinaia
Head of Sustainability at FpS. Journalist, trainer and project manager for sustainable innovation.
Alessandro Lucchini
Videomaker freelance, Editor and Motion Graphics Artist
Matteo Bollati
Designer
Matteo Gualandris
Art Director & Graphic Designer
Serena Brovelli
Art Director at Studio Olga
Filippo Rossi
Show Designer at Galattico
Andrea Gelpi
Insight Specialist & Market Research Consultant
Raffaele Solaini
Philosopher and semiotic expert
Tiziana Gemin
A Lecturer in Phenomenology and Curator of Media Art
Luca Toccaceli
Lecturer in Communication and mass media
Emanuele Basso
Creative Director
Francesco Casolo
Editor and Ghost Writer
Davide Corno
Marketing and communication manager
Erica Bernardi
Curator
Filippo Donisi
Product Designer in Bending Spoons
Roberto Mancuso
Photographer
Massimo Salomoni
TV Producer, Creative Director
Stefano Temporin
You may be interested in:
News
