Diploma Accademico di Secondo Livello (DASL) in Visual Communication - IED Milano

Language

English, Italian

Start date

October 2026
October 2027

Frequency

Full time

Fruition

On campus

Duration

2 Years

Credits

120 CFA / ECTS

Course Coordination

Franco Achilli

How can visual communication tell, influence, and shape the way we experience the world and the cultural identity of the communities living in it?

In a fast-moving technological world, where imagery and information are constantly streaming in, visual communication plays a growing role as the need to build reliable and effective narratives is feeling ever more urgent today.

The Master of Arts in Visual Communication. Critical Narratives in Post-Digital Worlds investigates how the culture of visual communication can generate meaningful narratives where technology is seamlessly integrated into communication exchange patterns between communities and the environment. This approach fits into the vision of DesignXCommons, where design is regarded to integrate the commons and regenerate the planet.

This course has a focus on media analysis as a way towards building independent critical thinking and creating visual communication systems that carry meaningful and self-aware cultural and social contents. Using an interdisciplinary approachtechnical and cultural skills will be expanded as part of a curriculum where semiotics, cultural anthropology and graphic design are brought together with interaction design, motion graphics, artificial intelligence, augmented reality and video storytelling to create analogue or digital projects with awareness of diverse cultural identities, while promoting social inclusion and environmental sustainability.

Designing effective communication systems and strategies as part of complex scenarios calls for a thorough understanding of both social and cultural contexts where communication patterns will be placed. Likewise, an ethical and responsible use of evolving technological tools will also be implemented. Theory training is complemented by on-site practice through collaborative workshops to encourage teamwork in multidisciplinary teams while also developing projects in real-world and diverse contexts.

Career roles that can be pursued with the degree programme in Visual Communication. Critical Narratives in Post-Digital Worlds will be able to better facilitate complexity storytelling through critical, strategic, and technical skills in advertising, corporate communications, creative direction in fashion and interactive media, art communication, organising events, products and services. Continuing in Ph.D. trajectories at Italian and foreign universities will also be an option.

 

Faculty

Course Leader

Franco Achilli

Architect and designer trained at G&R Associati

Chiara Grandesso

Graphic Designer and Researcher

Carlo Branzaglia

Strategic Design and Design Education

Gian Luca Fracassi

Creative Director

Massimo Pitis

Graphic Designer and Art Director

Erica Petrillo

Curator and Researcher

Laura Lisi

Translator and Interpreter

Alessandro Curti

Journalist

Cinzia Bongino

Graphic, Information, Web designer

Erik Kessels

Curator and communication designer

Jonathan Wajskol

Visual Communication designer

Justus Oehler

Graphic Designer

Maurizio Tafuro

Director, videomaker and Photographer

Dimitris Stefanidis

Creative Director

Projects

Graphic Design and Visual Communication

Milan

Didactic projects
Fregüj

Graphic Design and Visual Communication

Milan

Didactic projects
Workshop Design methodology: research and discovery

What people say

Visual Communication. Critical Narratives in Post-Digital Worlds

Course coordinator describes the goal, the methodology and the professional opportunities of the Master of Arts in Visual Communication.

Franco Achilli

DesignXCommons

The world could be otherwise: making by making strange

"The world has become so flattened by routine that we no longer fully see the objects around us; we merely recognize them."

The workshop took place at Rifugio Amprimo (Val di Susa- Italy) and has been inspired by the statement of Russian theorist Viktor Shklovsky.

News

Crowded stalls of an auditorium

15 September 2026

More than 200 students from 52 nationalities open the 2026-2027 academic year of the IED Barcelona

On 14 September, the Welcome Event welcomed a new generation of creatives and designers joining the undergraduate programmes.

11 September 2026

Issue 4: Material World - Plural Intelligences

What happens when we recognize the intelligence of materials and learn to work with it responsibly, collectively, and collaboratively?

11 September 2026

IED Kunsthal Bilbao temporarily transforms Doña Casilda Park with ‘Sareak’

A cross-disciplinary project bringing together nearly 200 members of the community to reflect on contemporary communication through design.

07 September 2026

Fashion show and festival: the IED Public Programme is back

In September, IED's Public Program returns with a calendar of events across its campuses in Italy and Spain, offering opportunities for dialogue, exchange and discovery open to the community and the wider public.

02 September 2026

Six talents from the IED community to take part in Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week

EGO, the catwalk dedicated to emerging fashion designers, will feature four alumni and one student from our community this year, while lecturer Juan Vidal will present his collection at a private, invitation-only event.

28 August 2026

What does sustainability mean for a design school?

When discussing sustainability, the debate often focuses on environmental impacts and the responsible use of resources. But what does sustainability mean, in practical terms, for a school that educates future designers, creatives and professionals capable of driving change?

31 July 2026

Forbes Next Leaders: Alumna Chiara Robino designs the August cover

The collaboration between IED and Forbes Next Leaders continues: for the August issue, the cover was designed by Chiara Robino, Alumna in Illustration from IED Torino in the 2025/26 academic year.

17 July 2026

Priscilla Fois brings her art to Urban Break Korea

IED Roma alumna Priscilla Fois has been selected to participate in Urban Break Korea, one of the leading international festivals dedicated to urban art.

16 July 2026

This Is What the Future of Visual Arts Looks Like

Recent graduates from the IED Barcelona's Graphic Design, Advertising, and Motion Graphics and Video programmes presented their final projects at Barcelona XR Lab. Data, text, image and sound come together to explore the global order and reframe systems for navigating the world.

Don't miss it

14 September 2026 - 18 September 2026

Barcelona

IED Barcelona 2026 Undergraduate Welcome Week

The welcome event for undergraduate students, teachers and staff to mark the official opening of the new academic year will take place on Monday 14 September.

Exhibitions and Festival

16 September 2026 - 07 October 2026

Genova

The horizon of desire: stories from Genoa’s Waterfronts.

Six perspectives, a city in transition. IED Turin showcases Genoa’s Porto Antico and the Levante Waterfront in a photography exhibition at Palazzo Ducale

Exhibitions and Festival

01 October 2026 - 01 October 2026

Barcelona

Brut! 2026

Three IED Barcelona alumni will take part in an event bringing together leading design schools to showcase their outstanding final degree projects at Disseny Hub Barcelona.

An open notebook showing two pencil sketches, one of a lamp and the other of designer handbags
Exhibitions and Festival

17 October 2026 - 17 October 2026

Barcelona

Barcelona Dibuixa 2026: “The Power of Hand Drawing”

IED Barcelona is offering this workshop, where participants will discover, guided by architect and lecturer Gianfranco La Cognata – Laco 2, how design takes shape through illustration.