The Istituto Europeo di Design, founded in 1966, is considered one of the top design schools in Europe.
IED consists of four divisions - Fashion, Design, Visual Arts and Communications - offering undergraduate and graduate programs in fashion, graphic, interior, product, industrial and architectural design.
IED is a multi-campus institution, with locations in Milan (original), Rome, Turin, Madrid, Barcelona, Sao Paolo, Venice and Rio de Janeiro.
Although all campuses apply the same training methodology and objectives, each has its own personality deriving from the host city’s cultural and design fabric.
Each campus consists of state-of-the-art facilities, including a lighting techniques laboratory, a fashion show theater, accessories and shoe lab, rapid prototyping lab, video, sound and photography labs, and a jewelry lab.
IED offers an international atmosphere, where the quality of lecturers and strong bonds with the business community enable creativity to blend with design culture.
The dynamic curriculum fuses theocratical and technical instruction with practical applications.
IED partners with respected companies, including, but not limited to, Adidas, Armani, Benetton Group, Damiani, Dolce & Gabbana, Ermenegildo Zegna, Fendi, Ferré, Furla, Levi’s, Louis Vuitton, Max Mara, Prada, Ralph Lauren, Samsonite, Swarovski, Valentino, Vogue Gioiello, 3M, Alessi, Alitalia, Ferrari, Fiat Auto, Hitachi, Honda, l’Oreal, Lego, Maserati, Mattel Toys, Nordica, Pirelli, Renault, Whirlpool, Adobe Systems, Amnesty International, Apple Computer, Canon, Hewlett Packard, MINI-BMW Italy, MTV, Nestlé, Nike, Pepsico, Sony Records, Swatch, Universal Pictures, Vodafone, De Agostini, McDonald's, Microsoft, Paramount and Rolling Stone.
IED’s innovative teaching method ensure that students get a good general grounding and effective specialized training.
Hands-on projects and collaboration with major design companies provide a real-life application of class lessons.
A close partnership with the business community and the constant planning of workshops, internships, exercises and seminars keeps the curriculum in step with real needs and trends in design.
Academic year students participate in a school-wide fashion show, and the best designers are invited to create an entire collection for a September show.
In design, IED also collaborates with design companies on specific projects.
Fashion is taught at the Leoni campus, and visual arts and design at the Sciesa campus.
Your entire grade for each class is based on a final examination, a practice common outside of the United States.
The exam may be:
Oral
Written
Research project
Test on surprise topic
Executive design work
The exam is graded on a basis of thirty points.
Passing grades are between 18 and 30 points.
The lecturing staff is made up exclusively from professional actively practicing in their respective sectors. Through this method, cross-fertilization of ideas, creativity and synergy between technology and experimentation can be achieved. Notable faculty include:
Fashion
Luca Minora - Tailor, model-maker, National Costume /Lindeberg
Luisa Bezzi - TOD's, style and accessories consultant
Elena Muserra De Luca - Press Office, Mariella Burani Fashion Group
Cesare De Vecchi - Proprietor, Goldsmiths Workshop, Via Montenapoleone
Tommaso Basilio - Journalist, D di Repubblica
Sara Maino - Fashion Editorialist, Vogue Italia
Anne Marie Paltsou - Saks Fifth Avenue Milano
Marco Ricchetti - MD, Hermès Lab
Francesca Amantea - Polo Ralph Lauren
Enrico Maria Albamonte - Journalist, Affari e Finanza Design
Fabrizio Bertero - Architect, Designer
Giorgio Valentini - Architect, Engineer
Loredana Parmesani - Art historian
Karim Azzabi - Architect, Designer
Matteo Vercelloni - Architect
Marco Maggioni - Designer Visual Arts
Massimo Giacon - Cartoonist, Illustrator, Designer, Artist and Musician
Annalaura Cantone - Illustrator
Sergio Messina - Musician
Massimo Pitis - Graphic designer, Art Director
Silvio Wolf - Art photographer
Silvia Lelli - Photographer
Claudio Sinatti - Film Director
