IED Italy (Istituto Europeo di Design)

Rome  Italy

Founded in 1966 in Italy, IED Istituto Europeo di Design is an international network of higher education in Design, Fashion, Communication, Visual Arts, Arts & Restoration with campuses in Milan, Turin, Florence, Rome and Cagliari. Together with the Accademia di Belle Arti Aldo Galli in Como, founded in 1989, IED represents a centre of Italian creativity and innovation recognised across the world. Every year, it welcomes students from over 90 countries, fostering an international and collaborative environment. Rooted in Italy’s cultural heritage and craftsmanship, IED combines academic excellence with a strong industry focus, preparing professionals ready to shape the future through sustainable and human-centred design. With more than five decades of experience and partnerships with leading global brands, IED continues to drive change in design education and creative industries.

Why study at IED Italy (Istituto Europeo di Design)?

Learn by doing: IED’s project-based methodology immerses students in real-world challenges, combining creativity with practical experience from day one.

Industry connections: Collaborations with leading brands, studios and institutions provide invaluable professional exposure and networking opportunities.

Italian design excellence: Study in the birthplace of art, fashion and design, surrounded by Italy’s rich cultural heritage and craftsmanship.

International environment: Join a diverse community of students and faculty from over 90 countries, fostering global perspectives and collaboration.

Sustainability and innovation: IED promotes responsible design and forward-thinking practices that shape meaningful, human-centered solutions for the future.

10,000

postgraduate students

52

courses

Top 20

Fashion Schools of 2025 ranked by CeoWorld

Rome  Italy

main campus

Creative Arts & Design (9) Architecture, Building & Planning (3) Engineering (12) Environmental Sciences (13) Sociology (33) Biological Sciences (4) Psychology (31) Communication & Media Studies (7) Business & Management (5) Materials Science (24) Computer Science (8) Information Services (20) Food Sciences (15) Finance (14)

About IED Italy (Istituto Europeo di Design)

IED Istituto Europeo di Design offers an extensive range of Postgraduate, from Master of Arts to Master's Programs, in Design, Fashion, Communication, Visual Arts, Art & Restoration.

Our campuses in Milan, Turin, Florence, Rome and Cagliari combine Italy’s artistic heritage with modern innovation, offering inspiring spaces such as design and fashion labs, photography studios. As part of the IED network, students also benefit from the expertise of the Accademia di Como, known for its excellence in fine arts and restoration.

IED’s strong links with industry ensure that students gain hands-on experience through real projects, internships and collaborations with leading brands. Dedicated career services, scholarships and international exchange opportunities further support students in turning their creativity into a successful professional journey.

Interested in studying in Spain? Check our other campuses.


Departments at IED Italy (Istituto Europeo di Design)



Life at IED Italy is dynamic, collaborative and deeply connected to the cities where our campuses are based. Each location offers a distinctive cultural and creative atmosphere, allowing students to experience Italy’s design legacy firsthand while engaging with its energic contemporary scene.

IED campuses are lively international communities where students from over the world exchange ideas, work on projects together and take part in exhibitions, fashion shows and workshops. Outside the classroom, students enjoy Italy’s rich cultural life — from museums, galleries and historic architecture to local cafés, street markets and seaside walks.

From the very first moment at IED, all students can count on a support service to assist with their integration into the socio-cultural context of the city and the campus in order to improve their learning experience.
In addition, for foreign students we have produced an information kit to help overcome bureaucratic issues.
Find out about the services dedicated to international students in Italy.



After a bachelor in Visual Art in Kazakhstan Assel started working in fashion retail – but she realized that she wanted to deal with art as an organizer. She got enrolled in IED – Master in Arts Management and she started to be more interested in the modern art of the world and of her country.

“IED helped me to make the shift from fashion retail onto modern art. I really loved that our teachers were not only theoretical but practical professionals working in this sphere. We could visit the Uffizi gallery, speak to its General Manager, our teachers organized Pitti Uomo – it was a great opportunity indeed to go deep into the sphere. IED provided collaboration and projects with them. Also IED helped me to meet a lot of interesting creative people”.

Her most significant project by now has been ”Green, Yellow, Red and Green again” exhibition by Almagul Menlibaeva at TSE Art Destination, in Astana. The gallery deals with the analysis and exhibiting of Central Asian art, they often also invite foreign artists. That one was a modern photography, video installation and digital art.

After a bachelor in Visual Art in Kazakhstan Assel started working in fashion retail – but she realized that she wanted to deal with art as an organizer. She got enrolled in IED – Master in Arts Management and she started to be more interested in the modern art of the world and of her country.

“IED helped me to make the shift from fashion retail onto modern art. I really loved that our teachers were not only theoretical but practical professionals working in this sphere. We could visit the Uffizi gallery, speak to its General Manager, our teachers organized Pitti Uomo – it was a great opportunity indeed to go deep into the sphere. IED provided collaboration and projects with them. Also IED helped me to meet a lot of interesting creative people”.

Her most significant project by now has been ”Green, Yellow, Red and Green again” exhibition by Almagul Menlibaeva at TSE Art Destination, in Astana. The gallery deals with the analysis and exhibiting of Central Asian art, they often also invite foreign artists. That one was a modern photography, video installation and digital art.

After a bachelor in Visual Art in Kazakhstan Assel started working in fashion retail – but she realized that she wanted to deal with art as an organizer. She got enrolled in IED – Master in Arts Management and she started to be more interested in the modern art of the world and of her country.

“IED helped me to make the shift from fashion retail onto modern art. I really loved that our teachers were not only theoretical but practical professionals working in this sphere. We could visit the Uffizi gallery, speak to its General Manager, our teachers organized Pitti Uomo – it was a great opportunity indeed to go deep into the sphere. IED provided collaboration and projects with them. Also IED helped me to meet a lot of interesting creative people”.

Her most significant project by now has been ”Green, Yellow, Red and Green again” exhibition by Almagul Menlibaeva at TSE Art Destination, in Astana. The gallery deals with the analysis and exhibiting of Central Asian art, they often also invite foreign artists. That one was a modern photography, video installation and digital art.

After a bachelor in Visual Art in Kazakhstan Assel started working in fashion retail – but she realized that she wanted to deal with art as an organizer. She got enrolled in IED – Master in Arts Management and she started to be more interested in the modern art of the world and of her country.

“IED helped me to make the shift from fashion retail onto modern art. I really loved that our teachers were not only theoretical but practical professionals working in this sphere. We could visit the Uffizi gallery, speak to its General Manager, our teachers organized Pitti Uomo – it was a great opportunity indeed to go deep into the sphere. IED provided collaboration and projects with them. Also IED helped me to meet a lot of interesting creative people”.

Her most significant project by now has been ”Green, Yellow, Red and Green again” exhibition by Almagul Menlibaeva at TSE Art Destination, in Astana. The gallery deals with the analysis and exhibiting of Central Asian art, they often also invite foreign artists. That one was a modern photography, video installation and digital art.

Marco De Vincenzo is a Creative Director and founder of his namesake brand. At twenty-one, the designer joined the creative offices of Fendi, where he currently holds the position of Leather goods Head Designer. In 2009 Marco won the “Who Is On Next” competition organized by Vogue Italia. In 2014, LVMH signed a partnership with Marco leading to international growth for the brand. Today, Marco de Vincenzo is recognized internationally as one of the most innovative and exciting voices in made in Italy fashion. In May 2022, he was appointed Creative Director at ETRO while keeping his collaboration with FENDI.

Marco De Vincenzo is a Creative Director and founder of his namesake brand. At twenty-one, the designer joined the creative offices of Fendi, where he currently holds the position of Leather goods Head Designer. In 2009 Marco won the “Who Is On Next” competition organized by Vogue Italia. In 2014, LVMH signed a partnership with Marco leading to international growth for the brand. Today, Marco de Vincenzo is recognized internationally as one of the most innovative and exciting voices in made in Italy fashion. In May 2022, he was appointed Creative Director at ETRO while keeping his collaboration with FENDI.

Marco De Vincenzo is a Creative Director and founder of his namesake brand. At twenty-one, the designer joined the creative offices of Fendi, where he currently holds the position of Leather goods Head Designer. In 2009 Marco won the “Who Is On Next” competition organized by Vogue Italia. In 2014, LVMH signed a partnership with Marco leading to international growth for the brand. Today, Marco de Vincenzo is recognized internationally as one of the most innovative and exciting voices in made in Italy fashion. In May 2022, he was appointed Creative Director at ETRO while keeping his collaboration with FENDI.

Marco De Vincenzo is a Creative Director and founder of his namesake brand. At twenty-one, the designer joined the creative offices of Fendi, where he currently holds the position of Leather goods Head Designer. In 2009 Marco won the “Who Is On Next” competition organized by Vogue Italia. In 2014, LVMH signed a partnership with Marco leading to international growth for the brand. Today, Marco de Vincenzo is recognized internationally as one of the most innovative and exciting voices in made in Italy fashion. In May 2022, he was appointed Creative Director at ETRO while keeping his collaboration with FENDI.

ADI-FAD, the Industrial Design Association linked to FAD (Fostering Arts and Design) invited young, designers who’d recently graduated to submit their Final, Master or Postgraduate Project to participate in the ADI 2022 Awards for the ADI 2022 Medals.

These awards were created in 1976 to build bridges between the academic world and industry. They’re something of a tradition on the Spanish design scene, rewarding a new generation of talent.

The aim is to acknowledge and promote innovative projects, with particular emphasis on the creative process and research; the formal, functional and aesthetic presentation of the final project; the sustainability of the project, its social impact and the appropriate application of technologies and materials.

There are 12 award winners’ medals: 9 bronze, 2 silver and 1 gold.

Two IED Madrid students made the final, winning a silver and the ADI 2022 gold medal.

It’s the most prestigious design award in Spain in the category, as well as being highly acclaimed at international level.


The medals went to:

GOLD, Xueyu Ji for the SWAY project

Sway is a measuring instrument that transforms visual information into auditory information.

It’s designed inclusively for everyone, and especially for blind people. Sway turns visual information into auditory information so a blind person can hear it.

ADI-FAD, the Industrial Design Association linked to FAD (Fostering Arts and Design) invited young, designers who’d recently graduated to submit their Final, Master or Postgraduate Project to participate in the ADI 2022 Awards for the ADI 2022 Medals.

These awards were created in 1976 to build bridges between the academic world and industry. They’re something of a tradition on the Spanish design scene, rewarding a new generation of talent.

The aim is to acknowledge and promote innovative projects, with particular emphasis on the creative process and research; the formal, functional and aesthetic presentation of the final project; the sustainability of the project, its social impact and the appropriate application of technologies and materials.

There are 12 award winners’ medals: 9 bronze, 2 silver and 1 gold.

Two IED Madrid students made the final, winning a silver and the ADI 2022 gold medal.

It’s the most prestigious design award in Spain in the category, as well as being highly acclaimed at international level.


The medals went to:

GOLD, Xueyu Ji for the SWAY project

Sway is a measuring instrument that transforms visual information into auditory information.

It’s designed inclusively for everyone, and especially for blind people. Sway turns visual information into auditory information so a blind person can hear it.

ADI-FAD, the Industrial Design Association linked to FAD (Fostering Arts and Design) invited young, designers who’d recently graduated to submit their Final, Master or Postgraduate Project to participate in the ADI 2022 Awards for the ADI 2022 Medals.

These awards were created in 1976 to build bridges between the academic world and industry. They’re something of a tradition on the Spanish design scene, rewarding a new generation of talent.

The aim is to acknowledge and promote innovative projects, with particular emphasis on the creative process and research; the formal, functional and aesthetic presentation of the final project; the sustainability of the project, its social impact and the appropriate application of technologies and materials.

There are 12 award winners’ medals: 9 bronze, 2 silver and 1 gold.

Two IED Madrid students made the final, winning a silver and the ADI 2022 gold medal.

It’s the most prestigious design award in Spain in the category, as well as being highly acclaimed at international level.


The medals went to:

GOLD, Xueyu Ji for the SWAY project

Sway is a measuring instrument that transforms visual information into auditory information.

It’s designed inclusively for everyone, and especially for blind people. Sway turns visual information into auditory information so a blind person can hear it.

ADI-FAD, the Industrial Design Association linked to FAD (Fostering Arts and Design) invited young, designers who’d recently graduated to submit their Final, Master or Postgraduate Project to participate in the ADI 2022 Awards for the ADI 2022 Medals.

These awards were created in 1976 to build bridges between the academic world and industry. They’re something of a tradition on the Spanish design scene, rewarding a new generation of talent.

The aim is to acknowledge and promote innovative projects, with particular emphasis on the creative process and research; the formal, functional and aesthetic presentation of the final project; the sustainability of the project, its social impact and the appropriate application of technologies and materials.

There are 12 award winners’ medals: 9 bronze, 2 silver and 1 gold.

Two IED Madrid students made the final, winning a silver and the ADI 2022 gold medal.

It’s the most prestigious design award in Spain in the category, as well as being highly acclaimed at international level.


The medals went to:

GOLD, Xueyu Ji for the SWAY project

Sway is a measuring instrument that transforms visual information into auditory information.

It’s designed inclusively for everyone, and especially for blind people. Sway turns visual information into auditory information so a blind person can hear it.


You can apply directly through our website. Once you have submitted your application, an Advisor will contact you to provide all the information about the study programme, the enrolment process and the tuition fees.

Every year, IED offers scholarships covering part or even the total amount of tuition fees for postgraduate programs. You can keep track of new opportunities on the dedicated page. In addition, you can take advantage of the Early Bird promotion and receive a reduction on tuition fees. Find more details on this page.

Our Career Service staff works across all our schools to support every student. They provide guidance, training opportunities and assistance to help students, employers and the school itself throughout the career development process. Discover more about the IED Career Service here.


Main campus

IED Italy (Istituto Europeo di Design)

Rome

Italy