Master of Arts in
Communication Design
Course length
2 Academic Year
Start
April 2024
Language
English
Where
Milan
The Master’s in Communication Design is a two-year academic program that equips students with the knowledge and tools necessary to conceptualize, develop, and manage all phases of communication projects. The second part of the program allows students to explore their passion within the industry and determine where their talents can make the most significant impact.
The course has been designed for creative industries and design graduates to enhance interdisciplinary creative skills informed by advanced marketing tools and methodology, and provide an industrially relevant education.
Features
The Master’s program combines creativity and business, inspiration and data, the human factor and technology, aesthetics and algorithms, focusing on developing creative skills alongside design and marketing knowledge.
In the first semester, research tools, business fundamentals, and advanced project management methodologies are applied in an integrated marketing communication project. In the second semester, students tackle seven communication projects, simulating the work of an agency. Each project is associated with a different industry and company: fashion, automotive, food, consumer goods, telecommunications, and public utilities. The program provides students with the opportunity to collaborate with industry professionals and companies, fostering teamwork and skill development.
The most important goal of the Master’s program is to deepen understanding and become truly proficient in a specific industry sector: the business world no longer seeks generalists but individuals with specific skills and genuine passion.
The Master’s program aims to:
- deepen students’ marketing skills by leveraging advanced tools and methodologies;
- encourage students to develop a critical and reflective approach to communication design and engage in lifelong learning
- provide a comprehensive understanding of the specificities of different industries (fashion, automotive, food, consumer goods, telecommunications, public, service sector);
- offer students a unique and stimulating social and working environment that helps them develop and demonstrate research, marketing, and design skills, enabling them to enhance their professional and academic abilities;
- encourage students to develop responsible and sustainable approaches to their work;
- equip students with the ability to synthesize information from a wide range of sources and develop effective decision-making skills in solving complex creative problems through practice;
- enable students to create and evaluate new concepts based on specific and complex briefs;
- foster independence, initiative, and a sense of responsibility in achieving personal or group results.
Students must hold a bachelor’s or higher academic degree in a field of arts, design, or other creative disciplines from any program recognized at ISCED level 6. Graduates in scientific, social sciences, and humanities disciplines may also be selected for the Master’s program, as well as candidates who have previously gained significant professional experience in the field. SPD also takes into consideration other significant experiences and/or participation in SPD Preparatory Courses.
In addition, international students need IELTS score of 6.0, with no component below 5.5.
Selection is based on the following criteria:
- curriculum vitae
- motivation letter
- portfolio
- online interview
The Master’s course in Communication Design is organized in collaboration with major industry leaders and other universities. Certificates and academic credits are awarded according to the ECTS system.
This module provides the opportunity for the student to experience either a vocational internship with external institutions and companies, an internal research internship, or a period of study abroad.
The Major Project module aims at enabling students to develop and direct their own design project, taking into account learnings from previous modules. It aims also at encouraging students to demonstrate a high level of professional competence and to have a deep understanding of the social and philosophical context, in which they are practising.
Students are expected to demonstrate the enterprise potential in their ideas and to understand the future possibilities and contexts, in which ideas will exist. Students critically reflect upon their own learning and become prepared for continuous professional development.
Emanuele Viora
Emanuele Viora is a creative professional with over 15 years of experience, specializing in the conceptualization and supervision of communication campaigns. He currently serves as the Executive Creative Director at ACNE, the communication agency of the Deloitte group. Throughout his career, he has received over 60 recognitions and awards. Notably, he held the distinction of being the youngest creative director in the Leo Burnett network worldwide and led the Italian ACNE team to secure the first-ever Cannes Lions award in the history of Deloitte in Europe. His portfolio includes successful projects for both Italian and international brands. Before joining ACNE, he gained valuable experience at Armando Testa, Leo Burnett, DLV BBDO, and Publicis, progressively taking on more significant responsibilities.