Master of Arts in
Event & Exhibition Design (MEED)
Course length
12 or 16 months
Start
January
Language
English
Where
Milan
Master of Arts in Event and Exhibition Design (MEED)
with Advanced Practice
The Master of Arts in Event and Exhibition Design (MEED) aims to provide students with the tools to work in the field of cultural events, museums and as Event and Exhibition Designers in the various international and multidisciplinary contexts of trade fairs and events.
Thanks to the partnership with Fondazione Fiera Milano, the Master allows students to actively enter the Milan trade fair system and the Word Trade Fair System. This collaboration offers unparalleled access to Milan’s renowned trade fair system and the global exhibition industry. The Master is built with a Learning By Doing approach, integrated with exhibition and event design, combined with Design Thinking and project management practices.
You will have the opportunity to learn in the field, collaborate with experienced professionals, and take part in prestigious events such as Fashion Week and Design Week. This hands-on approach ensures that you gain practical experience while engaging with key players in the industry.
In collaboration with
Features
The Master of Arts course provides the necessary tools to design and manage every phase of an event organisation project, ranging from exhibitions to trade fairs in the fields of fashion, design and culture.
The aim is to acquire the skills of a true Event and Exhibition Designer capable of interpreting the different needs of clients and stakeholders within the international trade fair ecosystem. You will be prepared to manage cultural events, museums, and global trade fairs, offering you a diverse set of opportunities in the event and exhibition design sector.
The program focuses on a Learning By Doing approach, allowing you to gain real-world experience and build a portfolio that will help you secure a job after completing the course. You will refine your expertise by navigating the entire event process, from conception to implementation, ensuring effective organisation and management.
From concept to implementation, from careful organisation to efficient management, the course navigates the entire process, refining understanding and responsiveness according to the different needs of customers and stakeholders. This will prepare you to translate these needs into innovative event and exhibition formats, forming the foundation of your expertise in the industry.
Method
The Master of Arts in MEED Event and Exhibition Design is based on a learning by doing strategy aimed at nurturing creative talent through the acquisition of professional knowledge and skills.
Its main objectives are:
- Develop and strengthen design and project management skills in the event and exhibition sector.
- Apply tools and methodologies of Design Thinking to Event, Fair and Exhibition projects.
- Work in field at actual briefs coming from the professional world.
- Act in the multidisciplinary contexts in which events and fairs unfold and to conceive and design innovative formats for fairs, events, and exhibitions based on specific and complex briefings.
To be admitted into the Master of Arts course, students must have a second class (2.2) honours or higher in art, design, or other creative disciplines from any recognised ISCED level 6 programme. Graduates in scientific disciplines, social sciences, and humanities can also be selected, as well as candidates who have previously gained significant professional experience in the field of the Master selected.
SPD also considers other relevant experience and/or the attendance of SPD Preparatory Courses. In addition, international students need an IELTS score of 6.0, with no component below 5.5.
After the successful completion of the Master’s programme, eligible students can earn the Master of Arts degree, awarded with 180 UK credits (corresponding to 90 ECTS credits). The Master of Arts Courses are accredited by Teesside University, SPD’s Educational Partner. The standard programme (without Advanced Practice) awards a total of 180 UK credits (90 ECTS), while the version with Advanced Practice awards 240 UK credits (120 ECTS).
The Internship/Advanced Practice pathway offers numerous significant advantages, making it an ideal choice for those who wish to maximize their education and gain high-level practical experience. This programme includes not only an internship but also the Major Project.
The 15-week module is a unique opportunity to experience a first taste of the professional or academic life ahead of you and to test the knowledge and skills acquired in your studies. Only students enrolled in the 2-years programme can take this module.
During this semester, you have the option to choose from three opportunities:
- a professional experience in a real workplace environment (internship);
- an in-depth exploration of a particularly significant study topic through a research project within the school, in collaboration with a company (project work);
- an experience of personal and cultural growth through a period of study in a different institution (study abroad period).
The Major Project is the final individual research project that will allow you to investigate a specific topic at a high level, within a proposed research framework or project brief.
This project not only represents the culmination of your education but also marks the beginning of your professional career.
With the Major Project you will, indeed, have the opportunity to gain genuine project experience at the professional level, and when the project involves collaboration with companies, your ideas, if deemed of particular interest, may become the subject of further development that will make your resume competitive in the relevant industry.
After completion of the MA in Event and Exhibition Design (MEED) at SPD, you are ready to embark on a career in various fields, including:
- Fair system designer
- Event and Exhibit Manager
- Exhibition Designer
- Event Creative Director
- Entrepreneurial Event Designer
| YEAR | SUBJECTS | UK CREDITS |
|---|---|---|
| First Year |
Exhibit and Event System and Management Gain a comprehensive understanding of the exhibition and event system.
|
40 |
|
Design Thinking Dive into the world of Design Thinking for events and exhibits.
|
20 | |
|
Exhibition Design Explore the foundational principles of exhibition design and develop three different Exhibition projects: Museum spaces and exhibitions, Trade fair spaces and installations, Retail spaces.
|
40 | |
|
Event Design An immersive, hands-on experience, exploring the theory, history, and design of the event sector, by two design workshops - one for a major company, and one for a cultural institution - will offer opportunities to showcase your creativity.
|
20 | |
| Second Year |
Advanced Practice Experience either a vocational internship with external institutions and companies, an internal research internship, or a period of study abroad.
|
60 |
|
Major Project Develop your own design research under the guidance of the Course Leader.
|
60 |
*The study plans, including laboratory activities, may be subject to updates.
Partners
Faculty
See the projects realised during the course
