Domus Academy Milano
About the university
Early in the 1980s, Milan became a center for Italian fashion and design. Yet, no one in the city was teaching design in a formal way. In order to fill this void and guide the next generation of designers, prominent art critics and designers saw a unique opportunity. Domus Academy was established in 1982 as Italy's first graduate school of design.
The founders wanted to create a school where people from all walks of life could learn from and teach to each other. A university that combines cutting-edge research and forward-thinking initiatives with the goal of advancing the field of design.
Ettore Sottsass, Alessandro Mendini, Denis Santachiara, and Philippe Starck, among others, were among the early lecturers and workshop leaders. Domus Academy's "learning by designing" approach and its humanistic approach, which prioritizes process over results and positions people at the center of every endeavor, helped it gain a solid reputation on the global stage very quickly.
Top names in the design industry continue to play active roles at Domus Academy as mentors and guest professors. To create a successful project, students are encouraged to work hard and make mistakes. One of the school's guiding principles has been upheld: design should not only reveal new problems but also present novel ones.
Why Domus Academy?
- DESIGN EMINENCE IN THE DESIGN CAPITAL
Attend one of the world's top design schools, as ranked by prestigious organizations and publications worldwide. Enjoy the fashion and design mecca that is Milan.
- DISRUPTIVE DESIGN RESEARCH
Participate on a wide variety of high-profile, off-the-wall projects alongside industry leaders. Imagine the future in both realistic and fantastic ways to generate disruptive design ideas.
- DESIGN EXPERIENCE AND UNIQUE CAREER OPPORTUNITIES
Attend designer masterclasses. Connect with top companies and studios at our workshops. Intern/field-learn. Join an alumni network.
- DYNAMIC AND TAILORED PATHWAY
Adjust your educational course to fit your needs. Participate in interdisciplinary seminars and tailor your academic program to fit your professional goals.
- DOUBLE AWARD MASTER PROGRAMMES
Academy Awards
Gain international recognition with a Master of Arts from Regent's University London and a Master of Arts in Academic Studies from the Italian Institute of Culture.
Domus Academy received the Compasso d’Oro Award by the ADI, Associazione Disegno Industriale (Industrial Design Association).
In 2019, Domus Academy was awarded with special Badges of Excellence in Learning Experience by the prestigious The Business of Fashion Assessment.
It has been recognised as one of Azure magazine’s Top 8 Interior Design and Interaction Design Schools (2016 and 2017) and listed by Domus Magazine as one of Europe’s Top 100 Schools of Architecture and Design (2014-2017).
BusinessWeek called it one of the Best Design Schools in the World (2009).
In 2022, Domus Academy has been selected as one of the top 3 Design Schools in Italy and among the first 100 in the world in the Art & Design field, according to QS World University Rankings by Subject.
Programmes
- Design Courses
Studying design in Milan, widely recognized as the global center for the profession, is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Domus Academy offers master's degrees in three different design fields: Product Design, Urban Vision & Architectural Design, and Interior & Living Design.
- Fashion Courses
Domus Academy's Fashion School was established by legendary designer Gianfranco Ferré and is located in Milan, the fashion industry's core. Your internship and courses will provide you the opportunity to work with some of the world's most prestigious fashion houses, design studios, and businesses.
- Business Courses
Connecting the traditionally separate fields of business and design is the focus of business design. Students enrolled in Domus Academy's business programs will have the opportunity to collaborate with notable organizations on projects that explore the intersection of design and business.
- Experience Courses
When developing a product, service, software, or anything else for that matter, experience designers aim to improve the end user's time spent with the item. Domus Academy teaches students to create user-friendly interfaces by integrating the four pillars of a successful business: vision, culture, and brand.
Milan is a hub for avant-garde designers and artists who share your vision. Students will get the opportunity to meet some of Italy's most talented artists and designers at major architecture and design firms, cutting-edge advertising agencies, and stores carrying up-and-coming designer labels.