If you enrolled before the 2025/2026 academic year, consult the list of Programmes and Regulations available on your School website.
The information provided about the programme refers to the academic year 2025/26 and may be subject to change in the academic year 2026/27.
Eligibility
Students holding a Bachelor Degree in Design are eligible for application. The admission will be granted after appraisal of the candidate's background.
Mission and goals
The Laurea Magistrale (equivalent to Master of Science) programme in Communication Design prepares a designer able to cope with strategic communication problems, providing innovative solutions and coordinating all the roles and competences involved in a complex communication project. Compared to the Laurea (equivalent to Bachelor of Science), in the Laurea Magistrale critical thinking and research methodologies are developed to reach a deep knowledge that allows the masterly designer to coordinate and control complex communication systems by using inter-media or transmedia forms of communication.
The areas in which the graduate intervenes include traditional and multimedia publishing, brand and product identity, products and services for new television, information design, internet and mobile device.
Subjects
1st YEAR
Interaction Design Studio, Complex Artefacts and System Design Studio, Workshop, Sociology of Media, Anthropology of Communication, Semiotics Methods for Design, Digital Culture, Elective Course.
2st YEAR
Final Synthesis Design Studio, Workshop, Elective Course, Internship, Final examination.
Career opportunities
Profiles graduating from this Laurea Magistrale programme occupy roles as directors and project managers in the development of communication strategies. They have ample employment possibilities in the traditional and multimedia publishing industry, in professional studios, in advertising and communication agencies and in IT and internet consultancy firms.
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Know more about the programme through a current student’s experience. Book your online one-to-one meeting through #Askastudent – Our voice for your choice project.
More info
Watch this video (in Italian) to learn more about the programme.
Browse the programme website
Know more about the Tracks and courses and the Programme description
School
MSc in Communication Design
The Master’s Degree Programme in Communication Design educates designers who are able to operate strategically and critically within contemporary communication systems, characterized by significant technological, social, and cultural complexity. The programme develops advanced competences in concept development, the design of integrated communication systems, and the coordination of interdisciplinary processes, with particular attention to digital transformations, media environments, and contexts of use. Through theoretical courses, design studios, workshops, internships, and the final thesis project, students strengthen their design autonomy, research capabilities, and sense of social responsibility, preparing to work in companies, agencies, cultural institutions, or as independent professionals in the field of visual communication and complex media systems.
Applicants holding a Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Design (Class L-4) or a First-Level Academic Diploma (AFAM) in Design or Fine Arts are eligible for admission to the Master’s Degree Programme in Communication Design. Graduates from other degree classes (e.g., Cultural Heritage, Arts/Music/Performing Arts and Fashion, Humanities, Information Engineering, Architecture, Communication Studies, Computer Science) may also be admitted, provided they have obtained at least 30 ECTS credits in the CEAR-08/D disciplinary sector (formerly ICAR/13) or can demonstrate equivalent competences, which may need to be completed prior to the assessment of individual preparation. Admission is subject to the evaluation of the applicant’s academic background, ranking position, and possession of an English language certificate at minimum B2 level.
For Politecnico di Milano graduates, the verification of requirements and individual preparation follows the University’s internal procedures; for applicants from other universities, the Admission Committee evaluates their academic record, qualifications, and curricular requirements, and may indicate any necessary additional coursework.
Full details on eligible degree classes, evaluation criteria, and selection procedures are available in the Programme Teaching Regulations (Section 6).
Applicants holding a university degree awarded abroad, deemed equivalent to a first-level (Bachelor’s) degree in Design or in a related field, may apply for admission to the Master’s Degree Programme in Communication Design. The qualification must allow the identification of disciplinary areas and the number of credits earned; otherwise, the applicant’s academic record will be evaluated individually by the Programme Board.
Applicants are expected to demonstrate an academic background consistent with Communication Design; any missing curricular requirements may need to be completed prior to the final assessment of eligibility. Admission is also subject to the evaluation of the applicant’s individual preparation, ranking position, and possession of an English language certificate at least at B2 level according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).
Application procedures and deadlines are provided in the Eligibility and Admission Requirements section of the University and School of Design websites.
The Master’s Degree in Communication Design advances the strategic design of contemporary communication systems, integrating the cultural, technological, and social dimensions of the design process. The programme is oriented toward the development of design autonomy and the ability to define complex concepts, coordinate interdisciplinary processes, and manage communication systems that integrate different media, languages, and platforms, both analogue and digital.
Students consolidate a solid theoretical and critical background through disciplines such as semiotics, anthropology, media sociology, and design culture, complemented by intensive studio-based activities in which knowledge is applied to the design of artefacts, services, and complex communication systems. Particular attention is devoted to the understanding of cultural and social contexts, digital transformation, information visualization, user–system interaction, and the evaluation of the social, economic, and environmental impacts of design decisions.
The curriculum combines theoretical courses, design studios, intensive workshops connected to professional contexts, internships, and the final thesis, fostering design experimentation and the development of research skills, critical thinking, and teamwork.
The Master’s Degree in Communication Design prepares graduates to undertake roles in design, coordination, and creative direction within complex communication systems. Graduates may work in companies, communication and advertising agencies, IT consultancy firms, production companies, cultural and museum institutions, and organizations with a strong focus on corporate communication and digital presence, or they may pursue independent professional practice.
The competences acquired enable graduates to work on communication strategies, brand identity, traditional and multimedia publishing, online products and services, and projects that integrate conventional communication systems with advanced technologies, including roles involving design leadership and art direction.
After graduation, students may further their education through second-level Master’s programmes, PhD programmes, or other specialization opportunities. The programme provides a methodological, critical, and design-oriented preparation that supports both direct entry into the professional world and the continuation of studies and research.
Know more about the programme through a current student’s experience. Book your online one-to-one meeting through #Askastudent – Our voice for your choice project.
Programme Coordinator: Prof. Elena Caratti
Programme Secretary: Prof. Marco Quaggiotto