Photos – courtesy of ISTITUTO EUROPEO DI DESIGN ©
Can design truly contribute to a fairer and more inclusive future? The Istituto Europeo di Design (IED) firmly believes so. Recognizing design as a powerful tool for meaningful change, IED announces an expansion of its educational offerings for the academic year 2024/25, introducing a Master of Arts programme (Second Level Academic Diploma). This ambitious initiative includes ten new courses submitted to the Ministry of Universities and Research (Mur), grounded in the DesignXCommons manifesto, which envisions design as a force for the common good.
The new programme aims to address the common good through a multidisciplinary approach. It seeks to pose innovative design questions that anticipate future challenges and identify emerging sectors. Riccardo Balbo, Academic Director of IED Group, emphasizes the institution’s commitment: “At IED, we have always promoted design as a key lever for improving the world. It catalyzes for multiple perspectives to generate positive change. This means observing the world and developing solutions to meet the needs of the planet, including humans and all other species, in a conscious manner. Our goal is to foster harmony between individuals, technology, and the environment.”
This commitment is embodied in the DesignXCommons concept, which underpins the ten new Master of Arts courses. The core value remains consistent: design as a tool for defining, regenerating, implementing, integrating, and sharing the commons. This philosophy has already been integrated into IED’s three-year degree programmes and is now extending into the new Master of Arts courses, creating a continuous and dynamic learning environment.
Students will engage in interdisciplinary projects alongside experts from various fields. They will experiment with innovative methodologies, participatory governance models, and sustainable practices essential for transformative interventions and the management of the commons. The development of IED, owned by a non-profit organization, reflects a profoundly positive and responsible evolution, culminating in its transformation into a Benefit Corporation in Italy. This transformation integrates IED’s long-standing commitment to generating shared value for the community and the environment, operating responsibly, sustainably, and transparently.
Balbo concludes, “Based on this approach, the natural evolution of the new IED Master of Arts programme can only be viewed from the perspective of design as a project value for the common good.” The IED Master of Arts courses will be offered in Milan, Florence, Rome, Turin, and at the Accademia di Belle Arti Aldo Galli in Como, underscoring IED’s dedication to shaping a fairer and more inclusive future through design.
The IED Master of Arts courses will be offered in Milan, Florence, Rome, Turin and at the Accademia di Belle Arti Aldo Galli in Como as follow:
IED Milan
IED Florence
IED Roma
IED Torino
