The Academic Master (First Level Academic Master Degree in Footwear Design) trains professionals in the field of shoe design, in particular streetwear, with an approach which pairs sound theoretical foundations, laboratory experience and collaborations with companies within the targeted industry. The students will acquire specific skills in designing and prototyping artisanal and industrial products, with special attention to innovation, market trends and sustainable production.
The Academic Master analyses in-depth the aspects of design and prototyping in the field of accessory design, and its approach combines laboratory experience with sound theoretical foundations. This allows the students to gain specific knowledge and understanding of the footwear industry.
Throughout their study path, the students will be immersed in specific projects focused on research, analysis and design in the area of footwear design and development of innovative software and materials, with specific attention devoted to sustainability. From anthropology and semiology to pattern making, history of fashion and phenomenology of contemporary styles, cultural elements of the accessory language will enable the students to better understand the industry thanks to a full-scale teaching programme.
Themed seminars and practical workshops will help the students develop their design and drawing abilities to create footwear collections responding to contemporary aesthetics and market trends, keeping material consistency as well as quality standards, and understanding the administrative languages for product development and merchandising.
The laboratories will enable the experimentation with emerging techniques and artisanal manipulations, while the internship and the collaboration with footwear designers, experts and leading companies in the industries will train a new generation of designers capable of taking up complex challenges, from aesthetic design to sustainable production.
Department: Design and Applied Arts
Area: Fashion Design
Title Awarded: First Level Academic Master Degree
Credits: 60 CFA
Starting: October 2025
Duration: 1 year
Languages: Italian and English
Campus: Milan
Our faculty
Luca Poncellini is an architect and a designer with a PhD in the History of Architecture and City Planning. As a partner in the architecture office Cliostraat until 2009, he has curated projects and has lectured in Italy and in several countries throughout the world. His works have been exhibited at the Venice Biennale, at the Van Alen Institute in New York, at ETH in Zürich, at MAGA in Gallarate and at Triennale Milano. In 2008 he co-curated the retrospective exhibition Laszlo Hudec, in collaboration with the Hungarian Consulate in Shanghai. Since 2013 he has been the Course Leader of the MA in Interior Design. Between 2015 and 2019 directed the research lab and the project C-Park. Since 2019 he has been Design and Applied Arts Department Head.
After a number of collaborations with many top fashion designers, including Nanni Strada, Colomba Leddi joined Frammenti in 1992, a group experimenting with artisanal techniques to be applied to the clothing sector. In 1996, she opened her own atelier of tailor-made, unique pieces, and her label can be found in some of the best Italian and foreign boutiques, including Biffi in Milan, Philippe Model Maison in Paris, HP Deco in Japan, Thimbloom in Korea and Bird Boutique in New Zealand. She has participated in several fashion fairs and group exhibitions in Italy and abroad, including Passeggiata evanescente, with Melina Mulas, at Galleria Le 5 Venice, in Venice (2010), W. Women in Italian Design at Triennale Milano (2016-2017), Documenta 2020 – Windows in pandemic, Tsinghua University Art Museum Beijing (2020). She also works as a theatre and cinema costume designer and has taught at many different universities and academies.
His way of teaching takes account of various aspects of the Fashion field: from project management to visual communication, passing through illustration, styling and exhibition setting.
These skills are the result of his educational background and of the collaboration with some of the most influential artists, designers and writers of the Italian scene such as Benedetta Barzini, Mariuccia Casadio, Eleonora Fiorani, Matteo Guarnaccia, Alessandro Guerriero, Nancy Martin, Angela Missoni, Cinzia Ruggeri, Shingo Sato and Alberto Zanoletti. For years, he has been in charge of the contests and special projects with companies, web communication and events of the NABA Fashion Area. Among his recognitions: publications on Glamour IT, Vogue Talents, exhibitions at Palazzo Giureconsulti (Milano) and Vicenza Oro Evolving Jewelry fair (Vicenza), and finalist at Fashion Up Ronca Style Award (Verona). INSTAGRAM @casabelotti
NABA’s Career Services & Industry Relations Office can provide you with support and guidance during your transition from the academy to the professional world. Our staff can help you develop self-promotion tools and assist you during your first steps into the world of work.
The Office develops relationships with companies in order to set up internship agreements, employment opportunities, and interactive projects between students and businesses.
NABA has developed strong relationships with leading companies which provide internships for NABA students, including: Chanel, Gabs, Staff International, Hugo Boss, Valentino Fashion Group, Ratti, Bembercell, Missoni, Tirelli Costumi, Guccio Gucci, Luisa Beccaria, Gianni Versace, Carrera's, E. C. (Costume National), Corneliani, Lorenzo Riva, Trussardi, Moschino, Federico Sangalli, Jil Sander Italia, Kenzo, ETRO, Gentucca Bini & Father, Gruppo Miroglio, Furla, Ermenegildo Zegna, Mantero, AEFFE, Ports1961.
Kick-off your career. Among the career opportunities: