The Academic Master explores theories, methods and design approaches to contemporary communication through an intensive programme and helps students to develop cross-disciplinary analysis, cultural coding and language skills pertinent to the sustainable innovation of institutions, public and private companies. It provides students with the competences to design and plan communication systems in which marketing, strategy and creativity are integrated with coherence and harmony in order to enhance the eco-systemic impact of cultural and technological innovation with focus on sustainability.
Over the AM, students will have the opportunity to:
The Academic Master aims at meeting the increasing demand for professionals in the field of communication, crucial for enterprises (both private and public) that will play a leading role in sustainable transformation processes over the next decades at a national and international level. It intends to train professional figures capable of designing complete communication systems, smoothly integrating marketing, strategy, language, creativity, and exploitation of sustainable innovation consistently with the cultural and technological potential of enterprises.
The course has a systemic approach to design and knowledge: it holds team dynamics as a focal point, and develops the ability to read data, analyse them, and decipher sustainable impact metrics, so as to compare them with European and international norms and agendas (ONU, Agenda 2030). In particular, the programme fosters the ability to creatively translate information by devising effective languages and communication processes aimed at different audiences and generations, as well as cultural and social targets. This happens through the consideration of all possible stakeholders (shareholders, local and global governmental associations and agencies), integration of different tools and media for internal and external communication (press, digital, social, events, etc.), and coordination of the involved specialists (graphic designers, art directors, web and social media managers).
The Master trains professionals for the new position of communication managers/designers who can effectively convey sustainable transition-related content, together with innovation and enterprise values (CSR, ESG, Impact assessment) not only to create more engagement, but also to renew the cultural sensitivity of their audiences toward contemporary themes, and support a process of magnification of the sustainable development's storytelling.
Department: Design and Applied Arts
Area: Communication and Graphic Design
Title Awarded: First Level Academic Master Degree in Sustainable Innovation Communication
Credits: 60 CFA
Starting: October 2025
Duration: 1 year
Languages: English
Campus: Milan and Rome
Our Faculty
Design and Applied Arts Department Head
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.
Sociologist of Cultural Processes, she graduated at Università Statale di Milano and has a PhD in Philosophy of Knowledge from the Planetary Collegium, Plymouth University (UK). She has collaborated with international research institutes (Università Statale di Milano, Eurisko, Doxa, RQ Qualitative Research, Synergia) and she participate in several interdisciplinary and interuniversity platforms for socio-cultural communication projects in collaboration with associations and institutions (Libera, Assessorato alle politiche sociali di Milano). Among her most recent publications: “Genealogia e Università. Profezia, Scenario, Utopia”, in A. Bianchi, G. Leghissa (edited by), Mondi altri (Mimesis, 2016). She has collaborated since 2004 with NABA, where she directs the Communication and Graphic Design Area and the BA in Graphic Design and Art, and she teaches Methodology of Research, Sociology of Cultural Processes and Future Scenarios (Brand Design specialisation).
Graphic and Type Designer, he worked on art and design exhibitions with Gianni Colombo, Emilio Isgrò, Lucio Del Pezzo, Gabriele Basilico, Marcello Morandini, and Christoph Broadbent. He designed and coordinated brand identity for many companies as Fiam Italia, Gualtiero Marchesi, Société Genéralé, PPG Univer, Archema, Poliform, he also was the responsible of the Prague International Marathon image and Czech Federation Basketball image. He worked as Creative Design Director for important international companies as Publicis, Republic Lab, Ebs Design, Arnold World Wide (Havas Group), Milano AD (Carpe Diem Group). He is associated with ADI PDA and Type Director Club of New York. He collaborated with NABA since the Academy foundation, at first as lecturer of Graphic Design, then as Director of Communication and Graphic Design Department.
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 that provide internships for NABA students, including Young & Rubican, Ogilvy & Mather, Havas Worldwide, Leagas Delaney, Edizioni Condé Nast, Independent Ideas, Milano Venture Company, Provincia di Milano, Armando Testa, Carmi e Ubertis, Publicis, Upim, Arnoldo Mondadori Editore, Editrice Abitare Segesta, Lowe Pirella, McCann Erickson, McCann Erickson Italia, Saatchi & Saatchi, Velvet, Gruppo Editoriale L’Espresso, Il Sole 24 Ore, Lumen, Monster Italia, Publikompass, Comune di Milano, Harrods, Jannuzzi Smith, Emergency, Berlucchi Service, Leo Burnett, Giangiacomo Feltrinelli Editore, TBWA Italia, J. Walter Thompson, and Hearst Magazines.
NABA has enabled agreements for placements with well-known associations and companies such as: Art for the World Europa, Fondazione La Triennale di Milano, Fondazione Museion – Museo d’Arte Moderna e Contemporanea Bolzano, The Swatch Group, Giorgio Armani, Pininfarina Extra, Provincia di Milano, Armando Testa, Publicis, Upim, Arnoldo Mondadori Editore, Editrice Abitare Segesta, McCann Erikson, Lorenzo Riva, Saatchi & Saatchi, Trussardi, Velvet, Gruppo Editoriale L’Espresso, Il Sole 24 ORE, Valentino Fashion Group, Missoni, Gianni Versace, E. C. (Costume National), Fabrica Art & Media, Next Media Lab, Festival Internazionale del Film Locarno, Studio Azzurro, Mediaset, Teatro Stabile di Genova, Fondazione Ente Autonomo Piccolo Teatro di Milano.
Kick-off your career. Among the career opportunities:
Communication strategy manager
Corporate communication specialist
Brand communication consultant
ESG specialist
Communication and sustainability specialist
Digital community and external relations specialist
CSR content curator