What is the meaning of studying design, today? And, how can we explain what design studies are, without falling into common places such as "to design things and spaces"?

The ultimate purpose of design studies is to acquire a methodology, the ability to face the complexities of the world, and to imagine and design the future - a better future.

Through project-based studies, the Design Area, with its Bachelor of Arts, Master of Arts and Academic Master programmes, provides the students with skills and theoretical as well as practical tools to approach complex ideas in a cross-disciplinary way, and to adapt to change and create scenarios. Nowadays, it is correct to speak about "social design" as humanistic design that puts people back at the centre, in a mutual exchange with society.  

Thanks to the permanent dialogue with faculty and professionals in the relevant sector, the students have the opportunity to build their personal path, to follow personal inclinations, and to learn how to manage complex processes, as important as the reached outcomes.

"If I should teach, I would tell my students what compelling things are in the Acropolis of Athens - of which only later they will understand the great superiority" (Le Corbusier).

Which path to take?

Bachelor of Arts in

Design

The BA alternates and integrates theoretical studies with experiential workshops, stimulating the students’ sensitivity and passion for the world of objects and guiding them to observe the multitude of contemporary forms of design and how to apply them to their work.

Master of Arts in

Interior Design

The MA explores topics and methodologies related to the interior design, which plays an increasingly important role in individual and collective living spaces, enabling the students to design how we will live, work, and communicate in the global context.

Master of Arts in

Product and Service Design

The MA guides the students in managing all the phases of a project’s development, from conception to manufacturing, through design strategies and materials research, exploring the needs for a sustainable relation to the environment in the contemporary “society of services”.

Master of Arts in

Social Design

The MA enables the students to understand contemporary social needs, exploring the most innovative social development strategies to valorise human and natural resources and to drive dynamics of sustainable evolution.

 

Academic Master in

New Urban Design

The Master gives a new perspective on the role of urban designer aimed at reading into, interpreting and designing cities to face the new complexity of urban contexts, and complement it with practical actions also establishing relationships with local and international partners.

Academic Master in

Italian Design

Combining theory, workshops and meetings with the main players in the field, the Master is an intense journey to research and analysis on the peculiarities of the Italian Design and intends to provide students with professional skills to lead innovation and new visions at an international level.

Our Faculty

Design and Applied Arts Department Head

Luca Poncellini

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Design and Applied Arts Department Head

Luca Poncellini

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.

Design Area Leader

Claudio Larcher

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Design Area Leader

Claudio Larcher

Born in Milan, he graduated in Architecture at Politecnico di Milano. After a research period in Spain, in Madrid and Barcelona, in 2002 he founded his own studio, Modoloco Design Workshop, a space for experimentation and research, where diverse cultures and experiences are implemented as architectural and design forms. He has taught at the Faculty of Design and Arts of the Free University of Bozen, at Politecnico di Milano, and lectured in Italian and international institutions. He curated and participated in several exhibitions in Italy, Japan, Spain, France, United Kingdom, Sweden. Ambassador of Italian Design for Switzerland, Albany and Uruguay in 2017, 2018, 2019, he is the author of the books Globetrotting designers (Compositori), Design, scuola e solidarietà (Fausto Lupetti), Design from the Alps (Scheidegger Und Spiess), and Disegnare un cucchiaio per cambiare la città (Quodlibet).

Bachelor of Arts in Design Course Leader - Milan

Germana De Michelis

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Bachelor of Arts in Design Course Leader - Milan

Germana De Michelis

Architect and lecturer, she graduated at University of Architecture in Florence, and later got a PhD in Architectural Technology at Architecture University of Ferrara and at IUAV in Venice, studying the expressive skills of the paving in public. She worked with Ipostudio for many years, also she was a partner in the architecture office Pluriball and in Garagedesign, the first social web platform in design. Then she continued to study design in all its complexity with Marzia Mazzi (SpazioUmano). She is a member of the Scientific Committee of MinD - Mad In Design, a cultural association developing multidisciplinary projects that see design as a tool for social rehabilitation. In addition to designing, she has always taught Urban and Interior Design, first at the University of Architecture in Florence, then as a senior lecturer in NABA, since 2009.

Masters of Arts in Interior Design, in Product and Service Design, and in Social Design Course Leader

Valentina Dalla Costa

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Masters of Arts in Interior Design, in Product and Service Design, and in Social Design Course Leader

Valentina Dalla Costa

She studied design between Milan, Berlin and China, before specialising in History of Art and Architecture. Journalist, consultant, art and architecture historian. She’s been teaching at NABA since 2008, has collaborated over the years with Casa Vogue, La Stampa, DDN, Living Corriere and currently writes for Pambianco Design. The editorial activity is flanked by the enhancement of the world of design: for over ten years she’s been organising thematic itineraries linked to the artistic and architectural heritage of the city of Milan, with a particular focus on designers, craftsmen and architects. She is part of Como Lake Design Festival team, curating editorial contents and cultural itineraries. Among the latest publications, Drawing a spoon to change the city, written with Claudio Larcher, Design Area Leader, and published by Quodlibet for the NABA Insights series. Since 2020 she is Course Advisor Leader of the MA programmes of NABA Design Area.

BA in Design Course Leader - Rome

Daniele Mancini

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BA in Design Course Leader - Rome

Daniele Mancini

Daniele Mancini lives and works in Rome. He is an architect with a Ph.D. in Architecture Theory and a Master's in Interaction Design. He holds the National Qualification as an Associate Professor in Interior Architecture. He has worked in Maastricht with Wiel Arets and in Paris with Jakob+MacFarlane. He leads UNPACKED Studio, focusing on urban regeneration and sustainable, inclusive housing. He has created installations for the Venice Architecture Biennale, Beijing Architecture Biennale, and the Victoria & Albert Museum in London. He has taught at universities and academies in Italy and abroad. In 2022, he received a special mention for Educational Innovation in Creative Disciplines at the Italian Teacher Award. He is a member of the Urban Center Commission of the Rome Order of Architects.

NABA Design Advisor

Dante Donegani

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NABA Design Advisor

Dante Donegani

Architect and designer, after the Master in Design at Domus Academy, Donegani collaborated with Marco Zanuso and Andrea Branzi, and with Olivetti Corporate Identity. In 1993 he opened his studio D&L with Giovanni Lauda working in several design areas. He has designed home and office products for Isuzu, Memphis, Stildomus, Luceplan, Edra, Kelebek, Rotaliana, Radice, Viceversa. Among his most celebrated projects: Lisca (Rotaliana, IF Product Design award 2005);  Multipot (Rotaliana, mention at the XXI Compasso d’Oro 2008); the chaise longue Passepartout (Edra), in the permanent collections of San Francisco MoMA and Triennale Milano; Agronica, designed with Andrea Branzi, in the collection of Centre Pompidou in Paris. His work appeared at Barcelona Biennale, Centre Pompidou, Triennale Milano, Venice Biennale. He directed the Master in Design at Domus Academy and he is part of NABA Faculty since 2013.

Accademic Master Course Leader in New Urban Design

Maurizio Scalzi

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Accademic Master Course Leader in New Urban Design

Maurizio Scalzi

Four years as architect at Wurmfeld Associates in Manhattan, New York. Last year as associate in design department. Short lecturing at the International Fine Arts College in Miami, and back to Milan to join for 6 years Ettore Sottsass & Associates. These days at StudioScalzi he works on urban regeneration, architectural and interior design projects.
For many years professor at Masters Courses of SPD (Scuola Politecnica Design), and occasionally visiting professor at Strategic Design Masters of Politecnico di Milan, and at Beirut Arab University Faculty of Architecture.
Since 2007 he is design professor at NABA for international programs. With Brovelli/Suteu he has published "The harmonic integration of culture and skills in design: an interdisciplinary experience in higher education”. With the patronage of the Municipality of Milan he has published "We like Milano” distributed in 51 countries.

Alumni Stories

PRODUCT DESIGNER - PATRICIA URQUIOLA

ALEXANDER IMRE

Design

“NABA has been a great base camp for a well prepared start into the professional design world. I got the chance to learn the essential tools and rules that are so important on a daily basis in being a product designer.”

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Undergraduate Design

ALEXANDER IMRE

PRODUCT DESIGNER - PATRICIA URQUIOLA

“NABA has been a great base camp for a well prepared start into the professional design world. I got the chance to learn the essential tools and rules that are so important on a daily basis in being a product designer.”