The BA prepares future comics illustrators, graphic novelists and visual artists providing them with the necessary skills to create engaging stories and develop their own style. By studying various genres - from Superheroes to Manga, from Mickey Mouse to the Comic Strips, from Indie Comics to Visual Novels, as well as the art of visual storytelling, students will learn the basic principles of comics, enabling them to create narratives, characters and visual sequences capable of conveying messages and emotions.
Over the BA, students will have the opportunity to:
The programme offers students the opportunity to learn and grow in an environment that fosters creativity, critical thinking and proficiency of the artistic and narrative techniques required to emerge in the dynamic world of comics and visual design.
FIRST YEAR
During their first year, students begin by exploring the fundamental tools and techniques from the perspective of design, knowledge, creative and critical thinking, after which they are introduced to the vast world of computer graphics.
The first year of this engaging path will focus on learning and developing drawing techniques, providing a solid cultural and historical basis both in the artistic field and in the world of comics. American comics will be examined in detail, exploring their strengths and challenges. Students will also begin learning the necessary skills to become authors, starting with script writing and will continue to refine their skills over the entire three-year period.
SECOND YEAR
During their second year of studies, students will be immersed in the varied universe of comics and its multifaceted nature, exploring its distinct markets and styles around the globe. The primary emphasis in the first semester will be on Manga and Anime, a world that thrills readers from every corner of the planet. Focus will shift to European comics in the second semester, exploring its invaluable schools and features, in particular Italian and French influences.
During the second year, the core emphasis will be on publishing - encompassing both conventional and comic formats - in a module dedicated to printing techniques and the use of materials, including application in the digital world.
These themes will be strengthened through theoretical knowledge directed at encouraging critical thinking. Student will learn a vast array of technical skills, comprising manual and digital drawing. Finally, students will delve into the world of motion graphics and artificial intelligence, technologies that are changing the field of visual and narrative art.
YEAR THREE
The main objective of third year of studies is to optimise and personalise all the knowledge acquired. Special consideration will be devoted to exploring independent Graphic Novels, an area of substantial artistic and narrative importance, and to multimedia design focusing on Self Publishing as an opportunity to learn to independently promote personal works. In addition, the third Script Writing module will explore authorial themes in detail. The final year of studies will be enriched with subjects directed at improving professional skills such as Fundamentals of Cultural Marketing or Kids Development, entirely dedicated to developments in the broad sector of comics aimed at young readers. The course will culminate with various educational activities oriented at helping students prepare for their final exam.
Department: Design and Applied Arts
Area: Communication and Graphic Design Area
Title Awarded: First Level Academic Degree in Graphic Design and Art Direction
Credits: 180 CFA
Starting: February 2025 - October 2025
Duration: 3 years
Languages: Italian and English
Campus: Milan and Rome
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.
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).
Trained as a comic book scriptwriter at Disney and in Animation/Cinema at RAI, she has worked for over twenty years in children's publishing, turning insights and executive briefs into globally successful products: comics, books, magazines, and marketing plans. She has held roles as a screenwriter, author, marketing strategist, translator, Global Executive Editor, and Creative Director. She has even chased ghosts with a TV crew. As a Creative Director, she has led teams of editors, writers, artists, and designers based in Italy and abroad. As a content strategist, she has directed product development and editorial strategy for children's publishing on a global scale, working with international publishers to build iconic brands through children's characters. She has written comics for characters from Disney, Mattel, Zagtoon-Method, and many others. And she continues to do so.
Critic, editor and curator, mainly for comics. Currently an editor at Coconino Press - Fandango, he has previously worked for the publishing houses Coniglio Editore, NPE, Castelvecchi and 001 Edizioni. He has collaborated with several other italian publishers and magazines. For the organization Hamelin Associazione Culturale, he has curated events and catalogues, and was one of the organisers of the Bologna International Comics Festival BilBOlbul. He is the co-director of Baba Jaga Fest - Stories and drawings from the Eastern Europe, based in Rome. He began working as a lecturer at NABA campus in Rome in 2021, same campus where he is now the Course Leader of the BA in Comics and Visual Storytelling. He collaborates as a lecturer and curator with ACCA Academy (Jesi - Rome) and holds lectures and workshops at several public and private Academies.
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 provides students with the opportunity to study abroad as part of their academic experience.
NABA Academic Coordination Office, in charge for the management of the exchange programmes, supports students in taking advantage of the international study opportunities through exchange programmes and promoting educational experiences thanks to a network including numerous prestigious international partner universities.
NABA counts more than 70 cooperation agreements with academies and universities through the Erasmus+ Programme in Europe and others international cooperation agreements with several universities outside Europe.
NABA has developed strong relationships with leading companies that provide internships for NABA students, including: Young & Rubican, Ogilvy & Mather, Havas Worldwide, Leagas Delaney, Edizioni Condè 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 Erikson Corporation, Saatchi & Saatchi, Velvet, Gruppo Editoriale L'Espresso, Il Sole 24 Ore, Lumen, Monster Italia, Publikompass, Comune di Milano, Harrods LTD, Jannuzzi Smith, Emergency, Berlucchi Service, Leo Burnett, Giangiacomo Feltrinelli Editore, TBWA Italia, JWT, Hearst Megazine.
Kick-off your career. Among the career opportunities: