Following the “learning by doing” approach, the BA alternates and integrates theoretical studies with experiential workshops. After having explored basic concepts and techniques, students learn to observe the multitude of contemporary forms of design and how to apply them to their work. The course aims at stimulating sensitivity and passion for the world of objects, understood as cultural artefacts that reflect and shape human life. It explores space as an environment, examining its interactions with objects and its function as a stage for individual and collective rituals.
Over the BA, students will have the opportunity to:
The programme enables students to acquire basic knowledge and skills in the field and to undertake a specialising path in the subject of interest through a project-based and experiential didactic approach.
After the first year, students choose their specialisation, with specific and elective courses during the second and the third year and a last specialised semester.
FIRST YEAR
Introduces students to the basic tools to approach projects and their complexities, diversities and pluralities, with regard to the history of design and within the contemporary context.
Students learn the methods for product design and interior design, for applied arts design projects and prototyping, and acquire an understanding of materials and their processing, through theoretical, project-based and lab teachings of project methodology, project culture, history of design, design, technology of materials, history of art.
SECOND YEAR
Guides students towards further improvement in the product and human space systems by choosing one of the programme specialisations (Interior Design, Product Design) and through specialising studies in design, digital modelling techniques, project culture, history of design, exhibit, furniture and service design, small objects, series and accessories, multimedia design, multimedia languages, introduction to cultural marketing, interactive systems.
Led by teachers through practical experiences, students learn how to turn a concept into a project and a product and to confront prototyping, communication and marketing strategies.
THIRD YEAR
Defines students knowledge and skills and provide the opportunity to deepen personal research through the development of a highly complex project within the field of product or interior design, taking account of materials, technologies, public space in its relationship with men, reference markets.
By the end of the programme, students develop a personal method and language through specialising teachings of cultural anthropology, technology of materials, design, interaction design, light design, urban design, design system, and didactic activities related to the thesis project, in its theoretical and project
Department: Design and Applied Arts
Area: Design
Title Awarded: First Level Academic Degree
Credits: 180 CFA
Starting: February 2025 - October 2025
Duration: 3 years
Languages: Italian and English
Campus: Milan - Rome*
*Under approval for A.Y. 2024/25
Specialisations: your academic career
It focuses on project solutions that explore the awareness of the relation between men and the space around them, both on a domestic level and on an urban and public one.
The interior design course deepens the design perspective and extends the students' expertise in an environmental dimension aimed to summarise scenographic and architectural aspects and social and cultural values.
Through the path, students have the opportunity to expand their operating horizon from the domestic environment to community service, integrating application models which have their origin in the study of interior design modern tradition and are aimed to deal with new living dynamics that the digital technologies triggers.
It deals with diverse project solutions, ranging from traditional Industrial Design to the most contemporary and current themes in this industry, such as Social and Service Design, Self-production, Digital Fabrication.
The product design course aims to guide students in creating a design professional profile which is consistent with the historical lesson of international design, and particularly with the Italian and Milanese school legacy, but at the same time able to look towards contemporary scenarios.
Through a progressive refinement of necessary technical skills and a consequent growth in cultural and aesthetic terms, the path trains BA design students to enter in the competitive and fascinating context of XXI century design.
It investigates design solutions that explore interactions between individuals and space, examining the intricate concepts, forms, functions and communicative components of the product.
The Product and Innovation Design specialisation aims to aid students develop their own design language in line with the varied visions of aesthetics and society, beginning with the history of international design and focusing in particular on the production of innovations through use of technologies, techniques and new materials.
By progressively refining the necessary technical skills of students, equipping them with the cultural and aesthetic competencies required to enter and succeed in the competitive and captivating world of design in the 21st century.
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.
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).
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.
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.
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.
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: Armani Hotel, Giulio Iacchetti, Studio Bestenheider, Vittorio Martini 1866, Giochi Preziosi, Intégral Ruedi Baur et Associés, the Swatch Group, Giorgio Armani, Pininfarina Extra, Tagua, Azimut-Benetti, Bonetto Design International, Alta Design & Engineering, AAAHHHAAA, Forchets, Studio di architettura Amedeo Guidobono Cavalchini, Aldo Cibic – Cibicworkshop, Progetto CMR Engineering, Integrated Services S.r.l., Abad Architetti S.r.l., Festina Italia, Zanotta, Luxottica, Studio Italo Rota & Partners, Giugiaro Architettura, Rintala Eggertsson Architects, Luceplan, IKEA Italia Retail, 3M Italia, Yellow Office, Studio Lissoni Associati, Studio Barreca & Lavarra, Uragano Studio, Veneta Cucine, Dado Arredamenti.
COMPANIES
The BA in Design cooperates or has cooperated with: Abitare, Momo Design, ENI, Vinavil, Jannelli e Volpi, Material ConneXion, Industreal, the Swatch Group, Giorgio Armani, Pininfarina Extra, and Giochi Preziosi.
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