SPECIALISATION
Product Design, Interior Design

DEPARTMENT
Design and Applied Arts

INSTITUTION
NABA, Nuova Accademia di Belle Arti - Milan Campus

ACCREDITED BY
Italian Ministry of Education and Research

TITLE AWARDED
First Level Academic Degree

CFA
180

LANGUAGE OF TUITION
Italian or English

COURSE DURATION
3 years

This course aims to give students the tools to investigate various forms of project culture through a three years study path that approaches Design from an experiential, multidisciplinary point of view. At the same time, it raises awareness while pointing towards a path of methodological experimentation and specialisation, following two main professional courses: Product Design and Interior Design. The purpose of this double approach is to deliver mature project awareness, based on the acquisition of diverse project skills which bolster and support each other. Following the “learning by doing” approach, students are called to deal with contemporary issues, ranging from new technologies based self-production, to Social Design and Service Design.

Special attention is given to the visualisation phase of the project, pursued with specific digital communication techniques: graphics, computer graphics, post-production. Side activities such as workshops, work experiences, contests etc. represent occasions for comparison, research and development, both individual and in groups, where the students, often coming from different Countries, have to deal with complete projects, thus reaching full awareness of the different roles and professional profiles, supported and mentored by industry professionals.

Ideal candidates are strongly motivated towards the study of Product Design and Interior Design, inclined to creation, elaboration and expressive synthesis, based on the use of representation and communication tools ranging from hand sketching to digital drawing. They show curiosity towards the cultural aspects and the understanding of their professional environment. Flexibility within technological changes and innovation together with team work are crucial skills to successfully carry out this educational path.

For admission procedures, please refer to the Academic Regulations.

The course aims to develop:

• The ability of analysing and interpreting complex issues related to the world of Design and its various fields of application

• The ability of managing design processes, supervising all their phases

• The ability of developing a project method that is creative, consistent, sound and structured

• The ability of efficiently conveying information and ideas, supporting own project suggestions with appropriate explanations and criteria

• Knowledge and absorption of design and production process techniques, in order to suggest sustainable project solutions that fit into the cultural, historical, social and economic context

• Understanding and implementation of mindful and transversal professional methods, ability to work individually as well as in a group and to manage whole projects in observance of briefing and deadlines

During the course, students are engaged in different kind of activities, according to the specific learning goals. Those activities may include:

• Class lectures

• Debates, presentations, peer assessment

• Use of tutorials, videos or other media tools

• Exercises and revisions

• Labs

• Seminars and workshops with industry professionals or visiting lecturers

• Intensive workshops on specific subjects

• Individual or group projects

• Individual study or research

• Field trips related to the professional field

• Individual sessions and tutoring

The achievement of learning goals is generally assessed at the end of the term, although intermediate evaluations may occur. Assessment methods vary according to the learning goals being assessed and may include:

• Oral exams

• Written exams

• Graded exercises

• Graded revision

• Exercises

• Completion of comprehensive projects

Throughout the three years of the course, students can explore different areas of Design, experimenting with the techniques that are associated with specific branches of learning and applications. They will develop their own professional profile in the fields of Product Design & Interior Design. At the end of the course they will be able to mindfully opt for a professional career or a second-level study cycle.

The goal for the first year is to achieve design awareness and to be able and structure creative thinking through the acquisition and application of design methodologies and digital techniques. Students will master all conceptual, strategic and cultural knowledge in order to cope with project issues, working on them from several angles. Hence, they will be able to develop a project that is consistent with the creative brief, finalizing it in its technical execution and integrating graphical aspects in it, with elements of computer graphics and study models.

The second year focuses on developing a more defined and sophisticated project approach, integrating specific knowledge about production materials and techniques, together with elements of computer graphics and 3D modelling. Students will also be guided towards further improvement in different areas, including: exhibit, furniture design, service design, small objects series/accessoires, multimedia design, multimedia languages, photography, introduction to cultural marketing. (Optional teachings may vary depending on the Academy needs)

With the third year, students will reach full awareness of their own professional profile, mainly through two paths:

1. The constant involvement on projects based on real briefs with internationally renowned partners within creative labs, where groups of students supported by experienced professors and industry professionals will work on complex, complete projects by creating technologically advanced creative solutions.

2. The in-depth study of one subject that will further develop into the thesis project:

• For the Design area, 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.

• For the Interior Design area, with project solutions that explore the awareness of the relation between men and the space around them, both at a domestic level and at a urban and public one. The optional subjects for the third year: light design interior, light design product, interaction design (optional teachings may vary depending on the Academy needs) will also support the orientation of talented, strong personality students towards the new professions of design, in particular.

Students who graduate in Product Design and Interior Design will master theoretical, technical and design tools that can lead to professional paths as collaborators in design studios or as freelancers, in a wide range of design fields, which include:

• Designer

• Interior designer

• Furniture designer

• Temporary events or installation designer

• Service designer

At the end of the course, successful students will be able to:

• Identify all different fields of application of the acquired skills, the different professional specificities and their related career paths.

• Evaluate project tools and efficiently combine them.

• Discuss the potential offered by new technologies and their impact on the project development and communication.

• Decode the elements and stylistic languages of industrial design, with particular attention to socio-cultural contexts (past, present and future) through suitable analytic tools.

At the end of the course, successful students will be able to:

• Manage structured projects, dealing with all phases of the process with professional language and approach, together with the accurate use of analytical, creative and technical methods.

• Proficently employ of all production techniques and technologies with full awareness and strategic skills, in order to create independent study models, prototypes and finished projects.

• Develop the project with the aid of different communication and roduction tools: analogic drawing, technical drawing, 3D modelling and digital drawing supported by professional software.

• Master all software applications used in their own professional field.

• Develop study models and prototypes using the Campus laboratory equipment, such as laser cutters and latest-generation 3D printers.

• Create a portfolio using communication techniques that are consistent with their own professional profile and with the application tools that have been used.

In compliance with the Qualifications Framework for the European Higher Education Area - QF for the EHEA, at the end of the first study cycle, students will have developed the following skills:

Knowledge and understanding: graduates must have knowledge and understanding in a field of study that builds upon their general secondary education, and must typically be at a level that, whilst supported by advanced textbooks, includes some aspects that will be informed by knowledge of the forefront of their field of study.

Applying knowledge and understanding: graduates must be able to apply their knowledge and understanding in a manner that indicates a professional approach to their work, and have competences typically demonstrated through devising and sustaining arguments and solving problems within their field of study.

Making judgements: graduates must have the ability to gather and interpret relevant data (usually within their field of study) to inform independent judgments that include reflection on relevant social, scientific or ethical issues.

Communication skills: graduates must be able to communicate information, ideas, problems and solutions to both specialist and non-specialist audiences.

Learning skills: graduates must have developed those learning skills that are necessary for them to continue to undertake further study with a high degree of autonomy.

At the end of the course, successful students will be able to:

• Analyse and interpret complex issues, with the consequent ability of identifying, among different project solutions, the most appropriate and efficient one.

• Elaborate suitable creative solutions based on a solid methodology, supported by research and analysis.

• Critically evaluate their own and other’s work, showing the capability to differentiate, identify, argue and support winning and strategic project decisions.

• Correctly interpret the information given by the creative brief and interact with the professionals involved in the design and production process.