School of Design
Degree Programme of:
Fashion Design
Laurea (Equivalent To Bachelor Of Science)
Milano Campus
1. General Information
School School of Design Code Reference Law 1089 Name Fashion Design Reference Law Ordinamento 270/04 Class of degree L-4 - Industrial Design Degree level Laurea (Equivalent To Bachelor Of Science) First year of activation 2008/2009 Official length of the programme 3 Years of the programme already activated 1,2,3 Official language(s) Italian Campus Milano Dean of the School Luisa Maria Virginia Collina Coordinator of the Study programme Valeria Maria Iannilli Website of the School http://www.design.polimi.it Website of the Study programme
http://www.moda.polimi.it
Student Office (Study programme) - Milano Bovisa
Reference office
Orientamento carriera didattica Design Address Via Candiani 72, 20158 Milano Contact http://www.design.polimi.it/a-chi-rivolgersi/
Central Student Office - Milano Bovisa
Address VIA LAMBRUSCHINI, 15 (MI)
2. General presentation of the study programme
The Degree Course allows the acquisition of the necessary theoretical-scientific-design skills within a strongly multidisciplinary framework and with a vision that focuses its interest on fashion design and, therefore, on that system of products, communication and services capable of conveying the values and constraints of new social, productive, technical and scientific contexts.
The Fashion System, understood broadly as a system of companies, professional communities, institutions and public and private bodies, commercial and relational/ communication networks, assumes a central role thanks to the ability of design to promote the fundamental processes of transfer, contamination and hybridization of knowledge and practices to support innovation processes.
Fashion design plays a leading role in the Italian economy both at national level and at the level of new global territories.Italian fashion shows a specific operating approach in which a close connection with the national production system is evident.
This characteristic path began its development in the late 19th Century, in consideration of role of the fashion designer, and has headed toward the definition of a very specific governance system, which still characterizes the fashion industry: a dual leadership of management and design, embodied by CEO and Creative Director duo. This is, in fact, the unique formula of the fashion business which, for a long time, has been looked at as an eccentric attribute of a sector in-between industry and cultural production, but today is a real opportunity for its future.
In this context, characterized by continuous innovation processes, the first level of the higher education for fashion design is rooted in the following fundamentals:
1. Research skills as the main source for inspiration and innovation to support creativity and talent. In fact, this program is founded on the belief that creativity is born from deep knowledge and continuous research, from the hybridization of cultures and languages.
2. Knowledge of the technical aspects of the products, that is not limited to learning the typical techniques of tailoring (draping, pattern making and sewing). In fact, it includes deep understanding of fashion products materials, fabrics architecture and the relationship between product and project, its visualization and development through the realization and the consequent engeneering and production phases.
3. Knowledge of the design process; a complex activity that needs to be well managed and structured. Thus, it is necessary to acquire metadesign; able to “design the design process”, to develop and represent mid-way work phases, such as trend books , or, again, it is necessary to plan subsequent activities, such as the construction tools of the collection’s architecture (merchandise plan).
4. The systemic comprehension of the product, the knowledge of the communication and distribution aspects of the project to express its embedded qualities and values.
The Politecnico program has also the priority to offer students the possibility to acknowledge the economical and social contexts which characterise the various scenarios of the international scene. To this end, many initiatives oriented towards internationalization of studies have recently been launched, amongst which the cooperation with the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York (FIT) is of great significance. The exchange project involves approx. 60 students enrolled in the third or fourth year at the FIT in New York. Italian students participating in the activities foreseen at the Politecnico are approx. 50, belonging to the 2nd and 3rd years of the Bachelor of Science and to the first year of the Master of Science in Fashion Design. Five Italian students, enrolled in the first year of the Master of Science program spend six months studying in New York. American students, on the other hand, spend an entire academic year in Italy.
Amongst the courses offered in English at Politecnico there is Sportswear Design, Underwear design, Accessory design, Computer pattern design, CAD for textiles and garments, Advanced Tailoring techniques and Leather Design, Visual Merchandising, in addition to courses of a critique/historical nature such as History of design and fashion and Aesthetics. Italian students enrolled in the Bachelor of Science may also attend these courses. In addition, a collection design course is carried out through an entire semester for students both from the Bachelor degree and the FIT. Other common activities are also planned each year in collaboration with qualified Italian companies, such as one-week design workshops and professional internships.
For further information consult the Programme website. http://www.moda.polimi.it
For more information see the website of the degree course
http://www.moda.polimi.it
3. Learning objectives
Please note that the name of the Laurea in Fashion Design corresponds to one of the education profiles contained in the Class 4 declaration and that the education program, as indicated by its title, is aimed at preparing a professional design figure operating in the fashion sector. This figure does not overlap with the professional figure formed within Class 3 degrees, which has the role of analysis and critical understanding of the fashion sector nor of those which must also intervene from a design perspective in its transformation.
Fundamental objectives in training a graduate in Fashion Design are the acquisitions of cultural, scientific, methodological and technical/instrumental elements which form the basis of the design of fashion products, which refer to the textile, garment, and fashion accessories.
The ability to understand social behaviour, cultural and relational contexts which characterise modern society is fundamental, as well as the capability to analyse, interpret and codify dynamics of choice and use of fashion products by individuals and social groups. Finally, the course seeks the ability to translate elements of analysis into new products, focusing on aesthetical and formal qualities, on performance (comfort, safety, resistance to wear, etc.) and on communicative and symbolic values associated with the product and transferred within the distribution and consumer services system.
It is a fundamental goal to make the student able to visualise and communicate the design idea in the various phases of the process: from research and definition of trends and design guidelines (scenarios, colours, materials, etc.) to elaboration of the product/collection to the final technical drawings for production.
Therefore, focus is on skills related to artistic, visual and representational languages which permit effective communication, via adequate tools, of the design idea.
The Laurea, compared to the subsequent Master of Science, focuses on the technical project development aspects, as the development of a design figure operating between those defining the strategic and creative guidelines of the fashion company and those managing the production processes.
Such figure is able to adopt and interpret the creative guidelines defined by those coordinating the design process and effectively manage the fashion product/collection development phase, through the ability to control the process and the choice of technological, material and production alternatives, also evaluating aspects concerning social, economic and environmental sustainability.
The main subject areas of the Laurea are the following:
• project culture area (ICAR/13)
This subject matter constitutes the backbone of the course studies, and provides the student with methodological and operational tools suitable to deal with design activities of medium complexity through design case studies and paradigmatic experiences.
Through laboratory courses and practical experiences students acquire the skills to analyse design and product system development issues.
In the analysis and creative research phase, which is developed up to the definition of the product concept, the objective is to provide students with the ability to define the design context in terms of opportunities, constraints, possibilities, priorities and their hierarchy; analyse the context of use and interpret the user’s choice dynamics; analyse fashion product systems in terms of their formal, structural, functional, typological, morphological, relational and ergonomic characteristics; summarise analysis elements into design guidelines, effectively expressed using suitable languages.
In the design summary phase which is developed up to final product definition, the objective is to provide students with the ability to translate design guidelines into product requirements; to develop product/collection architecture through the definition of materials, the relation between the various components and the assembly technologies; evaluate the industrial feasibility of the product.
• humanistic disciplines area (SPS/07; M-PSI/01; ICAR/13)
This subject area provides the designer skillful knowledge to analyse social and cultural contexts in which the fashion products are introduced, and to interpret their symbolic values as artifacts which live in an intermediate dimension between “consume products” and “cultural products”.
The objective of this subject matter is therefore to provide know-how and tools derived from psycho-social disciplines, in order to develop the ability to interpret material culture and integrate careful evaluation of the interaction between products and social/cultural contexts in the student’s work.
• historical-criticism disciplines area (SSD ICAR/13, L-ART/02, ICAR/18)
This subject matter deals with the historical evolution of design culture, relating the history of fashion products with the artistic, architectural and design languages.
The objective of this subject matter is to develop the ability to understand a project in relation with its historical and environmental context and to incorporate cultural values in products, observing and reinterpreting also elements deriving from the tradition of a specific context.
• visual cultures, representational and technical drawing area (SSD ICAR/13; ICAR/17; INF/01; ING-IND/15)
This subject matter represents a set of skills concerning the use of visual languages to communicate and represent the project in all its phases.
The objective of this subject matter is to provide the student with the ability to translate project elements of analysis and synthesis onto the visual plane.
The aim is therefore to develop the following ability of analysis and interpretation of visual languages understanding the perceptive mechanisms, chromatic systems, etc.; knowledge of traditional and digital image production techniques; the morphological, material and functional representation of the product (from manual drawing to digital representation and modeling, from photography to production of study models and prototypes).
• materials and production technology culture area (SSD ING-IND/22; ICAR/13)
This subject matter concerns fashion product materials, their chemical and physical characteristics, their performance, structural and functional characteristics, industrial production and finishing technologies.
The objective of this subject matter is to provide knowledge and skills concerning the selection of materials according to their perceptive, communicative and aesthetical qualities, according to required features of different contexts of use, and evaluation of choices related to production constraints.
• economic culture area (SECS-P/13; SECS-P/08; ICAR/13).
This subject matter concerns the economic systems, business and market contexts related to fashion products.
The objective of this area is to provide the student the ability to evaluate the economic and organizational implications of design choices as well as to understand the corporate identity elements which influence design strategies.
Corporate organisation models and processes, economic feasibility study and industrial marketing techniques are therefore analysed in depth.
The Fashion Design graduate has the skills to carry out a number of technical activities supporting the design project as it develops from the initial idea to the design, development and engineering phases, and finally to large-scale production, distribution and diffusion on the market.
Within this educational program we foresee analysis of specific issues concerning areas of upcoming development frontiers for design professions, or strategic sectors of national economy development.
4. Organization of the study programme and further studies
4.1 Structure of the study programme and Qualifications
Design Studies courses provide theoretical, academic and professional training for designers, i.e. professionals with know-how and skills relating to industrial product design, production and promotion. At the School of Design the term industrial product does not simply mean a concrete product such as a car, furniture item, object, garment or accessory but rather all communication and 'meaning' building elements relating to products such as graphics and brand design rather than websites or fashion cat walks.
This study sphere responds to training demands from the consumer product industry, local government, communication, interior and installation design companies and studios as well as the retail and distribution sectors for these products.
The courses of study offered are structured into two different laurea, the so-called 3+2 formula, the level I laurea and the Laurea Magistrale.
The Laurea trains design technicians, i.e. graduates capable of playing a supporting role in all technical and design activities from the creation stage right through to production and distribution on the market with different characteristics for each Laurea course.
The Laurea Magistrale trains graduates capable of managing design activities and identifying strategic ends. These professionals are capable of co-ordinating complex project activities aimed at creating structured and differentiated product systems in accordance with brand identity and market dissemination strategies.
These two programmes of study are supplemented by a wealth of level I university master courses which students can access with a three year laurea, and level II masters which students can access with a Laurea Magistrale. Lastly on completion of a level II laurea students can move on to Design Department PHDs
Level I Laurea
Level II continued study laurea
Product design
Integrated Produc Design
Communication Design
Communication Design
Fashion Design
Design for the Fashion System
Interior Design
Interior and Spatial Design
Product design
Design & Engineering
Mechanical Engineering
Material and Nanotechnology Engineering
Product Design/Communication
Design/Interior Design/Fashion Design
Product Service System Design
Product Design/Communication
Design/Interior Design/Fashion Design
Digital and Interaction Design
Interior Design/ Product Design (Product)
Yacht & cruising vessel design- La Spezia campus
4.2 Further Studies
The qualification grants access to "Laurea Magistrale" (2nd degree), "Corso di Specializzazione di primo livello" (1st level Specialization Course) and "Master Universitario di primo livello" (1st level University Master)
The qualification enables students to access Laurea Magistrale, Level I Specialisation Courses and Level I University Master's courses.
The Laurea Magistrale continuing the three-year Laurea in Fashion Design is Design for the Fashion System with which it constitutes one single Programme Board (Consiglio di Corso di Studi, or CCS).
The Laurea Magistrale in Product Service System Design, Digital and Interaction Design can also be considered of continuity.
5. Professional opportunities and work market
5.1 Professional status of the degree
The programme meets the demand for training expressed by the fashion industry and its supply chains, professional firms involved in fashion product design and related events, distribution and marketing systems, as well as specific territorial districts.
The Fashion Design programme graduates will work as project technicians within professional studios, corporate structures within the fashion sector and related industries (textiles, accessories, etc.).
3-Year L graduates in Fashion Design may continue their studies in the continuity LM programme or any other LM programme in Design.Graduates carry out activities as design technicians in professional practices and companies within fashion and related areas (textiles, accessories, knitwear, sportswear, etc.).
5.2 Careers options and profiles
The Program satisfies the professional figures demand of the fashion industry, its supply chain, of firms designing fashion products and events, of the distribution/sales system and specific territorial districts.
The Graduate in Fashion Design enters the professional world with operational skills. He/she is able to work in team, and to interpret and execute operational project indications, translating them into the economic, ergonomic, productive, material, representational and modeling features required to go into production. He/she also has the necessary skills to assist in the research and concept development phase, and is able to understand user requirements, social and consumer dynamics, formal language and corporate philosophy which represent a fundamental matrix from which to develop the design project.
R&D trends forecaster, stylist, materials researcher, technologies researcher, textile researcher, image researcher;
STYLE Womenswear designer, Menswear designer, Accessory designer, Jewelry designer, Knitwear designer, Sportswear designer, Underwear designer, Beachwear designer;
PRODUCTION Pattern making, Pattern development, CAD designer;
MANAGEMENT Brand manager, Store manager, Contents manager, Web manager;
DISTRIBUTION Retail designer, Visual merchandiser;
COMMUNICATION & WEB Fashion communication, Exhibit Designer, Photography assistant, Fashion journalist, Fashion editor, Fashion blogger, press office.
CULTURE Fashion historian, Fashion curator.
Surveys of University Assessment Commission
https://aunicalogin.polimi.it/aunicalogin/getservizio.xml?id_servizio=204&idApp=1&idLink=52205.3 Qualification profile
Fashion designer
profile in a work context:
Professional profile of designer working in the fashion industry. It is a role of executive design, placed between those who define the strategic and creative lines of the fashion company and those who manage the production processes of end products.
Such professionals are capable of taking responsibility for and interpreting the creative direction chosen by the design process co-ordinator and managing the product/collection development process effectively, choosing between various technological, material and manufacturing alternatives and evaluating its social, economic and environmental sustainability. It supports the design activity in the field of fashion products, as to say all those products that are part of the textile, clothing and fashion accessory sectors.
The Fashion Design graduate student is part of the professional system in different fields:
- Production: Fabric printing design technician; Assistant model development technician; Clothing and fashion technician; Product man
- Creation: Style office assistant operative; Cool hunter; CAD project designer; Textile researcher; Materials researcher; Style office technician, Textile design;
- Marketing/Distribution: Visual merchandiser; Assistant Store Manager; Assistant Fashion coordinator;
- Communication: Trade fair installation technician; Photography assistant; Fashion graphics technician; Event design assistant.
skills of this function:
Specific skills:
- understanding the social behaviours and cultural, relational and symbolic contexts of contemporary societies;
- to analyse, interpret and codify choice dynamics and the use of fashion products by individuals and diverse social groups for design purposes;
- translating analysis design elements into new products paying attention to aesthetic and formal qualities, product performance (comfort, safety, durability, etc.) and the communication and symbolic values associated to product and transferred to the distributional system and consumer services;
- transfer analysis and design synthesis elements in the visual plan;
- translate design guidelines into product requirements;
- choose the materials according to their perceptive, communicative, aesthetic qualities and the performances required with respect to the different contexts of use of the products;
- communicate effectively, through appropriate languages, the project idea;
- evaluate the economic and organizational implications of the design choices made;
- evaluate the industrial feasibility of the product produced.Job opportunities:
The programme responds to educational demand coming from the fashion sector and its branches, fashion product and related events professional design studios, distribution and commercialisation system and specific local districts.
Industrial Fashion Design graduate students will work as project technicians in professional studios, within fashion and related sector companies (textiles, accessories, etc.).
6. Enrolment
6.1 Access requirements
Italian secondary school leaving qualification or other comparable foreign qualification (level 4 EQF)
A secondary level educational qualification is required.
Before the start of lectures recovery activities, with compulsory attendance, are organised for students with gaps to fill.6.2 Requested knowledge
In order to optimise the use of the resources available in the campuses, the total number of places for enrolment in the first year of each Study Programme of the University is set by the Academic Senate when defining the educational offer, based on the indications provided by the School of reference.
Enrolment in the first year of the Laurea study programmes of the Design School of Politecnico di Milano is subject to a test aimed at assessing the knowledge required for admission and aptitude for studies. The test of the knowledge required for admission is carried out through a test that is the same for all the Design study programmes activated by the University (TOLD).
The TOLD is structured in multiple choice questions and it is possible to take it online on a PC, at the Politecnico campuses.
TOLD is available in two different periods:
- test in advance, from March to July: for high school students or students that already hold a diploma;
- standard test, in August: for students that hold a diploma.
The student, when registering for the test (one test for each period), must indicate in order of interest one or more study programmes, among the four Design study programmes, for which s/he wants to be taken into consideration.
At the end of each test period a ranking list is drawn up, only students that reached the minimum threshold of 30/100 (20/100 for non-EU students) will be included in the ranking list. Each candidate will be taken into account only for the study programmes that s/he mentioned as a preference during the registration to the test. Those listed in the ranking list can proceed with enrolment.
The ranking list, with indication of only one study programme to which it is possible to register, is published online in the Official Noticeboard of the University.
The Design test is carried out through the use of Personal Computers located in IT classrooms within the University.
It consists of 60 questions, to be answered in 1 hour and 20 minutes, which have five answer options. The student must identify the right one, and do not consider the wrong, not weighted or less possible answers.
The subjects covered by the admission test are:
- geometry and representation: 12 questions in 20 minutes
- logic: 6 questions in 10 minutes
- verbal comprehension: 6 questions in 10 minutes
- history of design, history of art: 12 questions in 15 minutes
- general knowledge: 24 questions in 25 minutes
The score is calculated as follows:
- 1 point for each correct answer
- 0 point for each answer not answered
- 0,25 points for each wrong answer
This score will be then converted into hundredths and will be calculated up to the second decimal place.
In case of equal score, the score obtained according to the following order will prevail:
- Geometry and representation
- Verbal comprehension
- History of design, history of art
- Logic
- General knowledge
Furthermore, In case of further equal result, priority is given to the younger student.
The Design test has a minimum threshold. Even with available places, the following students cannot be enrolled:
- “ EU students and similar students” who have not obtained a score equal to or greater than 30.00/100
- "Non-EU students" who have not obtained a score equal to or greater than 20.00/100
The position of the candidates in the ranking list is based on the score, on the places available for each test session and on the order of preferences expressed.
For enrolment to Design study programmes, 3 enrolment periods are provided:
- Enrolment in advance: for those who have taken a test in the session in advance and have obtained a good position in the ranking list, you can enrol, after obtaining the high school diploma.
- Standard enrolment: for those who took the test in the September session and obtained a good position in the ranking list.
- Second-chance enrolment (following a request for inclusion in the ranking list): if at the end of the standard enrolment period there were still places available, if after his/her request for inclusion in the ranking list, the student obtains a place in the ranking list.
Verification of English knowledge and English OFA
Politecnico di Milano requires students to properly know the English language. After taking your admission test, the student must take the TENG (Test of English) English language test. The TENG (Test of English) must be taken even if the student already has external certificates attesting his/her knowledge of the English language.
The TENG, made of 30 multiple choice questions, will be held on Personal Computers and will last for 15 minutes. At least 24 questions must be answered correctly: failure to reach this threshold leads to the assignment of Additional Educational Obligations (OFA) of English. The English TENG test will not be included in the calculation of the score for the ranking lists.
The fulfilment of the English OFA can be reached through:
- submission of one of the English language certificates recognized by Politecnico di Milano, by delivering the certificate to the Registrar’s Office
- participation to dedicated test sessions to verify the English language knowledge.
More detailed information on the admission procedures, including the updated dates of the sessions scheduled for the test, are available, updated, on the University Web site at:
http://www.poliorientami.polimi.it/come-si-accede
How to access it
http://www.poliorientami.polimi.it/cosa-si-studia/corsi-di-laurea/
The educational offer at the Politecnico di Milano
https://aunicalogin.polimi.it/aunicalogin/getservizio.xml?id_servizio=204&idApp=1&idLink=49526.3 Deadlines for admission and number of places available
There are 150 places (of which 5 are reserved for non EU students including 4 Chinese students on the “Marco Polo” project).
Section of the university site focusing on student guidance and entrance tests containing test deadline information.
How to become a student at Politecnico di Milano
https://aunicalogin.polimi.it/aunicalogin/getservizio.xml?id_servizio=204&idApp=1&idLink=51806.4 Tutoring and students support
Under the name of in-course orientation and tutoring, there are all activities aimed at providing assistance to students before and during their university career, in order to carry out this activity within the time limits set by educational regulations and in a profitable way from the point of view of professional and human skill education. Therefore, tutoring activities are different from institutional educational activities, although they can integrate, or be complementary, of these last ones. Tutoring activities can be carried out by laurea magistrale students, by Ph.D. students, by professors and externals.
Tutoring activities are planned and managed by the School in close coordination with the Study Programme.
At University level, the Financial Aid and International Mobility Service is the connection point with the Schools for administrative aspects related to the assignment of tutoring tasks to students of the Laurea Magistrale (equivalent to Master of Science) Study Programme.
Tutoring activities are divided into the following services:
- didactic orientation for first-year students and for students of the following years;
- orientation and support for 3rd-year students who want to activate curricular internships to replace the internship provided in the Study Plan or extra-curricular internships;
- didactic support meetings held by professors (to help students in their inclusion and learning choices);
- support/reception activities for first-year students of Laurea (equivalent to Bachelor of Science) Study Programmes, both at the counter and through the new communication channels activated by the School;
- support for students in international mobility programmes;
- assistance for review and recovery seminars;
- assistance in computerized classrooms, libraries and laboratories;
- assistance in acquisition and development of didactic material.
For students who wish to enrol in the Design School's Study Programmes, Open Days are organized in which each Study Programme presents the educational offer through presentations and/or open lectures.
A Guidance service is available at the School with the purpose of providing information on the teaching and educational contents of its programmes of study and clarifying, to future first-year students, the educational objectives and potential career opportunities.
Every year, for first-year students, a welcome day is organized to present the organization of the School, the offices and their skills, the international mobility programmes, the School and Politecnico communication tools: the Web site of the Design School, the Trouble Ticketing, the chat, the Beep portal, the library services, the instrumental laboratories and the Safety week (week in which the students obtain the qualification to access the Laboratories). During this meeting, the Joint Committee and Student representatives have their time for a wide presentation.
The Student Representatives of the School Board have prepared a Vademecum to present and summarise the services that students can access.
For students already enrolled, there are presentations of the optional courses and Synthesis Laboratories. In addition to the teaching sheets that provide detailed information about the course methods, the students can access the Web site of the School and see slides and videos prepared by professors in order to summarise the topics that will be covered during the programme.
The School organizes "Lectures 0" to give information about the University's facilities and services and to explain the organization of the study programmes; the coordinators can organize this Lecture as a collective event, with the other Study Programmes, or during the first day of lesson of one of the courses of the specific Study Programme. The students of the following years are provided with information on the educational offer and on specific initiatives of the year of their study programme.
The Topics of Lectures 0 are:
Organization of Study Programme and University Services (I L);
experiences abroad (II and III LT);
post-graduate training: Laurea Magistrale Study Programmes and Specializing Master of I level;
world of work and Career service (III LT)
LM admission: criteria and N and V parameters (II and III LT);
evaluation questionnaire about teaching (I, II; III LT);
questionnaire on services and on the overall training career (III LT);
final test: type of exam, choice of the supervisor and final score (III LT).
For students already enrolled, the School provides activities with the aim to:
- help students remove any obstacles to their attendance and learning with initiatives tailored to individual student needs, attitudes and requirements;
- encourage a more active participation by students in the educational process.
A reference professor/tutor has been selected for each study programme and s/he is the official reference point for any School guidance. The service is organized within the study programme and, in particular, it consists of:
- the service is programme of study specific and deals in particular with: support services for students who require help in solving problems or clarifying concepts;
- approval and possible drafting of texts concerning the presentation of the study programme of which the professor is the contact person;
- identification of student projects from each specific laurea course to be used as guidance tools at Open Days and on the School's official communication channels.
Polinternational
https://aunicalogin.polimi.it/aunicalogin/getservizio.xml?id_servizio=204&idApp=1&idLink=5199
7. Contents of the study Program
7.1 Programme requirements
The L degree is awarded through the acquisition of 180 ECTS. Graduates in the Fashion Design L programme must have solid basic training in design disciplines aimed at deepening both methodological and technical-operational aspects. In particular, they must be adequately familiar with tools and techniques related to the formal and functional representation of the product (from manual drawing to technical drawing, from photography to the creation of models and prototypes of products), image representation techniques and visual language, as well as an understanding of visual perception mechanisms and chromatic systems. Furthermore, they should possess basic elements of fashion project activities (product range and collection articulation, etc.) and everything involved in its realization, communication and sales (visual merchandising, events, stagings, showrooms, magazines, corporate image). Preparation also requires the acquisition of scientific and technological skills specific to engineering sciences (materials used in fashion products, prototyping and product engineering techniques, manufacturing and process technologies, economic-production systems); managerial-economic skills (cost assessment, organizational and management models, business strategy and management); historical-critical knowledge (related to the sociology of consumption and fashion, textile culture and its historical evolution, semiotics and aesthetics study, anthropology, etc.).
7.2 Mode of study
The Study programme has a full-time attendance that is divided over two semesters.
The teaching methods are: Single Subject Courses, characterized by theoretical contents that are communicated with ex cathedra lectures and verified during the year with tests and interviews; Integrated Courses, they refer to more than one discipline or specific area and sometimes they are provided by two or more professors, each one providing his/her contribution; Laboratories, where the students carry out project activities, under the guidance of the team of professors, each one providing his/her contribution applied to the project topic (the Project Laboratories use Experimental Laboratories that offer the opportunity to experiment and use tools, technologies and machineries useful for the project).
Workshops are also included within the curricular offer, or full time courses lasting a week in which students develop a project under the guidance of a foreign visiting professor, a professional with clear reputation or in co-tutorship with a company. By participating in this activity, the student fulfils the traineeship activity required by the educational system.
The Erasmus Programme and the other international mobility programmes are an opportunity for students to spend a study semester abroad at qualified European universities.
Guide to the Study Plan and allocations in sections and elective courses for the Degree and Master's Degree Courses
http://www.design.polimi.it/it/studiare-design/guide-alla-carriera/
Internship
http://www.design.polimi.it/studiare-design/tirocini/7.3 Detailed learning objectives
At the enrollment, the student is placed in a Section (PSPA, Pre-approved study plan): the division into Sections is necessary to divide the total number of enrolled students in the Laboratories and Single Subject/Integrated multi-section courses. The allocation in the Section is kept during the career: the student can choose optional courses and Synthesis Laboratories.
Students' ability to choose the courses and credits to be included into their Study plans is ruled by the regulations of the School which makes available a credit offer for each year of the course (“nominal offer”).
Each year students can choose courses for a different number of credits than that specified by the nominal courses to graduate their study programmes according to their needs.
The minimum number of credits a student can enrol on is 30 unless the number of credits needed for course completion are fewer than this.
The maximum number of credits a student can enrol on is 80, respecting exam priorities.
The current framework of the study plan requires the course exam sequence to be respected. Courses designed for later years of the programme cannot be included to the Study Plan of the following year (“advance inclusion”) unless all previous and current year courses have also been included into it.
In order to include the 2nd year Laboratories, it is necessary to have passed all 1st year Laboratories; to include the Final Synthesis Laboratory of the 3rd year, it is necessary to have passed the 2nd year Laboratories and all the 1st year courses. As a result of this rule, there may be a change in the number of credits that a student may nominally enrol for.
The Educational Regulations also require that a specific number of credits are allocated to types of activity which can be categorised as follows:
- educational activities chosen independently by students (optional courses);
- educational activities related to the preparation of the final exam;
- activities related to educational work experience and guidance.1 Year courses - Track: M1-M2-M3
Code Educational activities SSD Course Title Language Sem CFU CFU Group 097373 A,B,C ICAR/13
M-PSI/01LABORATORIO DI ELEMENTI VISIVI DEL PROGETTO 2 12,0 12,0 097363 A,B ICAR/13
ICAR/17LABORATORIO DEL DISEGNO 1 12,0 12,0 097392 A,B,C ICAR/13
L-ART/03LABORATORIO DI FONDAMENTI DEL PROGETTO 2 12,0 12,0 097349 A ICAR/18 STORIA DEL DESIGN E DELL'ARCHITETTURA 1 6,0 6,0 054493 A MAT/08 CURVE E SUPERFICI PER IL DESIGN 2 6,0 [1,0]
6,0 097376 A,B ICAR/13 STRUMENTI E METODI DEL PROGETTO 1 6,0 6,0 098314 A ING-IND/22 MATERIALI PER IL DESIGN 1 6,0 6,0 2 Year courses - Track: M1-M2-M3
Code Educational activities SSD Course Title Language Sem CFU CFU Group 099722 B,C ING-IND/15
ING-INF/05LABORATORIO DI RAPPRESENTAZIONE DIGITALE 1 12,0 12,0 099829 A,B ICAR/13
ING-IND/22MATERIALI E TECNOLOGIE PER LA MODA 1 9,0 9,0 052892 A,B,C ICAR/13
SECS-P/13LABORATORIO DI METAPROGETTO 1 12,0 [2,012,0 099833 A L-ART/02 STORIA E SCENARI DELLA MODA 2 6,0 6,0 054720 C SPS/07 SOCIOLOGIA PER LA MODA 2 6,0 6,0 054558 B SECS-P/08 FASHION MANAGEMENT 2 6,0 [4,06,0 2 Year courses - Track: *** - offerta comune
Code Educational activities SSD Course Title Language Sem CFU CFU Group 099838 A,B,C ICAR/13
SPS/08LABORATORIO DI PROGETTO MODA - M1 2 12,0 12,0
(Grp. Opz.)099839 A,B,C ICAR/13
SPS/08LABORATORIO DI PROGETTO MODA - M2 2 12,0 099840 A,B,C ICAR/13
SPS/08LABORATORIO DI PROGETTO MODA - M3 2 12,0 3 Year courses - Track: M1-M2-M3
Code Educational activities SSD Course Title Language Sem CFU CFU Group 052635 B INF/01 MODELLAZIONE DIGITALE PER IL KNITWEAR 1 6,0 6,0 052638 -- -- SOFT SKILLS E STRUMENTI PER IL LAVORO 2 6,0 [6,06,0 053357 -- -- FINAL EXAMINATION. -- 2 5,0 5,0 052643 A,B ICAR/13 PORTFOLIO & DIGITAL BRANDING 2 6,0 [6,06,0 3 Year courses - Track: *** - offerta comune
Code Educational activities SSD Course Title Language Sem CFU CFU Group 051200 A,B,C ICAR/13
ING-IND/22
M-STO/08
SECS-P/13LABORATORIO DI SINTESI FINALE - KNITWEAR DESIGN 1 22,0 22,0
(Grp. Opz.)051212 A,B,C ICAR/13
ING-IND/22
M-STO/08
SECS-P/13LABORATORIO DI SINTESI FINALE - JEWELLERY AND ACCESSORY DESIGN 1 22,0 051213 A,B,C ICAR/13
ING-IND/22
M-STO/08
SECS-P/13LABORATORIO DI SINTESI FINALE - FASHION DESIGN 1 22,0 053485 A ING-IND/22 AMBIENTE E PROGETTO 1 6,0 6,0
(Grp. Opz.)053516 B SECS-P/08 DESIGN STARTUP 1 6,0 051794 -- IUS/01 LA TUTELA DEL DESIGN E DEL DESIGNER 1 6,0 052047 A,B ICAR/13 STRUMENTI E METODI PER IL DESIGN DELLA COMUNICAZIONE 1 6,0 051950 A,B ICAR/13 VISUAL STORYTELLING: FOTOGIORNALISMO PER IL DESIGN 1 6,0 053527 A,B ICAR/13 IL FOTOGRAFO E IL PROGETTO 2 6,0 054667 A MAT/08 COMPUTER ANIMATION 2 6,0 [1,0051949 A,B ICAR/13 WOOD DESIGN 2 6,0 051736 A,B ICAR/13 DESIGN E RESTAURO 2 6,0 054943 A,B ICAR/13 DESIGN PER IL SOCIALE. CONTRIBUTO PER LA SOCIAL INNOVATION 2 6,0 [3,0052034 A,B ICAR/13 DESIGN & LAVORO 2 6,0 055145 A,B ICAR/13 LOW COST - HIGH END PROTOTYPING - DALL'IDEA AL PROTOTIPO 2 6,0 051749 A ING-IND/22 INNOVAZIONI NEI MATERIALI E NELLE FINITURE 2 6,0 053373 B,C ING-IND/35 RESPONSABILITA' SOCIALE DELL'IMPRESA 2 6,0 051812 -- ICAR/16 TEMPORARY RETAIL - SPAZIO PER IL COMMERCIO TEMPORANEO INDOOR/OUTDOOR 2 6,0 051882 A,B ICAR/13 TECNICHE GRAFICHE AVANZATE 2 6,0 051803 A,B ICAR/13 SOFTWARE E GRAFICA PER IL WEB 2 6,0 053823 A,B ICAR/13 ERASMUS EXPERIENCE 2 6,0 [2,0051951 B,C M-PSI/01 COLORE E PERCEZIONE 1 6,0 6,0
(Grp. Opz.)054941 A,B ICAR/13 NEUROMARKETING E DESIGN 1 6,0 051815 A,B ICAR/13 PRO E CONTRO: ESEGESI DEI LUOGHI COMUNI E DEL DESIGN. FORMAZIONE CRITICA E CULTURA CONTEMPORANEA 1 6,0 051819 A,B ICAR/13 RELAZIONI EFFICACI: CONOSCERE SE STESSI E GLI ALTRI PER COMUNICARE CON SUCCESSO 1 6,0 055005 -- L-ART/04 ARTS & CRAFTS. LE ARTI DECORATIVE ALLE GRANDI ESPOSIZIONI TRA ARTE, ARTIGIANATO E INDUSTRIAL DESIGN 2 6,0 [1,0053514 A,B ICAR/13 LEGGERE IL CINEMA: UNA NUOVA PERCEZIONE 2 6,0 055104 A,B ICAR/13 PROGETTO, MASS MEDIA, COMUNICAZIONE: STORIA E CRITICA 2 6,0 055190 B,C M-PSI/01 DESIGN THINKING PER LE SOFT SKILLS 2 6,0 [6,0051880 -- M-FIL/04 ESTETICA E DESIGN 2 6,0 054989 A,B ICAR/13 ESTETICA DELLE COSE:ABITARE COMUNICARE PRODURRE 1 6,0 055188 A,B ICAR/13 HOW TO DISCOVER THE ITALIAN DESIGN 2 6,0 054975 A,B ICAR/13 MESTIERI D'ARTE E BELLEZZA ITALIANA 2 6,0 055187 A,B ICAR/13 ITALIAN DESIGN WAY: AN INTRODUCTION 2 6,0 053733 A,B ICAR/13 PROGETTO DELL'IDENTITÀ 2 6,0 051864 B,C M-PSI/01 RETORICA DELLA PAROLA E DELL'IMMAGINE 2 6,0 054824 -- M-FIL/05 TEORIE DELLA COMUNICAZIONE 2 6,0 053824 A,B ICAR/13 ERASMUS EXPERIENCE 2 6,0 [2,07.4 Foreign language
Foreign language assessment will be carried out in accordance with the university's methods as set out on the “Student Services/Guides and Regulations/Guide to the English Language”, web page: www.polimi.it.
For Study Programme of 1st level, the assessment takes place at the admission test centre. If the student does not pass the exam, an OFA will be assigned, which is an additional educational obligation to be fulfilled before the inclusion in the Study plan of 2nd year courses.
The English TENG test will not be included in the calculation of the score for the ranking lists.
The fulfilment of the English OFA can be reached through:
- submission of one of the English language certifications, recognized by Politecnico di Milano, to the Registrar's Office
- participation in specific dedicated test sessions to assess the English language knowledge
Students are encouraged to read this document carefully and respect the norms set out in it.
Specifically, note that: "Pursuant to Ministerial Decree 270/04 the Politecnico di Milano has adopted the English language as the European Union language which students must speak in addition to Italian".
Language courses
https://aunicalogin.polimi.it/aunicalogin/getservizio.xml?id_servizio=204&idApp=1&idLink=51617.5 Degree examination
The exam consists of a presentation of the final work (poster, prototype, video, etc.) that represents the project/s developed during the final synthesis laboratory and a portfolio with important projects and personal experiences performed during the educational career chosen. Both products are prepared under the Supervisor guidance, with the help, for what concerns the Portfolio, of the professor responsible for its drafting, where the CCS has decided for this solution. At discretion of Supervisor, it will be possible to add technical drawings, booklets, researches, models, and others to the project. Students will be able to refine the final work and portfolio during the PEL, following the instruction provided by each Supervisor.
Usually, the Final work is written in Italian or English. With a justified reason of the Graduating student, it is also possible to accept a written Final work in other languages, with the approval of the President of the Single Commission of L and LM degree examinations of the School (CU). In this case, presentation and discussion is carried out in Italian. If the Final work is written in a foreign language, it must have also an extract in Italian.
The final evaluation takes into account of the student's career in the three-year L study Programme and of the evaluation of the final exam.
There is only one Supervisor, and s/he must be a member of the Single Commission, and related to the Disciplinary Scientific Sectors (SSD), elective or supplementary SSD of the Study Programmes to which the Commission is referred or to other SSD explicitly specified in the Regulation of the School. It can be supported by one or more Co-supervisors, even those not belonging to the CU or by experts on specific subjects, even not from the School. The Supervisor can also take advantage of the support of companies, institutions, research centres, etc. The Supervisor is member of the Operational Commission (CO) that will evaluate the Graduating student.
The score is expressed in hundred-tenths. (/110). It consists of the sum of:
- the average obtained by the graduating student in the courses, weighted on credits, expressed as hundred-tenths and hundredths of
hundred-tenths (without considering any as extra activity and cum laude)
- and the increase awarded by the Operational Commission expressed as hundred-tenths and hundredths of hundred-tenths.
This sum must be rounded to the closer whole number (0.50 is rounded to 1.00) and limited to 110.
The CO can also award the “honours”. The "honours" has the meaning of a particular appreciation by the Operational Commission for the preparation and skills reached by the Graduating student, for his excellent curriculum studiorum and the quality and originality of the Graduation work.
Consult the Laurea exam regulations for further details.
Guide to the Final Examination of Laurea
http://www.design.polimi.it/it/studiare-design/guide-alla-carriera/
Information concerning general rules and regulations, session calendars, registration and consignment of theses is available at
https://aunicalogin.polimi.it/aunicalogin/getservizio.xml?id_servizio=204&idApp=1&idLink=5142
8. Academic calendar
The Laurea course calendar is drawn up in accordance with study assessment methods which, for the Design School's Laurea programmes involve “ongoing” assessments performed during each semester. The academic year is made up of two semesters each of which consists of a teaching session and learning assessment sessions (exam sessions). The teaching sessions of each semester are made up of two periods of lessons, practice and laboratory work, with exam sessions with the related curricular workshop activities.
The teaching periods are approximately mid-September-December and end-February-early June.
In September, before the start of lectures, there will be a period for presentation of Study Plan.
The degree exam sessions are scheduled in these periods: February, July, September.
Information on Schedules and Deadlines
http://www.design.polimi.it/studiare-design/orari-calendari-e-scadenze/
Academic calendar
https://aunicalogin.polimi.it/aunicalogin/getservizio.xml?id_servizio=204&idApp=1&idLink=5123
9. Faculty
The names of professors for each Course, together with their subject, will be available on the degree programme starting from the month of September.
The degree programme is annually published on the website of Politecnico di Milano.
Faculty
https://www4.ceda.polimi.it/manifesti/manifesti/controller/ricerche/RicercaPerDocentiPublic.do?tab_ricerca=2&k_cf=19&__pj0=0&__pj1=9ecc24961246e5b7e801848d93f75565
10. Infrastructures and laboratories
The School of Design is based at Campus Bovisa-Candiani where the educational activities are held and where there are services for students (Experimental laboratories, Library, Study room, Press Service,...)
https://maps.polimi.it/maps/
Design Laboratories
The creation of big experimental laboratories supporting design education is in line with the Politecnico di Milano School of Design's experimental tradition, its inductive teaching model, in which 'knowledge' and 'know-how' are mutually supportive.
The purpose of these laboratories is the practice of activities which allow students to verify their design hypotheses and learn how to use the technical tools required for experimentation, representation and design communication.
The laboratories managed by the Design Department occupy an approximately 10,000 square metre space in the Milan Bovisa campus.http://www.dipartimentodesign.polimi.it/laboratori/i-laboratori
11. International context
Building an international dimension for the School of Design and its Study Programmes has been one of its priority objectives since it was founded in the year 2000.
There are many reasons for this purpose: the nature of design which inherently draws its very lifeblood from its multicultural and multi-local character, its proximity to both the world of manufacturing - which has now taken on a global dimension - and the sphere of consumption whose dynamics and tendencies are visible in a range of local specific contexts; the very DNA of the design community which has always been international; Milan's acknowledged status as design capital, a crucible for designers from all over the world who have come here to study or open a studio; the desire to make educational trajectories increasingly permeable to impulses deriving from this stimulating context as in other dynamic foreign contexts, with the aim to teach to international professors and designers.
To these should be added more highly structured activities which aim to strengthen collaborative relations, in the didactic and research fields, with selected universities: this is the case of the MEDes_Master of European Design educational programme (with 6 partner universities), the LM Double Degree Programmes with Universities in China, Brazil, Colombia, France, more are under preparation or cross-programmes with American universities, as well as the many ongoing international research projects.
The School of Design is a member of Cumulus, a network of European design schools, and of the main international design associations. http://www.cumulusassociation.org/
12. Internationalization
For the School of Design, internationalisation has a double meaning: supporting student (and teaching and technical staff) mobility outwards and, on the opposite direction, attracting students, researchers, professors and visiting professors from abroad.
In relation to these two internalisation channels (dealt with separately, the first in this chapter and the second in the subsequent chapter), in recent years, the School of Design has committed itself to widen its international contact network and it now works with 200 design universities from all over the world in Erasmus exchange programmes (with 150 European universities), in bilateral exchange projects (with 60 non European universities), joint workshops with other schools, international internships and so on.
To encourage the internalisation most of the Master programmes are offer in English or have at least an English section.
International exchanges
The School of Design takes part in international student exchange programmes which offer students the opportunity to go abroad for a period, both during L and LM study programme, at one of the Politecnico's partner universities. A list of the School's partner universities is available on the Politecnico's web site and on the School of Design web site in the International Area.
The Erasmus Programme
The Erasmus programme was set up in 1987 by the European Community in order to give students the possibility to carry out a period of study at a foreign university within the European Union, from 3 to 12 months, legally recognised by their university.
In 2014 the European Union's Erasmus+ programme was set up for education, training, youth and sport, for the 2014-2020 period.
In particular, Erasmus for study enables university students to carry out a period of study at a university with a partnership agreement with their university. This mobility can entitle students for an economic contribution (under the conditions set out in the international mobility Call) and free registration at the host university. Students can thus follow courses and take exams at the partner university and have the exams recognised by their universities. The mobility can be carried out one time for each level of study.
Bilateral exchanges
The School of Design has also activated some bilateral agreements with non-EU universities. These are mainly intended for the use of Laurea Magistrale students and application can be submitted also by those who have already carried out an Erasmus experience abroad during their three-year study programme.
The procedures for admission to such exchanges are the same as those for Erasmus exchanges with the exception for the economic contribution for mobility, that in this case it is not guaranteed.
The bilateral agreement, in fact, enables students to attend a period of study abroad at a partner university without incurring registration fees at such universities. In some cases, however, a management fee for exchange students must be paid (e.g.: Orientation fee).
The MEDes Programme (Master of European Design (MEDes) From the a.y. 2002/2003, the School of Design activated the MEDes, as five-year international educational programme, in collaboration with six other famous European design universities and formalised through an agreement that relies on the Erasmus+ mobility programme since 2014.
6 students are selected for this excellence programme among all those enrolled on the 2nd year of the laurea study programmes in Industrial Product Design, Interior Design and Communication Design, that at the time of application are in order with the curricular exams and that have successfully attended at least one semester at Politecnico di Milano. The students apply immediately for two years of mobility (and for a total of five years of study including Laurea and Laurea Magistrale) and therefore they guarantee the continuation to LM at Politecnico di Milano, always by following the normal career planned by the university that provides the degree examination at the end of the 3rd year. In order to complete the full career, students can only graduate in their university of origin, for both Laurea and Laurea Magistrale.
In addition to Politecnico di Milano, the universities taking part in this programme are:
The Glasgow School of Art, Glasgow, Scotland
Aalto University, School of Arts, Design and Architecture, Helsinki, Finland
Konstfack University College of Arts, Stockholm, Sweden
Ensci Les Ateliers, Paris, France
KiSD - Köln International School of Design, Cologne, Germany
Universidade de Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal
Candidates, admitted to the MEDes programme, have two study experiences abroad, in two partner universities: the first one during the 3rd year of I level Laurea, and the other one during the 1st year of Laurea Magistrale. The universities of destination will be chosen according to the aptitude shown by candidates during the selection process, to the selection made by the responsible professors during the workshops (organized every year in March, in one of the partner schools and with compulsory participation by the exchange students of 1st and 2nd year) and taking into account the preferences stated by the student.
Guide to the international mobility of Corsi di Laurea e Laurea Magistrale Scuola del Design
http://www.design.polimi.it/studiare-design/guide-alla-carriera/
Information on exchange programmes, double degree projects and international internships, European research and international relations projects are available at
https://aunicalogin.polimi.it/aunicalogin/getservizio.xml?id_servizio=204&idApp=1&idLink=4661
13. Quantitative data
The University Assessment Commission Nucleus perform periodic analysis on the overall results analysing the teaching activities and the integration of graduates into the work world. Reports and studies are available on the website of the Politecnico di Milano.
Data
https://www.polimi.it/il-politecnico/organi/nucleo-di-valutazione/dati-a-cura-dellufficio-di-supporto/
14. Further information
Students are encouraged to consult the School of Design site and in particular the Guides which regulate access, changing degree programme, courses and laurea exams for any other information they may need.
For more information see the website of the degree course
http://www.moda.polimi.it