Bachelor of Arts in Communication Design

3 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

IED European Institute of Design

Program Overview

The Bachelor of Arts in Communication Design at IED Cagliari is a three-year program that equips you with strategic thinking and creative skills to craft standout brand identities, campaigns, and communication plans across digital and traditional media. It's perfect for creative minds passionate about turning ideas into engaging content, blending hands-on projects with industry insights to prepare you for real-world design challenges.

Curriculum Structure

Year One
You'll kick off by building a strong foundation in design thinking and the project process, starting from briefs to sparking creative ideas, while diving into graphic design essentials using tools like InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop, Canva, and CapCut. Courses also introduce content design, semiotics, and design methodology, alongside explorations of social and cultural phenomena in media and trends, giving you the basics to understand how communication shapes our world.

Year Two
Here, you'll ramp up with practical skills in content management for web and social media, tackling real-world applications through workshops that blend creativity and strategy. Theoretical classes cover communication sociology, the mass media system, and phenomenology of contemporary arts, helping you analyze trends and craft multimedia content that resonates.

Year Three
The final year simulates professional agency life with a major thesis project, where you'll lead from research and concepting to visual identity, content production, and multi-media campaign planning—often in teams with company briefs. You'll specialize in video design for formats like storytelling, commercials, and social reels, while studying marketing communication systems, marketing management, and presentation skills to polish your portfolio.

Focus areas: Strategic branding, integrated campaigns, video storytelling, social media content, and multi-platform visual identities.

Learning outcomes: Master Adobe tools and emerging software; develop end-to-end projects combining strategy, creativity, and execution; gain soft skills for team agency dynamics and client presentations.

Professional alignment (accreditation): This is a three-year First Level Academic Diploma (180 ECTS credits), officially recognized in Italy for professional entry into communication design roles.

Reputation (employability rankings): IED's hands-on approach with real company projects and pro collaborations ensures grads are job-ready; the program mirrors agency workflows, with many alumni landing roles in top communication firms right after thesis presentations.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

At IED Torino's Bachelor's in Communication Design, you'll dive straight into experiential learning through a hands-on "learning by doing" approach that blends creativity, technology, and real-world projects from day one. You'll build practical skills by working on briefs from public bodies, institutions, and private companies, using industry-standard tools like Photoshop, Illustrator, and Figma to master graphic, vector, and interface design—while also exploring writing, drawing, and computational thinking. Taught by active professionals who know the latest trends, this program turns ideas into integrated communication projects that reflect today's evolving society, preparing you to create concepts, content, and events both online and offline.

This project-based method means you'll gain skills that employers value right away, such as:
- Developing full communication projects with companies, from concept to execution, including trend analysis and creative strategies.
- Hands-on work in vector, graphic, and interface design using specific software like Photoshop, Illustrator, and Figma.
- Collaborative real-world briefs and projects involving public and private partners, fostering group work and industry exposure.
- Guidance from lecturers who are working professionals, helping you adapt your portfolio and career path based on market needs.

Progression & Future Opportunities

At IED Cagliari, the Bachelor of Arts in Communication Design dives right into hands-on learning from day one, where you'll build practical skills through real-world projects, workshops, and tools that mirror professional agency work. You'll master graphic design, content creation, and video production using industry-standard software like InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop, Canva, and CapCut, while tackling everything from brand identities to social media campaigns in a collaborative environment that sharpens your strategic and creative edge.

Here's what makes this program stand out for experiential learning: you'll jump into team-based projects that simulate agency dynamics, develop complex thesis work with company collaborations, and gain the soft skills to thrive in fast-paced creative teams:

- Software and digital tools: Hands-on training with InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop for image/video design, plus modern editing apps like Canva and CapCut for content management across web, social media, and video storytelling—from reels to commercials.
- Group projects: Year 3 focuses on teamwork replicating real agency setups, including research, concept development, visual identity, content production, and multi-media campaign planning; earlier years build foundations through weekly interdisciplinary projects.
- Real projects and thesis: Culminate in a professional thesis combining strategy and execution, often sparked by your ideas or company briefs, covering full communication design phases.
- Workshops and professional dialogue: Practical workshops integrate design thinking, semiotics, and methodology with input from industry pros, plus exploration of social trends and media systems.