1. General Information

School	School of Design
Code Reference Law	1162
Name	Communication Design
Reference Law	Ordinamento 270/04
Class of degree	LM-12 - Design
Degree level	Laurea Magistrale (Equivalent To Master Of Science)
First year of activation	2010/2011
Official length of the programme	2
Years of the programme already activated	1,2
Official language(s) (¹)	Italian/English
Campus	Milano
Dean of the School	Francesco Zurlo
Coordinator of the Study programme	Elena Caratti
Website of the School	http://www.design.polimi.it
Website of the Study programme	https://www.designdellacomunicazione.polimi.it/

(¹) The degree course offers some tracks in Italian and others in English.

Student Office (Study programme) - Milano Bovisa

Reference office	Orientamento carriera didattica Design
Address	Via Candiani 72, 20158 Milano
Contact	https://www.design.polimi.it/contatti

Central Student Office - Milano Bovisa

Address

VIA LAMBRUSCHINI, 15 (MI)

2. General presentation of the study programme

The rapid development of the media (internet and digital communication systems), the increase in the services governing their production/management, and the devices and occasions for communicating and interacting - all of this is making communication an increasingly large and complex sector.

The communication and information sectors are characterised by a generalised presence, an in depth dissemination, and a strong and powerful framework. The communication and information industry is one of the driving forces in modern society. The artefacts and systems designed by communication designers maintain a constant and cross disciplinary presence.

Communication design uses publishing to help spread cultural awareness. It is where media is computerised, and where new methods of the production and dissemination of information takes place.

Communication design works with the interfaces that are connected to products and services, which create a relationship with the user.  It can also work with various people and their environment to promote conscious access and use. Some examples of this could be in a large scale distribution plant where consumers come in contact with goods, in the entertainment industry, in sports, in planning of the identity and the dynamics of events, and their dissemination on the various media.

Communication designers are cultural operators who contribute to building relations between subjects in society. These relations are always strictly connected to the contents being conveyed, which contains either persuasive or prescriptive type. Communication designers must take into account the idea of visual contamination, communication saturation and the information overload phenomena, symptoms of a system (where technologies require an overview and direction), conscious choices, and planned trajectories.

Communication designers should be at ease with all aspects of a communication project. These aspects include, but are not limited to: publishing graphics, TV, audio-visual and multimedia publishing, coordinated corporate image and brand identity, product packaging and communication, script character design, web design, data and information visualization, interactive communication artifacts, and service/complex communication design (social networks and joint platforms). All of this takes place with a vision which sets communication as the fundamental strategic linchpin in contemporary society. This design requires specific tools and methods, and an ability to work with the most modern visualization and communication technologies.

In particular the specific skills of communication designers relate to several subjects such as integrated two dimensional and three dimensional communication systems (static and dynamic), lettering, visual perception and variables. Their skills can also include designing sign information, static and dynamic representation techniques (photography, motion graphics, movie design), designing analogue communication products and digital devices, and off-line and on-line platforms (the web and other internet platforms including mobile platforms).

The course catalogue encompasses a Laurea (equivalent to Bachelor of Science) course and a Laurea Magistrale (equivalent to Master of Science) course in Communication Design. The Laurea courses are designed for students with a solid cultural background, a great deal of interest in the subject of design culture (generally and specifically in all aspects of communication), and an openness to learning techniques, methods and languages in their most innovative forms.

3. Learning objectives

The specific educational objectives of the Laurea Magistrale (equivalent to Master of Science) in Communications Design deal with creating design professionals capable of defining strategic and systematic concepts, and coordinating the various figures required to design complex communication systems. This should take place after having acquired technical and design skills in the media sector and in different artefact fields.

The Laurea Magistrale's educational objectives include design autonomy, increased theoretical and system skills, and the development of complex communication systems that integrate a range of artefacts and support. The educational objectives also includes coordination and monitoring forms of inter-media communication with specific reference to digital systems/environments.

The programme intends to train professionals capable of:

- generating complex concepts which supply innovative communication proposals;

- designing new connections among the different communication formats;

- connecting the various elements in a complex communication system originally and innovatively;

- acquiring a systemic vision;

- working and interacting in multi-disciplinary and multicultural groups taking on design-direction roles with a marked propensity for leadership, and an ability to lead a group around a design vision or scenario.

A further primary objective is acquiring skills to help facilitate the formation of a communications design culture of critique, so that communication designers can take on a self-aware and socially responsible, critical, pro-active role in relation to the contents of the communication message. As a whole, the educational programme thus intends to orient students towards the most important and complex real world developments. This orientation should come from a perspective conscious of production dynamics and communication products, and should take into consideration their impact on society.

The Laurea Magistrale in Communication Design programme is divided up into theory courses, project laboratories, work experience with companies, institutions and professional studios, and Laurea Magistrale graduation work.

The theoretical modules are grouped into the first semester of the first year of the 2-year course. The objective is to provide students with an opportunity for an in-depth study of the theoretical-critical dimension of communication and the semiotic, sociological and mass media disciplines. These are some of the foundation stones for communication design skills.

Theoretical courses and project laboratories are closely integrated according to a principle of complementarity. The project's laboratories focus on the diverse dimensions of communication design from two focal points. The first concentrates on the strategic aspects of the project, and aims to develop concept elaboration skills. The second focuses on the digital technology communication and interaction dimensions and its interaction with languages, signs, visual culture, and new socio-cultural practices.

The project themes, which are intense design opportunities and the focus of the school’s laboratories, are chosen for their relevance to modern research issues. These are opportunities of problem solving and spaces for students to develop an exploratory and experimental dimension in their studies. The students will be developing the methodological precision, tools, and techniques for project development in marked co-relation to vision, scenario, and solution building training for complex design projects.

The teaching model involves two different types of laboratory experience.

As well as project laboratories students will gain design experience with the workshop formula, which takes the form of intensive short duration courses (one week). In connection with contexts external to the university (companies, professionals, and organisations) and relevant to emerging social issues, students will take on a project theme where they must demonstrate the ability to activate the project concept to configure potential solutions.

The project laboratories within the Laurea Magistrale and the Final Synthesis Laboratory are the accumulation of all the skills acquired in the programme of study converge. These laboratories constitute a basis for the degree graduation work. The Final Synthesis Laboratory is a full-blown research-education platform, which gives students the opportunity to try their hand at strong inter-disciplinary projects with innovative objectives.

4. Organization of the study programme and further studies

4.1 Structure of the study programme and Qualifications

The Laurea Magistrale (equivalent to Master of Science) Programme is divided into 4 semesters and offers 120 credits (CFU).

At the moment of the matriculation, the students are assigned to a Section, to which they will belong until the end of the Programme.

The curriculum allows the students to opt for some Laboratories (2 at the 1^st year and  1 at the 2^nd year) and Courses, in order to personalize their own study path.

During the 2^nd year Laboratory, the student applies the competencies he/she has acquired.

 

The Programmes terminate with a compulsory internship and a degree examination, where the final dissertation is discussed.

During the Laurea Magistrale Programmes, the student can join Double Degree Programmes and Ambassador high-level training courses.

4.2 Further Studies

The qualification grants access to "Dottorato di Ricerca" (Research Doctorate), "Corso di Specializzazione di secondo livello" (2nd level Specialization Course) and "Master Universitario di secondo livello" (2nd level University Master)

5. Professional opportunities and work market

5.1 Professional status of the degree

The professional profile of the Master has a role as director of design, oriented in the design of strategies for business communication and art direction. These figures may be placed in companies or institutions with strong commitment to corporate communication or online presence through e-commerce, they also have opportunity in the market of multimedia and traditional publishing, in the advertising and communication agencies, and with consulting firms in the IT area, cultural institutions, museums and the promotion / service for cultural heritage.

The fast and continuous development of the media, web, and mobile device application systems makes communication a continuously expanding and articulate professional sector.

Career options opened up by this Laurea Magistrale are direction and management of design activities for the strategic planning of complex communication systems. These profiles find their place in companies and other organisations with strong identity building, communications, stakeholder interaction and web presence orientation. The multi-media and digital publishing sector, advertising and communication companies, strategic IT consultancy companies, cultural institutions, museums and cultural heritage promotion, and strategic service provision are also potential career opportunities. A career as an independent entrepreneur (freelance or setting up new business) is also an option.

The traditional and multi-media publishing sector is a potential career option. Within this the user can explore on-line and off-line services, the brand and product identity sphere, and web products and services. Prototype innovation and experimentation is another potential career option. This involves integrating traditional communication systems with digital and web environments and systems.

5.2 Careers options and profiles

The traditional profiles required by the communications industry have been supplemented by new profiles that arose with the digital revolution. In particular, privileged areas of integration of visual communication designers are the traditional and multimedia editorial sector, the professional structures that carry out consultancy activities within the project of communication, graphic, multimedia and digital. Other areas of integration are advertising and communications agencies, companies with a strong vocation to corporate and product communications, the tertiary sector, and the expanding design of visual interfaces for access to complex sets of data and information.

5.3 Qualification profile

Communication designer
profile in a work context:

This designer profile, given his/her design skills in the field of different media and structures, is able to define strategic, systemic and complex concepts, and to coordinate the different figures involved in the communication project.
The Communication Designer has a direction and management role in the design activities for design of company communication and artistic direction strategies.

skills of this function:
Specific skills:
- generating complex concepts supplying innovative communication proposals;
- designing new connections among the different communication formats;
- connecting up the various elements in a complex communication system originally and innovatively;
- analysing the projects with a systemic vision and with the capacity to criticize the communication design, with awareness and social responsibility, in close relation with the contents of the communication;
- working and interacting in multi-disciplinary and multicultural groups taking on design-direction roles with a marked propensity for leadership and an ability to lead and bring together a group around a design vision or scenario.

Job opportunities:
Career options include both traditional and multi-media publishing sector, the brand and product identity sphere and web products and services; prototype innovation and experimentation integrating traditional communication systems and technologically advanced systems. The profiles from this Laurea Magistrale can work as director or manager of design activities for company communication and artistic direction strategies. With these skills they can find a place in companies or institutions or work as freelancer.
These profiles find their place in companies and institutions with strong attention to company communication or to the web presence through the e-commerce; they also have many opportunities in the multi-media and traditional publishing market, advertising and communication companies, IT consultancy companies, cultural institutions, museums and cultural heritage promotion and service provision.
They have many job opportunities to be employed in multimedia and traditional publishing market, in advertising and communication agencies and in consulting companies in the IT field, as well as in production companies.
The traditional professional figures required by the communication industries have been supplemented by new professions emerging from the information technology revolution. Specific sectors in which visual communication designers are in demand are: traditional and multi-media publishing companies; professional bodies providing graphics and multi-media design consultancy services; advertising and communications companies; strongly corporate and product communication-oriented companies; the tertiary sector.

6. Enrolment

6.1 Access requirements

First cycle degree (level 6 EQF) or comparable qualification

Candidate admission is dependent on assessments of merit and of the contents of previous courses of study. Students from other campuses or dissimilar study programmes will be required to undergo assessment of their educational background in order to identify any supplementary courses of study which may be required before admission to the Laurea Magistrale study programme.

Qualifications required for admission:

-  Level I or II laurea;

-  Appropriate English languages skills certification.

Updates to the “Guida all’ammissione alla Laurea Magistrale” are published every year on the School's site including detailed information on the material required for admission applications, how to register and deadlines, admission without assessment and reasons for non admission. Minimum laurea marks required for admission are also shown.

Students requiring supplementary studies prior to admission must fulfil these within one year of the date of assessment.

6.2 Requested knowledge

Access to the assessment procedure for the purposes of admission to the Master's Degree Courses offered by the School of Design is granted to:

Politecnico di Milano graduates/undergraduates with a weighted average of not less than 23/30 and in possession of a suitable English language certificate;

- candidates graduating from other Italian universities with a weighted average of no less than 25/30 and in possession of a suitable English language certificate;

- candidates who have graduated from foreign universities and have a suitable English language certificate (an Italian language certificate is also required in the case of a section with teaching in Italian).

 

The English language certificate for candidates with an Italian qualification must be submitted by the application deadline:

https://www.polimi.it/studenti-iscritti/lingua-inglese/studenti-dei-corsi-di-laurea-magistrale/

For candidates with a foreign qualification check the link below:

https://www.polimi.it/en/international-prospective-students/laurea-magistrale-programmes-equivalent-to-master-of-science/application-procedures/application/list-of-documents-required-by-the-admissions-office/

Admission to the Master's Degree in Communication Design requires a Bachelor's degree, or equivalent qualification obtained abroad, in Class L-4 Industrial Design.

Applicants with a foreign qualification will only be assessed if the course of study allows admission without curricular supplements.

 

Those who hold a Bachelor's degree in one of the following Classes may also enrol:

- L-3 Disciplines of the Performing Arts, Music, Entertainment and Fashion

- L-8 Computer Engineering

- L-9 Industrial Engineering

- L-10 Literature

- L-17 Architectural Sciences

- L-20 Communication Sciences

- L-31 Computer Science and Technology

provided they meet specific curricular requirements as specified below:

at least 40 ECTS credits in total in the fields ICAR/13, ICAR/17 Design, ING-INF/05 Information Processing Systems, SPS/08 Sociology of Cultural and Communication Processes.

In the absence of these curricular requirements, supplements will be assigned.

For these courses of study an additional project workshop will be assigned to which teaching in the above-mentioned Sectors will be added until the necessary ECTS credits is reached to complete the supplements.

Graduates from ISIAs and Academies may also be admitted to the Master's degree course: admission is possible for courses with curricula related to Design and Visual Culture.

Fulfilment of the necessary curricular requirements is assessed by a special CdS Committee.

The committee will advise the applicant of the need to supplement their qualifications before proceeding to assess the individual's preparedness.

These supplements must be fulfilled within one year of the application for evaluation: students in these circumstances may also supplement their plan by bringing forward, through registration in single courses, Master's degree courses up to a maximum of 32 ECTS credits.

To check the curricular additions awarded, see the School of Design's Admission Guide to Master's degree programs: https://www.design.polimi.it/en/teaching/documents/career-guides

 

It is possible to apply for admission to the Master's degree program in the 1st semester, according to the periods indicated in the academic calendar and the procedures detailed in the Admission Guide to the Master's degree programs of the School of Design. The deadlines, application procedures and documents required for candidates with an Italian qualification are indicated in the Admission Guide to the Master's Degree Courses of the School of Design:

https://www.design.polimi.it/en/teaching/documents/career-guides

The deadlines, application procedures and documents required for candidates with foreign qualifications can be found at the following link:

https://www.polimi.it/en/international-prospective-students/laurea-magistrale-programmes-equivalent-to-master-of-science/application-procedures/

 

 Admission to the Master's degree is by means of an online application and is subject to the assessment of the candidate's previous career and individual preparation by a special committee whose decision is final. In the event of a unfavourable assessment, the Committee will give appropriate reasons for the decision.

 For the assessment of an individual's readiness, the weighted average (only for candidates with an Italian qualification), consistency with the Level I course and documents relating to projects carried out in the three-year period, extra-curricular educational and professional experiences will be assessed.

Evaluation criteria, cases exempt from assessment (admission de jure) for candidates with an Italian qualification are indicated in the Admission Guide to the Master's Degree Courses of the School of Design:

https://www.design.polimi.it/en/teaching/documents/career-guides

 

Transitions and transfers

Students already enrolled in Master's degree courses at the Politecnico di Milano in previous academic years may apply to transfer to another course; students enrolled in Master's degree courses at other universities may apply to transfer; both procedures may be carried out through the online services with the same deadlines and procedures provided for new admissions to the Master's degree course.

Applications for Transition and Transfer are only possible in the 1st semester.

Acceptance of transfer applications from eligible candidates is subject to compliance with the numbers allocated for each Master's degree: if transfer applications exceed the number allocated for this procedure, a ranking will be drawn up.

 

The acceptance of transfer applications from eligible candidates is subject to their being placed in a useful position in the ranking list for newly enrolled candidates.

 

 

Guide to admission
http://www.design.polimi.it/it/studiare-design/guide-alla-carriera/

6.3 Deadlines for admission and number of places available

Places available for admission:
- CdLM Communication Design (Milan campus): 130 st
of which 15 reserved for non-EU students of which 3 for Chinese students "Marco Polo" project

For timelines regarding admission to the Master's Degree check the Admissions Guide Master's Degree Courses and the 2024/2025 academic calendar

6.4 Tutoring and students support

Orientation and ongoing tutoring include all activities aimed at providing assistance to students before and during their university career, so that it can take place within the timeframe envisaged by the teaching regulations and in a way that is profitable from the point of view of the development of professional and human skills. Tutoring activities are therefore distinct from institutional teaching activities, even though they may serve or complement them. Tutoring activities can be carried out by Masters Degree students, PhD students, lecturers and external staff.

Tutoring activities are planned and managed by the School in close coordination with the Course of Study.

At University level, the Financial Aid and International Mobility Service interacts with the Schools on the administrative aspects of tutoring Master's degree students.

 The School appoints the President of the Joint Committee as the School Tutoring Representative in order to carry out a statistical analysis of the data (learning analytics), initiate discussions with the student representatives on the Joint Committee, discuss with the CCS Tutoring Representatives and plan tutoring activities of maximum effectiveness.

 Tutoring activities are divided into the following services:

- educational guidance for first-year and postgraduate students;

- guidance and support for students for the activation of curricular internships;

- educational support meetings held by professors (to facilitate the choices of including optional courses for the purposes of personalising the study plan);

- assistance/reception activities for first-year students on Master's degree courses, both at the desk and through the new communication channels set up by the School;

- support for foreign students enrolled in English-language Master's degree courses and for students on international mobility;

- assistance for revision and catch-up seminars;

- assistance in computerised classrooms, libraries and laboratories;

- assistance in finding and developing teaching materials.

Open Days are organised for students wishing to enrol in the School of Design's courses of study, during which each course of study presents its teaching programme through presentations and/or open lectures.

An orientation service is available to inform future students about the educational and training activities of their courses of study in order to clarify the educational objectives and professional opportunities.

Every year a Welcome Day is organised for first-year students, during which the following are presented: the organisation of the School, the offices and their responsibilities, the international exchange programmes, the communication tools of the School and the Politecnico, the School of Design website, Trouble Ticketing, chat, the WeBeep portal, the library services, the instrument laboratories and Safety Week (the week in which students obtain authorisation to access the laboratories). During this meeting, space is given to the presentation of the Joint Committee and the Student Representation.

The Student Representatives of the School Council have prepared a handbook to introduce themselves and summarise the services students can access.

For current students, presentations of optional courses and Synthesis Workshops are prepared. In addition to the Teaching Fact Sheets, which present in detail how the courses are conducted, students can access the School's website and view slides and videos prepared by the lecturers to summarise the topics covered in the course.

The School organises "Lesson 0" to provide information on the University's facilities and services and to explain the organisation of the course of study; the coordinators may organise this lesson collectively with the other courses of study or on the first day of class of one of the subjects of the specific Master's degree course. Second-year students are provided with information on the range of courses on offer and on initiatives specific to their year.

The focuses of Lesson 0 are:

- Course Organisation and University Services (I LM);

- Erasmus Placement (II LM);

- postgraduate: masters and doctorate

- job market and Career Service (II LM);

- student opinion questionnaire (I and II LM);

- questionnaire on services and overall training pathway (II LM);

- final examination: type, choice of supervisor and final grade (II LM).

For current students, the School has initiated activities aimed at:

- contribute to removing obstacles to successful course attendance, including through initiatives tailored to the needs, aptitudes and requirements of individuals;

- make students more actively involved in the learning process.

Il/i Course Tutoring Contact Person(s) is the institutional reference point for guidance at the School; the service is organised within the framework of the course of study and in particular deals with:

- support service to students where they need help in solving problems or deepening concepts;

- approval and possible drafting of texts concerning the presentation of the degree course for which the professor is the contact person;

- identification of student projects from their degree course, to be used as orientation tools during Open Days, and for the School's institutional communication.

For further details on the Tutoring Actions put in place by the School:

https://www.design.polimi.it/it/didattica/servizi/tutorato

 

7. Contents of the study Program

7.1 Programme requirements

To be eligible for the final examination of Laurea Magistrale, students must:
- To have accomplished 120 credits required in Level II of the Master including the credits related to the Internship and the credits of the final examination.
- To have developed an individual thesis under the guidance of a tutor, which can be either a projectable work, a theoretical-methodological deepening, or a historical/critical analysis.
The final examination of the Laurea Magistrale consists in the discussion of the individual thesis which must be written under the direction of the official teacher, thesis supervisor.

For more information on this subject refer to Regolamento Esame di Laurea Magsitrale published on the School website.

According to Law No. 33 of April 12, 2022, simultaneous enrollment in two programs is allowed. Enrollment in two programs is possible only if they are of different degree classes (classi di laurea) and differ in at least two-thirds of their educational activities regarding academic credits. 

Consistent with what is defined by Law No. 33, at the student's instance, the maximum number of CFUs already taken in the other program and validatable is 40 CFUs for MSc programmes.

Please note that courses belonging to programs of a different level or type from the program you are enrolled in cannot be validated.

Full details on when to apply for validation and the administrative fees to be paid are available on the Polimi website: https://www.polimi.it/contemporanea-iscrizione

7.2 Mode of study

The Laurea Magistrale course is full time activity. It is characterized by many different didactical activities: Monodisciplinary Courses are characterized by theoretic contents communicated by means of ex cathedra lessons and verified throughout the year with tests and interviews.
Integrative Courses cover more than one discipline or specific context, and are taught by two teachers who supplement one another.
Experimental Workshops are taught in the workshops, where the students are given an opportunity to experiment and use the tools used in design professions.
Design Studios involve both a number of internal teachers employed by the Faculty and several external professionals and feature design activities where the students work under the guidance of a team of teachers, each contributing with his or her expertise as related to the subject of the design.
Design Seminars (workshop) are of a duration of one week during which the students develop a project under the guidance of an established and well-known professional or a company.
Erasmus Program and the other international mobility projects enable the students to spend six months studying abroad, at qualified European and non-European design universities.
Professional Apprenticeship enable the student to works with a company or design studio that collaborates with the Polytechnic, under the guidance of a tutor of the Faculty and a tutor appointed by the company.
Conclusive Design Studio represents a complete design experience, linking numerous disciplinary contributions and guiding the students in the choice and development of their Dissertation.

 Optional student courses

In the Laurea Magistrale programme 12 credits are awarded to optional courses (equivalent to one course per year).

Students are required to choose their optional courses on presentation of their first year study plans. Similarly when they present their second year study plans they will be required to choose a second course.

The optional courses take place in both 1st and 2nd semesters.

Internships - Laurea Magistrale

In Laurea Magistrale students carry out an internship at a company, professional studio, study centre, body, etc. with a partnership agreement with the Politecnico di Milano which fulfils the requirements of current legislation specifying that, on completion of the agreed internship period (minimum 300 hrs, maximum 1 year) a certificate will be issued. To obtain the certificate, the student, when coming back, must have an interview with his/her Study Programme tutor, with submission of a report.

Internship is an educational experience which gives students real experience of the world of work. The host company must be aware of and agree to the legal regulations and the need for educational support and the student must accept and show an ability to respect the company's rules and behaviours.

Guide to the Study Plan and allocations in sections and elective courses for the Degree and Master's Degree Courses
https://www.design.polimi.it/en/teaching/documents/career-guides
Internship
https://www.design.polimi.it/en/1/teaching/studying-design/curricolar-internships

7.3 Detailed learning objectives

Students' ability to choose the courses and credits to be incorporated into their study plans is subordinate to a series of rules imposed by the School which makes available an educational programme worth 60 credits for each year of the course (nominal courses).

Each year students can choose courses for a different number of credits than that specified by the nominal courses (60 ECTS per year) 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 as shown in the Regulations.

Courses designed for later years of the programme cannot be inserted into an earlier year study plan (“advance study”) unless all previous and current year courses have also been integrated into it.

The School has also implemented an exam priority sequence on the basis of which certain courses can only be enrolled on if other, introductory courses have already been passed. Students may actually be able to enrol on fewer credits than is nominally the case as a result of this rule.

The System Regulations require a series of educational activities (specialist, elective or supplementary) which are present in the course of study in the form of single subject and integrated courses and Design studio in which the two-year Laurea Magistrale's educational content is conveyed.

Laurea Magistrale

In addition to these types of educational activities the System Regulations also require that a specific number of credits are attributed to types of activity which can be categorised as follows:

-  educational activities chosen independently by students (Optional courses);

-  educational activities relating to preparation for the final exams required for the qualification to be awarded (Final exam);

-   activities designed to enable students to gain additional language skills, IT, telematic and relational skills which will help them in finding employment as well as educational activities designed to facilitate professional choices by giving students direct experience of working in the sector which the qualification can gain them access to including, in particular, educational work experience and guidance (Internships).

 

Ambassador Programme

Within the context of the interuniversity framework project "Tecnologie delle Transizioni", Politecnico di Milano wants to activate high-level training courses aimed at creating new professional figures in Green Technologies, Smart Infrastructures, Inclusivity Design and Creative Thinking that:

• have skills in specific areas consistently with the training project (green/smart/inclusivity/creative)

• acquire enabling digital technologies in line with the profile
• master interdisciplinary tools, methods, and aptitude for a systemic vision
• develop talent to operate in interdisciplinary and multisectoral contexts acquired through exposure, even in teams, to case studies and challenges
• Will have systemic skills, interdisciplinary vision and a strong attention to the design of inclusive contexts, spaces, artefacts, infrastructures, technologies, products and services, enhancing the sense of equity.

The Laurea Magistrale Programme in Design della comunicazione will activate in the academic year 2024/2025 the training programme Ambassador in Smart Infrastructures and Inclusivity Design.

Once the student is registered for the programme, he/she will have to insert in the study plan at leat 30 credits related to the Ambassador in Smart Infrastructures or Inclusivity Design profile. These credits must include a minimum of 12 credits from list A and 18 credits from list B: 6 credits from these last ones will be inserted in the sudy plan as “effective” and will count towards the 120 credits needed to earn the Laurea Magistrale Degree, while the other credits will be added in a supernumerary position.

The registration at the Ambassador Programme is incompatible with the registration to (internal or external) Double Degrees or to the ASP.

Design Ambassador
https://www.design.polimi.it/en/teaching/educational-offer/ambassador-courses
Polimi Ambassador
https://www.polimi.it/en/programmes/high-level-training-courses/green-technologies-smart-infrastructures-e-inclusivity-design

1 Year courses - Track: C1 - C2

1 Year courses - Track: C_3 - COMUNICAZIONE 3

1 Year courses - Track: *** - non diversificato

2 Year courses - Track: *** - non diversificato

7.4 Foreign language

Foreign language assessment will be carried out in accordance with the university's methods as set out on the web page

https://www.polimi.it/futuri-studenti/ammissione-ai-corsi-di-laurea-magistrale/la-lingua-inglese .

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".

 English language knowledge, according to the standards indicated by the University, is a registration pre-requisite.  For admission to the School of Design LM Study Programme, certificates must be submitted by candidates within the time frames for admission applications. This deadline must be respected by all students (from similar or different courses)

https://www.polimi.it/en/current-students/language-requirements-english-and-italian

7.5 Degree examination

 

Thesis work is strictly individual. Coordinated theses with a common introductory part and separate theses can be considered. The Committee must always be able to identify the contribution made by each candidate.

There is only one Supervisor and they must be a lecturer (Professor or Researcher), whether permanent or contracted at the University (in the current or previous academic year) and may be a member of the Degree Committee. He/she may be assisted by one or more co-supervisors, or are experts in specific subjects, even if they are external to the School.

The Supervisor is usually included in the Graduation Committee that will judge the undergraduate student and make its proposal for a mark.

The student submits a thesis to the Degree Examination Board, which may consist of:

- an innovative research thesis (experimental, design, theoretical or historical) - including a textual contribution equivalent to at least 100 pages - consists of a paper arising from a detailed research hypothesis of scientific interest.

The Thesis must:

- to explore the project in its technical-specialist and/or systemic aspects in relation to the educational objectives of the course of study. The discussion must include an in-depth theoretical/critical, methodological and/or historical dissertation and/or an in-depth experimental study;

- include a substantial preparatory part devoted to research conducted with appropriate scientific and bibliographical references;   

- propose to deepen knowledge of a poorly established topic and its potential applications; or a greater contribution to the advancement of knowledge in a specific research area;

- is entitled to a maximum of 8 points when assessing the dissertation and its presentation. 

Or:

- in a Thesis to consolidateand refine knowledge already acquired which consists of a paper of (at least) 50 to 60 pages and has an application/design objective and/or the systematisation and organisation of documentary or bibliographical content based on pre-existing analytical grids.

The thesis must:

- illustrate the object of the research by emphasising the technical-specialist and/or systemic aspects

in accordance with the educational objectives of the course of study.

The discussion should include adequate methodological and theoretical/critical reasoning;

- focus on topics well established in scientific research and design applications;

- include a research part relevant to the development of the project and an explanation of the basic assumptions and main hypotheses on which the proposed project application is based;

- gives a maximum score of 4 points when assessing the dissertation and its presentation.

 

Students may apply for either the Innovative Research Thesis or the Consolidation Thesis.

However, the request for either type of thesis must be made (and assessed by the supervisor) on the basis of the minimum time required to complete either route and the commitment that the student intends to make to it.

During the course of the thesis, the supervisor may suggest to the student - in view of the aptitudes demonstrated, contingent interests and emerging time requirements - that the type and nature of the thesis be changed in both directions. It will then be the task of the supervisor to assess the final result and confirm or otherwise the correct change of the thesis' placement in the explicit category.

The work must demonstrate the competence and critical capacity developed by the student in the areas of the project in relation to the contents of the course of study. The Thesis works consist of a report containing the stages of development, the objectives of the work, the bibliography and the sources of documentation; the technical drawings of the project, the physical and/or virtual model where applicable.

The student must provide the Commission with at least two copies of the thesis, which he may take back at the end of the discussion. The presentation of the project may be supplemented by a report on the work experience carried out in Companies or Professional Studios.

The thesis is normally written in Italian or English. At the graduate student's justified request, a thesis written in other languages may also be accepted, subject to authorisation from the head of Degrees but with presentation and discussion in Italian or English. If the thesis is written in English or another foreign language, it must in any case contain an extract in Italian. 

Following the evaluation, presentation and discussion of the LM thesis, as well as of the student's entire career within the Master's degree course, the Degree Committee awards a score.

The mark is expressed in hundredths (/110). It consists of the sum of:

 1. the average achieved by the undergraduate in the courses, weighted by credits and expressed in hundredths and hundredths of a hundredths (without taking into account any additional activities and honours)

2. the increment awarded by the Degree Committees expressed in hundredths and hundredths of a hundredth. This sum shall be rounded up to the nearest whole number (0.50 is rounded up to 1.00) and limited to 110. The Degree

The minimum graduation mark will always be 66.

Committee may also award honours.

The score has a value

- between -1 and 8 points in the case of a theoretical, design, experimental or innovative research thesis (research thesis);

- between -1 and 4 points in the case of a thesis for the consolidation and improvement of knowledge already acquired (consolidation thesis).

In the case of five-year old theses, the score may be between 0 and 10 points.

 

Honours, which may also be proposed by the rapporteur, means a special commendation from the CL for the preparation and competence of the graduate, for their brilliant academic record, for the way in which they have presented their thesis, their ability to reason, and the quality and originality of the thesis. Honours may only be awarded if the mark given is, before rounding off, greater than or equal to 111 (one hundred and eleven) hundred decimal points.

Honours are awarded by unanimous decision of the members of the Degree Committee.

Further information can be found in the Master's Degree Examination Regulations available on the School's website. https://www.design.polimi.it/en/teaching/documents/career-guides

Guide to the Final Examination of Laurea Magistrale
http://www.design.polimi.it/it/studiare-design/guide-alla-carriera/

8. Academic calendar

The Laurea Magistrale programme calendar is structured into two semesters and students can enrol at the beginning of either semester. Thus studies can begin in either the first or the second semester of each academic year. The course is structured in order to enable students to complete the programme in four semesters whether first year Laurea Magistrale enrolment takes place in the first or second semesters.

An exam period takes place at the end of each semester (exam).

Information on Schedules and Deadlines
https://www.design.polimi.it/en/teaching/studying-design/lessons-timetable-calendars-and-deadlines

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.

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.

https://dipartimentodesign.polimi.it/en/laboratories

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.

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, internationalization 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 recent years, the School of Design 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), in Double Degree programmes, 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.

In addition to these actions, the School of Design invites Visiting Professors from all over the world, within its programs, and promotes innovative and international teaching activities through Collaborative Classes program which foresees a collaboration online of students and teachers.
 
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.

Each agreement is managed by a professor, promoter of the exchange responsible for the various steps of the mobility, from the selection until the validation of the exams.

The Erasmus+ Programme
The Erasmus + program establishes the possibility for a European university student to carry out a period of study in a foreign university within the European Union, from 2 up to 12 months, legally recognized by their university.

In particular, Erasmus for study allows university students to complete a period of study at a university that has signed an agreement with the home university. This mobility may give the right to an economic contribution (with conditions specified in the Call for international mobility) and to free enrollment in the host university. The student can thus follow courses and carry out exams in the partner university and then have the exams taken also in the university of their country recognized. The mobility can be carried out for a maximum of 12 months in each level of study.


 
Bilateral exchanges
The School of Design has also activated some bilateral agreements with non-EU universities.
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, Insurance,..).
 
 
 
Double Degrees
The School of Design has signed a series of bilateral agreements with some European and extra-European partners, to allow its students the opportunity to spend a period of study abroad, attending courses aimed at obtaining a double degree (master's degree + Diploma of the Partner University ).

Master's degree students have the opportunity to participate in a double degree project by extending their curriculum and replacing one semester at their home campus with two or three semesters at the host partner.

In order to obtain the two degrees, students must meet the requirements of both Universities or Schools and pass all the required exams. Students will also have to carry out a thesis work under the supervision of a thesis supervisor from the Polytechnic and a supervisor from the partner university and discuss the thesis in a regular graduation session in each of the two universities, even in virtual mode.

The double degree agreements available for LM students of the School of Design at the moment are:
In Europe:
Double Degree with Les Ecoles Centrales, France

In China:
Double Degree with Tongji University, Shanghai - China
Double Degree with Tsinghua University, Beijing - China
Double Degree with Xi'an Jiaotong University, China

In Latin America
Double Degree with the Universidad Nacional de Bogotà, Colombia
Double Degree with the Universidade De Sao Paulo, Brazil
Double Degree with the Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile
Double Degree with the Universidade do Vale do Rio Dos Sinos, Brazil

"Free Mover" Mobility

“Free Movers” are students who have international mobility and independently organize their period of study abroad. This mobility is not tied to an exchange project organized by the Politecnico di Milano, for example, Erasmus. It therefore occurs outside current agreements between the Politecnico di Milano and partner sites and the call for International mobility.

 

Since this is not a structured and community program, candidates for the "Free Mover" mobility must personally organize their stay abroad (contact with the chosen University, food, accommodation, health assistance, etc.) and there is no '' disbursement of any type of contribution to support the expenses for the mobility period.

“Free Mover” mobility may be used to sit exams or to conduct thesis work, with different requirements for the candidacy process and approval from the Programme. In the first case, the mobility may not be used for a site that has an exchange agreement with the Politecnico for the School in which the student is registered.

Guide to the international mobility of Corsi di Laurea e Laurea Magistrale Scuola del Design
https://www.design.polimi.it/en/teaching/documents/career-guides
For more information about the rules and limitations for "Free Mover" mobility, consult the University guidelines:
https://www.polimi.it/campus-e-servizi/mobilita-internazionale/studiare-allestero/free-movers

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/organizzazione/organi-di-ateneo/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.

15. Errata corrige