Domus Academy

Mission Statement

Following the pioneering and visionary approach of its founders and early professors, including Andrea Branzi, Valerio Castelli, Gianfranco Ferré, Alessandro Guerriero, Maria Grazia Mazzocchi, and Alessandro Mendini, Domus Academy’s mission is to support the next generation of designers in shaping the future. Domus Academy is a visionary school of design research and experiential learning — an open, interdisciplinary environment in which students and professionals collaborate on forward-thinking projects with avant-garde companies. Through the learning by designing methodology, Domus Academy empowers talented individuals to develop the mindset and creative agility required to envision and realise innovative solutions for future scenarios.

International Role

Domus Academy adopts an international outlook aimed at enriching, disseminating, and continually evolving design culture. The school connects advanced knowledge with visionary practice through global partnerships and research collaborations. Domus Academy Faculty leads lectures, chairs panels, and conducts workshops worldwide, actively sharing and promoting the school’s research, design philosophy, and innovative methodologies. Collaborations with universities across the globe are further strengthened through initiatives such as the annual UNFOLD exhibition during Milan Design Week, which brings together academics and students from design universities worldwide to develop projects in response to a unique and compelling design theme. With 94% international students, Domus Academy represents a vibrant, multicultural community.

National Role

Deeply rooted in the Italian design ecosystem, Domus Academy has cultivated an extensive network of collaborations with some of the most prestigious Italian and international companies and design studios — including Accenture, Alessi, Artemide, Bulgari, CERN IdeaSquare, Cisco, Danone, Driade, Ducati, Ferrari, Flos, Google, Kartell, Kickstarter, Moncler, PepsiCo, Pomellato, Reebok, Salvatore Ferragamo, Technogym, Timberland and Veuve Clicquot. The school plays a prominent role in Milan’s major cultural and creative events, such as Milan Design Week and Milan Fashion Week, and collaborates closely with key Italian institutions including Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana, the Municipality of Milan and Piattaforma Sistema Formativo Moda

Main Focus

The core of Domus Academy’s educational philosophy is its learning by designing approach, in which learning is synonymous with investigating, researching, and developing ideas through cross-disciplinary collaboration. Students work on unconventional and visionary projects, exploring future scenarios and designing disruptive solutions. Central to this process is the expertise of our faculty — distinguished professionals who bring real-world insight and current industry practices into the academic environment. Domus Academy’s programmes include: Bachelor of Arts Programmes in Design and Fashion Design (180 ECTS), launched to address evolving market demands and global trends while reflecting the academy’s innovative methodology. Academic Master Programmes (60 ECTS) across 13 disciplines, including Business Design, Product Design, Fashion Design, Interaction Design, Interior & Living Design, Urban Vision & Architectural Design, Design x AI, Design Futures, Fashion Management, Fashion Styling & Visual Merchandising, Visual Brand Design, Luxury Brand Management, and Service Design. Two-year Master of Arts Programmes, such as MA in Design Innovation, MA in Fashion: Design, Art & Technology, and MA in Design Leadership & Innovation. All programmes are internationally accredited and recognised by the Italian Ministry of Universities and Research (MUR). Reflecting its visionary DNA, Domus Academy continues to expand its academic portfolio with innovative programmes designed to empower professionals to drive meaningful change across industry, society, and culture. Domus Academy has been awarded the Compasso d’Oro for its career and the quality of its teaching programmes, as well as for its attention to advanced topics which all contribute to making Domus Academy a crucial actor in the development of Italian design. Over the years, the school has been recognised as one of the best international design and fashion schools by prestigious rankings, including those by Business Week, Frame Publishers, Domus Magazine, and Azure Magazine. It received the Special Badge of Excellence in Learning Experience from The Business of Fashion. In 2025, Domus Academy was ranked by CEOWORLD Magazine among the 30 best fashion schools worldwide. It is included the QS World University Rankings by Subject, UI GreenMetric World University Rankings and THE Impact Rankings.