Domus Academy

Domus Academy is a private school of design in Milan, Italy. It offers undergraduate and postgraduate degree courses in fashion, industrial design, design management^[1], business and user experience design, product and interior design, design innovation, fashion and luxury brand management.

Domus Academy

Type	Private school
Established	1982
Location	Milan , Italy 45.4456°N 9.1744°E / 45.4456; 9.1744
Campus	via Carlo Darwin 20 20143 Milan
Website	domusacademy.com

History

Domus Academy was founded in 1982^[2] by the Mazzocchi family, owners of Editoriale Domus [it], which publishes Domus and Quattroruote magazines.^[3] Maria Grazia Mazzocchi was president of the school.^[3] Gianfranco Ferré was on the staff from 1983 to 1989,^[4][5] and Andrea Branzi was cultural director for the first ten years.^[3] In 2009 the school was bought by Laureate Education of Baltimore, Maryland for an estimated ten million euros.^[3] In 2018 Laureate sold it to the French group Galileo Global Education.^[6]

The school emerged from the cultural context of Italian Radical Design [en], and positioned itself as a space for experimental education. Figures such as Alessandro Mendini, Alessandro Guerriero, Ettore Sottsass, and Pierre Restany shaped its early development. Restany proposed Branzi, co-founder of the Archizoom collective, as the academy’s first director^[7].

Domus Academy was also influenced by Global Tools [de] (1973–1975)^[8], a short-lived but significant network of designers and theorists aiming to rethink design education. In the 1980s and 1990s, it developed master’s programs in areas such as fashion design, industrial design, and communication, often in collaboration with companies and cultural institutions.

A defining feature of Domus Academy’s educational model has been the integration of teaching with professional practice. The institution has promoted collaboration with designers operating across academic and industry contexts^[9]. Over the years, students have participated in activities involving professionals such as Achille Castiglioni, Ezio Manzini, Gaetano Pesce, Giampaolo Fabris, Giorgetto Giugiaro, Hans Hollein, Isao Hosoe, Issey Miyake, Jerszy Seymour, Michele De Lucchi, Nanni Strada.

The institution received the Compasso d’Oro award from the ADI – Associazione per il Disegno Industriale in 1994^[10]. The jury recognized its contributions to emerging areas of design such as the relationship between technology and human experience, the intersection of design and fashion, sociological approaches to design, and developments in design management and service design, in addition to its contributions in teaching and publishing.

Domus Academy has implemented a project-based educational approach, characterized by collaboration with industry partners, and by a faculty composed of both international academics and practitioners. The student body is highly international.

In 2009, Domus Academy became part of the Laureate International Universities network^[6]. In 2018, it was acquired by Galileo Global Education, a European higher education group^[11]. These organizational transitions expanded the institution’s international framework while maintaining its focus on design as a field of critical and cultural inquiry.

Programs and Accreditation

Domus Academy's academic offering includes bachelor of arts courses (180 ECTS credits), 1-year master's courses (60 or 90 ECTS credits) and 2-year master of arts courses (120 ECTS credits), which give access to PhD and doctorate programs. By successfully completing one of the 1-year Master's courses, students can obtain the title of Academic Master (60 ECTS credits), recognised in Europe and worldwide and accredited by the Italian Ministry of Education, University and Research (MIUR), or the title of Dual Award Master (90 ECTS credits). The Academic Master's degree is issued by NABA, Nuova Accademia di Belle Arti, which is on the list of institutions authorised by the MIUR to issue Higher Education in Art, Music and Dance.^[12] The Dual Award Master allows students to obtain an Academic Master recognised by the MIUR and, in addition, a Master of Arts officially recognised by the British system (Privy Council) and issued by Regent's University London.

Campus

The campus is located in the Navigli district of Milan. Facilities include design and fashion laboratories, a library, digital workspaces, and social areas.

Admissions

Courses are taught in English. Admission to undergraduate programs requires a high school diploma valid for university access. Postgraduate programs require a bachelor's degree or equivalent qualification. Domus Academy offers several intakes per year, and candidates are assessed on their academic record, a portfolio of work, and proficiency in English.

Recognitions

Domus Academy was awarded the Compasso d’Oro for its career and the quality of its teaching programmes^[10], as well as for its attention to advanced topics related to the development of Italian design. Over the years, the school has been recognised by rankings worldwide, including those by Business Week, Frame Publishers^[13], Domus Magazine^[14], and Azure Magazine^[15]. It received the Special Badge of Excellence in Learning Experience from The Business of Fashion^[16]. It is included the QS World University Rankings by Subject^[17], UI GreenMetric World University Rankings^[18] and THE Impact Rankings^[19].

Academic Collaborations

Domus Academy maintains partnerships with international institutions such as: Central Saint Martins (UK); Pratt Institute (USA); Royal College of Art (UK); RMIT University (Australia); Tsinghua University (China); College for Creative Studies (USA); Nottingham Trent University (UK); Strate School of Design (France); Institut Teknologi Bandung (Indonesia).

Industry Partnerships

Domus Academy integrates industry workshops into its curriculum through collaborations with companies such as: Ferrari, Google, Versace, IKEA, PepsiCo, Technogym, Nike, Moncler, Samsung, Condé Nast. The academy is a member of the Cumulus Association^[20], ADI– Associazione per il Disegno Industriale, and Piattaforma Sistema Formativo Moda^[21].

Alumni

Notable alumni include: Anna Dello Russo, Diego Dolcini [it], Joseph Forakis^[22], Francisco Gomez Paz [es]^[22], Christophe Pillet [fr]^[22], Neil Poulton^[22], Mario Trimarchi^[22], Philippe Bestenheider^[22], Defne Koz^[22], Marco Susani^[22], and Andrew GN.

Talks and Guest Speakers

The academy hosts regular lectures and events featuring professionals in the fields of design, art, and communication. Past speakers include Refik Anadol, Yves Béhar, Michele De Lucchi, Tom Dixon, Alberta Ferretti, Formafantasma, Erik Kessel, Mauro Porcini, and Vincent Van Duysen.