Desizn Circle International at Politecnico di Milano, Italy

Desizn Circle recently visited Politecnico di Milano, Italy, one of the most respected institutions for design, architecture, and engineering education. Ankita Ma’am, Shivam Sir, along with students from Desizn Circle, were accompanied by Eshita Dagal, currently studying at NID Ahmedabad, and Arnav Bali, currently studying at NIFT Delhi.

Our visit to the Polytechnic University in Milano was truly enriching. Located in one of the world’s most important design capitals, the campus offered us a firsthand experience of how design education is shaped through research, experimentation, material understanding, and practical making.

A special thanks to Mr. Emanuel Giovanni for giving us a guided tour of the university. We had the opportunity to see students working on fashion projects, product prototypes, material explorations, and process-driven design outcomes.

What stood out most was the university’s strong emphasis on materiality, sustainability, prototyping, and interdisciplinary thinking. The students seemed deeply engaged with their projects, and their work reflected a strong balance between concept, research, function, and execution.

Politecnico di Milano’s design ecosystem is supported by advanced infrastructure, including the Bovisa Durando Campus, home to the School of Design, and a large laboratory system for design research, prototyping, fashion, image-making, and material experimentation. The Department of Design’s labs cover more than 6,000 square metres and support teaching, research, and prototype development across different areas of design.

The university offers design programmes across areas such as Product Design, Fashion Design, Digital and Interaction Design, Integrated Product Design, and Design for the Fashion System. Its Fashion Design programme follows an interdisciplinary approach, allowing students to explore areas such as menswear, womenswear, accessories, knitwear, sportswear, and more.

For students planning to apply, Politecnico di Milano follows a structured admission process. Bachelor’s design applicants generally need to take the TOLD Design entrance test, while master’s applicants with foreign qualifications are evaluated through academic documents, programme selection, English language proof, CV, transcripts, and other required application materials.

The university fee structure is also relatively accessible compared to many private international design schools. For the 2025–26 academic year, Politecnico di Milano states that the annual all-inclusive contribution is €3,726, with possible reductions and financial aid depending on the student’s situation. It also offers merit-based scholarships for selected international Master of Science candidates, including tuition-fee waivers and, in some cases, an additional allowance.

This visit was a meaningful learning experience for Desizn Circle International . It gave our students a closer look at how global design education works — not just through classrooms, but through studios, laboratories, prototypes, materials, and a culture of curiosity.

A truly insightful day of learning, observation, and inspiration in the heart of Milan.