Scuola Politecnica di Design SPD
Introduction
Scuola Politecnica di Design SPD
A creative workshop for discovery, understanding, and the exchange of ideas and experiences.
Founded in 1954, SPD is the very first school in Italy for communication and design disciplines. Over the decades, it has been instrumental in shaping and nurturing the evolution of Italian design into its current form. The visionary artist Nino di Salvatore established SPD in 1954, leveraging his skills as a painter and sculptor to bring together artists, designers, professionals, and students from across five different continents. Eminent figures such as Bruno Munari, Gio Ponti, Max Huber, Pino Tovaglia, and Isao Hosoe have graced its halls as educators, with Achille Castiglioni, Rodolfo Bonetto, Roberto Sambonet, Donald Norman, and Arnaldo Pomodoro among its distinguished guests.
Presently, SPD continues to foster talent, collaborating with emerging designers and engaging in practical projects, guided by industry luminaries such as Piero Lissoni, Stefano Giovannoni, Denis Santachiara, and Andrea Branzi.
In the vibrant city of Milan, renowned as the design capital, SPD offers Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts programs. With 70 years of experience in the field, our courses encompass a diverse spectrum, spanning from product design to interior design, and from communication design to digital design. Our teaching approach is characterized by personalized guidance within an intimate learning environment that facilitates close interaction with our esteemed faculty and staff. Our study programs are distinguished by their strong emphasis on real-world projects, fostering close collaboration with industry professionals and companies.
Admissions
At SPD - Scuola Politecnica di Design, admission is highly competitive due to the limited number of available seats. Therefore, prospective students must successfully pass our rigorous selection process for enrollment.
For Bachelor of Arts Courses:
Eligible candidates must have completed a comprehensive educational journey spanning a minimum of 12 years, culminating in the award of a relevant qualification. Additionally, applicants from certain countries may need to have successfully passed a national examination for university entry. For non-native English speakers, an IELTS score of 5.5 or an equivalent proficiency level is required. Furthermore, applicants are required to submit a motivational letter and participate in an admission interview as integral components of the admission process.
For Master of Arts Courses:
Applicants will undergo a meticulous evaluation by the Admission Board, presided over by SPD's Director, following the submission of the following documents:
- A Bachelor of Arts degree or higher in a relevant field (such as Architecture, Design, Visual Arts, etc.), or a substantial track record of work experience in a related domain.
- Transcripts detailing subjects and grades (applicable to graduates).
- A comprehensive Curriculum Vitae.
- A digital portfolio.
- A motivational letter or statement of purpose in digital format (doc, docx, pdf) not exceeding 500 words.
- A valid passport with an expiry date extending at least six months beyond the admission date.
Rankings
Awards
An outstanding past has been extremely rewarding with exceptional recognition of the school: Boasting the exhibition at the Biennale di Venezia in 1986, at the Carrousel du Louvre and at the Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris; the ‘Medaglia d’Oro’ at the tenth Triennale in Milan and even the ‘Compasso d’Oro’ awarded by the ADI -Associazione Disegno Industriale in 1994; not to mention the honour of being granted twice the SMAU prize for Industrial Design.