Language

English

Start date

October 2027

Frequency

Full time

Fruition

On campus

Duration

9 Months

Activate your creativity and discover multiple design disciplines through a learning approach that integrates theory, practice, and experimentation.

The Foundation in Global Design is an English-taught programme that allows you to explore design through hands-on experience and an interdisciplinary perspective. You will work on different projects across three key areas: service design (where you will create your own app), product design (where you will design and prototype a lamp), and interior design (where you will develop a pop-up store concept).

These projects are complemented by introductory modules that provide the foundations of design, along with a transversal module that examines its historical, cultural, and social context.

With a curriculum that combines research, analysis, material and tool experimentation, and audiovisual communication, you will build a robust portfolio to support your progression into higher education.

Information to decide

A practical and interdisciplinary programme that introduces you to the design ecosystem and enables you to start developing your portfolio through projects in different fields.

The programme blends hands-on learning, project-based work, and material exploration. Graphic and audiovisual tools are used to support the design process.

The training is organised into two semesters and five modules. It begins with the fundamentals of design and continues with a module on historical, cultural, and social context. You will then progress to three complete projects in service design, product design, and interior design.

This structure enables you to experience different areas of design and build your portfolio step by step.

This programme is aimed both at those seeking an initial introduction to the world of design and at those who wish to explore different creative fields before choosing a specialisation.

It is also an ideal option for international students looking to broaden their academic background in a multidisciplinary and multicultural city like Barcelona.

If you are interested in design and want to explore its main disciplines while developing your creative skills, this programme will help you confidently prepare for your next academic step.

The Foundation in Global Design offers an immersive introduction to design across several key disciplines, through hands-on learning that combines material experimentation, visual techniques, and digital tools.

The experience is enriched by professional lecturers, a transversal approach, and direct engagement with Barcelona’s creative ecosystem, including workshops and activities with local designers and makers. From day one, you will gain a broad understanding of design, develop essential skills, and build a strong portfolio that will open the door to higher-education pathways and future academic and creative opportunities.

Syllabus

What will you learn?

The course introduces you to the fundamentals of design with an interdisciplinary approach, and you’ll also delve into marketing applied to design, as well as the analysis and communication tools you’ll use in a design project. Last but not least, you’ll finish the course by presenting a project to put everything you’ve learnt into practice. 



Subjects

Foundations of Design 

Drawing and Color 

Volume 

Materiality 

External Visits: exploring the world of design 

Design Contexts: History, Culture, and Society 

History of Design 

Sociology 

Applied History 

Applied Sociology 

Service Design: Designing an App   

Project research & development 

Applied representation & communication 

Product Design: Designing and Prototyping a Lamp   

Project research & development 

Applied materiality 

Applied representation & communication 

Interior Design: Designing a Pop-up Store  

Project research & development 

Applied materiality 

Applied representation & communication 

News

30 October 2026

IED joins the Chile Diseño 2026 Awards as institutional partner, speaker and jury contributor

IED supports the awards through jury participation and a talk by Spanish illustrator Puño.

28 October 2026

National Portfolio Day Milan 2026

In its 60th anniversary year, IED hosts the Milan edition of National Portfolio Day, the international event for anyone who wants to study or specialize in art, design, fashion and visual communication.

27 October 2026

Keiji Takeuchi: Design between objects and context

Keiji Takeuchi guides second-year students of the Product Design BA Degree at IED Milano through a design journey exploring the relationship between objects, people and their surroundings, combining research, model-making and observation of everyday life.

Art and design exhibition featuring two central rocks sewn with printed fabrics

23 October 2026

“Valor Ancestral: Latam Creative Talent 2026” makes a stop at IED Barcelona

Following its presentation at IED Madrid and ahead of its move to IED Kunsthal Bilbao, the latest edition of the international exhibition, an initiative promoted by IED since 2022, was on display to coincide with the Barcelona campus’s activities as part of Barcelona Design Week.

Young woman showing off her award at the event's photocall

20 October 2026

Pentawards 2026 recognises IED Barcelona’s packaging design with Gold and Silver awards

“SOLMOD”, by Sofía Millán, and “Drop”, by Livia Ylldiz Struga, both second-year Product Design students, competed in the category for student concepts that have not yet been brought to market.

16 October 2026

The Word for Border is Water

IED participates for the third time at the Class of 26 exhibition during Dutch Design Week

16 October 2026

The three IED projects selected for the ADI Design Index 2026

Textile Refugee (IED Milano), EVOluzione and Sei Complice (IED Roma) are in the running for the 2028 Compasso d’Oro in the Targa Giovani category.

15 October 2026

(AB)NORMAL STUDIO and IED Milano rethink workspaces

Davide Masserini, co-founder of (AB)NORMAL Studio, will teach second-year students in the Product Design course at IED Milano.

13 October 2026

Public Spiritualism: rethinking public space through design

IED Milano hosts the danish artist Thomas Poulsen for the workshop Public Spiritualism addressed to 3rd year Product Design students.

Don't miss it

Two reusable bottles, one green and one yellow respectively.
Exhibitions and Festival

06 October 2026 - 01 September 2027

Barcelona

“The Beetle Bottle” and “Mis queridos Ascos” at “Matter Matters. Designing with the World”

The projects created by IED Barcelona alumni Abdelaziz Moustafa (Product Design) and Violeta Mata (Fashion Design) have been selected to be part of this exhibition at the Museu del Disseny-DHub.

21 October 2026 - 15 November 2026

Bilbao

IED Kunsthal Bilbao participates as an academic partner in TAC! Festival of Urban Architecture

A lecturer and two Interior Design graduates are taking part in Young Architecture Encounters, as part of the festival's programme in Sestao, running until 15 November.

Lecture and Panel discussion

19 November 2026 - 19 November 2026

Barcelona

“Future Frugal: Crafting conviviality in a new ‘age of scarcity’“

Renowned architect Francesca Sarti will lead this online masterclass, exploring how craft, design and anthropology can help us reimagine our relationship with food, materials and the environment.