The MFA in ØKM Applied Craft and Design + Entrepreneurship provides a synthesis between an approach to Design rooted in Craft — emphasizing making, community, social regeneration and a commitment to local material investigations — Zero Kilometers Design Approach — with a basic set of management competencies and skills.
Second level academic diploma. Taught in English.
Accredited by the Ministry of Instruction, Universities, and Research.
Learning goals
The course aims to respond to the urgent needs of contemporary global ecology through the study and application of new systems of production and information technology, while drawing on local and artisanal systems of production. This means working with materials and graphics, designing new products and new communications systems, coming to terms with new technologies, but also rethinking the role of local, artisanal, and industrial production in the contemporary world. Above all, it means questioning the ways we produce, market, and consume objects.
Professional opportunities
As young designers, students will be called upon to refine their understanding of themselves and their interests and to contextualize that understanding in the present, focusing on understanding the profound repercussions that their work will have in the world. New graduates, at the conclusion of an itinerary aimed at promoting the development of European-dimension professional skills, will be able to apply their skills as professionals in firms and companies working in the fields of product and service design, and visual and multimedia communications, as well as in private and public cultural and educational institutions. The training offered in the course will constitute a solid basis for studies in second level degree programs, both in Italy and abroad.
| Term | 18 moths |
| Language | Emglish/Italian |
| Certificate | Second level academic diploma |
| Credits | 120 CFA |
| Specialisation | Product Design Graphic design 3D modeling |
Are you interested in?
First year
The first year is designed to provide students with a solid theoretical and practical foundation, laying the groundwork for the development of complex and informed projects. Through a multidisciplinary approach that integrates design, craftsmanship, and digital technologies, students explore the relationships between design, sustainability, and local contexts.
Particular emphasis is placed on creative processes and applied research methodologies, fostering an ethical and critical approach to contemporary challenges. By combining hands-on activities with moments of theoretical reflection, the program promotes a deep understanding of the economic, social, and cultural dynamics that shape design.
This approach equips students with the tools to address the complexities of today's world responsibly and creatively.
Extracurricular activities
From the very first year, students will be engaged in extracurricular activities that include museum visits, practical workshops, collaborations with external organizations, and travel opportunities both within Italy and abroad. The focus of their research will center on enhancing the host context, with site-specific projects exploring the connections between place, culture, and sustainability. Each project will culminate in a collective presentation, providing an opportunity for dialogue and exchange with the local community.
Second year
The second year of the Master’s program introduces a new perspective on design theory and practice, aimed at harnessing design’s transformative power to foster more conscious and sustainable ways of being and making.
The curriculum addresses critical trends in academic fields, encouraging constructive dialogue between natural, social, and human sciences.
Under guided mentorship for their final research project, students are invited to explore design as a tool for rethinking the relationship between individuals, society, and the environment. This work contributes uniquely to the contemporary discourse on sustainability and innovation.
Study visit
The course will be based in Syracuse but designed as an itinerant program, with a strong emphasis on the relationship between the local territory and its community.
Main Courses
Design Methodology, Modern crafts, Business planning, Communication tools, Environment Design, Entrepreneurial & Management Skills, Immersive Craft, Design Studio, Ethics for Transformative Change, Contemporary machine & Digital manufacturing, Mastering Data Visualization & Effective Presentation, Human-Centered Design and Innovation.
