Directed by Luciano Comacchio · Iuav University of Venice
Master Interactive Media for Interior Design Rendering, generative AI, VR, photography and product communication for interior design.
XIV Edition 26-27
Classes on Fridays and Saturdays, in person in Venice: built for people who already work.
What you will be able to do
By the end of the year, you can do this
We are not listing the modules here; they are below. This is what you hand to a client or an employer the day after your thesis.
Model and render a photorealistic interiorfrom floor plan to finished image, ready for the catalogue.
3D modelling · Rendering · AI
Design and photograph a product setfrom moodboard to delivered shot, in the studio or in a showroom.
Interior styling · Photography
Shoot and edit a brand videofor a design company: script, filming, editing, post-production.
Video making
Build a navigable virtual showroomand let a client walk through it in a headset before anything is built.
Immersive VR
Draw up the lighting design of a showroomwith the calculations, not just the intentions.
Interior lighting
Set up the visual identity and website of a brand or studiogrids, typography, prototype and development.
Graphic design · Web
Use generative AI at every stage without depending on itand explain to a creative director why an image works.
Image theory · AI
Study programme
One year, 60 ECTS credits, three macro areas
Twelve modules, three areas, one real project holding them together. Open only what interests you: the full programme is in the PDF.
Dec 26 – Jun 27
Jul – Nov 27
Dec 27
What makes the IMID Master uniqueBridge to companies · Image theory · Handcrafted CGI and AI · Lighting · VR · Year-long project
- The bridge between university and workMethods and tools are learned by working on real company projects, in design teams. The master tells you who you are when you arrive and what you still need to work in interior design: we work with companies every day.
- Image theoryA module unique in the Italian landscape: from rêverie to Roland Barthes' punctum, you learn to describe what surrounds us and build an environmental imagery — the theory that lets you use generative AI consciously.
- Handcrafted CGI, AI in the workflow3D modelling, rendering and animation are done by hand; AI tools enter the pipeline where they multiply quality and speed. AI emerges from the programme — it does not replace it.
- Lighting design in the projectLighting design completes concept and interior design: from lighting calculations to the lighting project of a real showroom.
- Immersive VR as design validationVirtual reality for interiors as a validation and simulation tool: production time and costs drop while results are maximised, with the best technologies on the market.
- A flagship project for a real companyShowroom and communication contents developed throughout the year for the edition's main partner company, presented to a real corporate jury.
1. Digital media and communicationDisplay forms · Video making · Interior photography · Image theory
- Display formsThe design product: territory, culture and communication. Innovative scenarios in visual communication.
- Video makingBrand experience and storytelling, screenwriting, shooting and editing techniques, AI-assisted post-production.
- Interior photographyExposure, natural and flash lighting, framing and composition, studio and location shooting.
- Image theoryThe "poverty" of the image and the "richness" of reality, rêverie as the condition of imagination, Barthes' studium and punctum: building an environmental imagery to use generative AI consciously.
- Photoshop or Affinity Photo · Capture One · Camera Raw · DaVinci Resolve
2. Interior design and project development3D interior modelling · Interior styling · Interior lighting · Interior design and CAD
- 3D interior modellingBox and polygonal modelling, low poly, topology, UVW mapping, AI-assisted modelling (text-to-3D and image-to-3D).
- Interior stylingImage consulting, location and set shooting, moodboards and furniture design.
- Interior lightingLight in relation to architecture, lighting calculations, lighting design of a showroom.
- Interior design and CADConcept, materials, design and representation with CAD systems.
- Blender · SketchUp · AutoCAD · DIALux
3. Interactivity and virtual realityImmersive VR · Graphic design · Interactive applications · Rendering and 3D animation
- Immersive VRVirtual showroom design, user interfaces, asset design and UX design; VR as a design validation and simulation tool.
- Graphic designLayouts and grids, typography, colour, vector graphics and web prototyping.
- Interactive applicationsHTML and CSS, Javascript libraries, CMS and plugins.
- Rendering and 3D animationInterior rendering, render enhancement with generative AI, 2D/3D animation, timelines and keyframes, object and camera animation, generative video.
- Unreal Engine · Figma · Blender
Internship, project work and thesis300 hours in a company, studio or agency, or project work on a real case
Faculty
The IMID Master faculty
Internationally renowned professionals, university researchers and company managers: a direct link between academic training and the demands of the job market.
Luciano Comacchio
Architect, Master Director
Read the bio
Università Iuav · Asolana Group · H-FARM College
Founded the Iuav MeLa Media Lab in 2008 and directed it until 2025. Founder and director of the Digital Unit at Asolana Group, scientific director at H-FARM College. He has coordinated the IMID Master since its first edition and teaches rendering and post-production.
Giovanni Siard
Architect, Interior Designer
Read the bio
Università Iuav · H-FARM College
Architect and designer, consultant for numerous industrial product companies. Interior design lecturer at the IMID Master since 2012.
Elisa Ossino
Architect, Interior Stylist
Read the bio
Studio Elisa Ossino · Hermès · Living Divani
Founder of Studio Elisa Ossino, she curates projects and styling for international brands such as Boffi, Foscarini and Living Divani. Interior styling and set design lecturer.
Federico Cedrone
Photographer
Read the bio
Vogue · Elle Decor · Knoll · B&B Italia
Photographer for magazines such as Vogue and Elle and for campaigns by brands like Knoll, B&B Italia and Cassina. Photography lecturer at the IMID Master.
Diana Fioranzato
Light Designer
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ViaBizzuno · Santa & Cole · Kreon
Co-founder of studio E40, she designs lighting for public, retail and private spaces with companies such as Kreon and Vibia. Interior lighting lecturer.
Edoardo Vojvoda
Video Maker, Director
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Maserati · Audi · Azimut Yachts
Director and owner of the Cromo production house, he works with clients such as Maserati, Audi, Leroy Merlin and Calligaris. Video making lecturer.
Andrea Serrani
Web Developer
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Tacchini · Rimadesio · Zegna · YOHOHO
Web developer for agencies and brands such as Tacchini, Rimadesio and the Venice Biennale. Founder of the YOHOHO Studio collective, web development lecturer.
Luca Fontana
Graphic Designer
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MTV · Rolling Stone · Mercedes · YOHOHO
Specialised in visual identity and web design for clients such as MTV, Rolling Stone and Mercedes. Co-founder of the YOHOHO Studio collective, web design lecturer.
Emanuele Garbin
Architect, Associate Professor at Iuav
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Iuav University of Venice
His research spans theory and history of representation, graphics and digital modelling applied to architecture and design. Image theory lecturer at the IMID Master.
Malvina Borgherini
Associate Professor at Iuav
Read the bio
Università Iuav · MeLa Media Lab
She studies the impact of digital technologies on graphic language. Co-founder, with Luciano Comacchio, of the Iuav MeLa Media Lab (2008–2025), where she was scientific director. Visual communication lecturer.
Our faculty bring their daily experience with companies into the classroom, letting you develop real projects and build a solid professional network.
Fact sheet
The master at a glance
Degree, venue, duration, fees, deadlinesFirst-level Iuav master · 60 ECTS · weekends · €8,000 · deadline 2 October 2026
Rendering, generative AI, virtual reality, photography and product communication: the Iuav master programme training the professionals of digital interior design, bridging the gap between university and the job market.
Degree awarded
First-level University MasterUniversity diploma certified by the Italian Ministry of University and Research (MUR). 60 ECTS credits.
Credits for architects
CFPThe master grants professional training credits (CFP) to architects registered with the Italian Ordine, under CNAPPC guidelines.
Director
Arch. Luciano ComacchioFounder of the Iuav MeLa Media Lab (2008–2025), he has directed the master since its first edition.
Location
Palazzo BadoerIuav University of Venice — San Polo, calle de la Laca 2468, Venice.
Duration and schedule
1 year, weekendsDecember 2026 – November 2027. On-site classes Friday and Saturday, 9:00 am – 6:00 pm. Mandatory attendance: 70% of teaching and internship hours.
Places available
Up to 20 studentsMinimum 8 to activate the course. Small classes to work on real projects with companies.
Fees and admission
€8,000 in 2 instalments€50 application fee. Enrolment: 50% by 20 October 2026, 50% within three months of enrolment.
Internship and placement
300 hoursInternship in a company, agency or professional studio, or project work on a real case study. Placement above 85%.
Key deadlines
2 October 2026Application deadline (12:00 noon). Classes start: 11 December 2026 (indicative date).
13 editions, 300 graduates: how we workWho we are, the year-long project for the main partner company, the internship
About us
With over 300 graduates and 13 completed editions, the IMID Master is the reference point for advanced training combining interior design and digital innovation. Conceived and directed by architect Luciano Comacchio, the programme integrates rendering, virtual reality, 3D modelling and project management, training professionals who blend creativity with advanced technological skills.
Unlike university, the programme is extremely practical: apart from the theoretical modules on display forms and image theory, every course is purely hands-on — you work for real, in design teams, on real company projects. The result is a job placement rate above 85%, with internships across 50+ leading companies, in Italy and abroad.
Technical skills and digital creativity
Students acquire advanced skills in 3D modelling, photorealistic rendering and immersive environments. The programme integrates professional software and workflows aligned with market standards.
The course includes dedicated modules on product rendering, 3D modelling for design, interactive virtual spaces and visual communication: a multidisciplinary approach that prepares you to develop original projects for architecture studios, creative agencies and design companies.
A real project, for a real company
Every year the master develops a flagship project for a main partner company: the showroom and its communication contents — photography, styling, set design, 3D modelling, rendering and video storytelling. All disciplines converge on the main project, throughout the year.
At the end of the 6 months of teaching, the projects, developed in teams, are presented to a jury made up of the partner company owners and the faculty: a direct confrontation with a real working environment. The best teams win the internship at the main partner company.
Internship and international professional experience
The curricular internship, in Italy or abroad, lets you put your skills into practice by contributing to real company projects and building a network of professional contacts.
Thanks to the collaboration with 50+ partner companies, the internship is a real launching pad: more than 85% of graduates find a job consistent with the programme within a few months of completing the master.
Selected works
The best work born in class
Renders, photography and project representations created by IMID Master students for partner companies.
The questions you are asking yourself
Let’s be straight
We answer the way we would in the orientation call: no hedging.
Why this and not a €500 online course?
The online course gives you the software. Here you get the trade and the contacts: a real company commissioning a project, a real jury judging it, a real internship in one of 50 partner organisations. The teachers you have on Saturday are the people working for Hermès, Vogue and Maserati on Monday. You learn the software anyway, but as a means, not an end.
I can design but I can’t find design work. Does this solve my problem?
If your problem is that you can design but can’t communicate the design, yes. The market pays people who can do both: a company’s style office wants someone who models, renders, photographs and tells the product. If you are looking for another design course, we are not it: here design is taken as given and the work is on how it is seen.
Will it actually get me a job?
Nobody can guarantee that, and anyone who does is selling you something. Here is what happens on average: over 85% of graduates work in the sector within a few months, the best teams on the year-long project go on to intern with the main partner company, and a share of internships turn into hires. The rest is up to you. The master tells you who you are when you walk in and what you are missing to work in interior design, then puts you in a position to close the gap.
I already have a job. Can I do it?
The master is built for you, not in spite of you. Classes only on Fridays and Saturdays, December to June, in person in Venice: on Monday you are back at the office. The internship can be replaced by an agreed project work, so you do not have to leave your job. Thirteen editions of working students say it can be done. They also say it is a full year, and we will not pretend otherwise.
I already have experience. Isn’t this a master for new graduates?
No. The classroom mixes new graduates and professionals with ten years of practice, and they help each other. If you have been designing for years but outsource rendering, photography, video and AI, here you bring them in-house: it is a skills upgrade, not a refresher. The advantage is that on Monday you apply it to your clients, not to an exercise.
I work in residential, not in product. Does it make sense for me?
It depends on what you are missing. If you still present clients with plans and a few purchased images, here you learn to do yourself what you currently outsource: rendering and post-production, styling and photography of finished interiors, lighting design with photometric calculation, and VR to show the client the house before it exists and settle choices before the building site. That is more than half of the hours and applies to a home as much as to a showroom. What the master does not give you: there is no architectural design, no restoration, regulations or site management, and the classroom projects are commissioned by product companies, not private clients. If that is what you need updating on, we are not the right place.
I have €8,000 worth of doubts.
You should: it is an investment and deserves to be treated as one. Two instalments, fees deductible as university expenses for Italian taxpayers, weekend classes so you can attend without leaving your job, and professional training credits included if you are an architect registered with the Italian Ordine. If you want to know whether it makes sense in your case, book the orientation call: it is free and, if you are not the right profile, we will tell you.
Job placement
In 13 years, more than 300 graduates. Over 85% work in the sector: style and technical offices of manufacturers, design and marketing at retailers, styling and image at communication agencies. Some have opened their own studio.
Real titles, taken from our alumni’s careers:
- Senior CG Artistarchitectural visualisation studio, Switzerland
- Project Manager, Digital Unitcommunication and production group, Italy
- Senior Rendering Architectarchitecture practice, Milan
- Co-founderCGI and art direction studio
- Junior Project Managerinterior superyacht design
- Freelance designerinternational clients
The professional profiles listed in the official call are in the FAQ.
Voices of our alumni
Where our alumni are now
Six people, six different starting points. Read where they came from, not just where they are.
Simone Tonolli
Designer, freelance for jeudi.wang
Read the story
The IMID Master gave me a solid technical and creative foundation, allowing me to deepen my knowledge of architectural visualisation and develop a more conscious approach to design and image. The skills I acquired are still part of my daily work today. They helped me build an international career across several studios, up to my collaboration with the agency jeudi.wang and my current freelance practice, with clients worldwide.
Davide Tecchio
Architect — Senior CG Artist, Studio 9010
Read the story
The IMID Master gave me solid training in digital tools applied to design, combining technical skills and design sensitivity. Years later, I still use what I learned every day, especially in project visualisation and communication. I recommend it not only for the technical foundations, but above all for developing a greater visual sensitivity, essential in the world of architectural visualisation.
Marija Cincieva
Architect — PM, Digital Unit Asolana Group
Read the story
As an architect with a background in interior design, the IMID Master opened new perspectives for me, helping me think differently and acquire new skills to apply to my career. The experience and knowledge shared by the faculty, together with the opportunity to do an internship, gave me greater confidence. Today I work as a Project Manager in the Digital Unit of Asolana Group, where I manage international projects and clients working on AI animation, 3D modelling, rendering and web development. This experience was an important step in my professional journey.
Balgii Martínez Von Sternenfels
PM Junior, Interior Superyacht Design
Read the story
The IMID Master gave me comprehensive training in the strategic tools for my professional goals, consolidating my skills as a designer. It also eased my entry into leading studios and companies which, as an international professional, would have been difficult to reach on my own.
Lorenzo Zaccarin
Architect — Co-founder, Salaposa Studio
Read the story
I attended the IMID Master in 2013/2014 and, 12 years later, I would do it 100 times over. I came from the technical office of a joinery after my Architecture degree at IUAV: the master opened doors that previously seemed impossible. I worked for almost 3 years at Matteo Thun & Partners in Milan as Senior Rendering Architect, then in 2018 founded Salaposa Studio together with Marina and Federico, master classmates with whom I still share respect and friendship. Over the years I have also had the opportunity to teach students of later editions, bringing my experience into the classroom. I recommend this experience to anyone willing to take it seriously: it can give you the tools to truly change your working life.
Federico Scremin
Architect — Co-founder, Salaposa Studio
Read the story
I attended the IMID Master in 2013/2014, at a time when finding a job consistent with your studies was genuinely hard for a young graduate. The master gave me concrete skills and new tools, allowing me to quickly join Bieffe Rendering as a coordinator. In 2018, with Lorenzo and Marina, master classmates, we founded Salaposa Studio, where we continue to work and grow. Years later, I consider the master a fundamental step: it allowed me to turn a moment of difficulty into a concrete opportunity for growth. I recommend it to anyone who wants genuinely marketable skills.
50+ partner organisations, and growing
A network of prestigious international partner companies
Leading design and luxury brands such as Magis, Louis Vuitton, Wonderglass, Lapalma, Davide Groppi and Fortuny: partnerships offering students real projects, exclusive workshops and company internships.
Manufacturers17 organisations
- Magis
- Fortuny
- Lapalma
- Wonderglass
- Valcucine
- LAGO
- IKEA
- Safilo Group
- Agape
- Kristalia
- Lapitec
- Alf Uno
- San Giacomo
- Miniforms
- Louis Vuitton
- Davide Groppi
- Villari · Vitrani · Makro · Cumini · Eurema · Ambiente Ufficio · We.Do Holding
Communication and visual16 organisations
- BigRock
- Insiderender
- Imagodesign
- Heliosdigital
- Lunghezza d'Onda
- Bluemotion
- Prisma-Tech
- Interiorplus
- Neiko
- Deltatracing
- Werender
- Nudesign
- Nerokubo
- Drawlight
- Asolana Group
- One&Partners
Studios and institutions11 organisations
- Elisa Ossino Studio
- Cristina Celestino Studio
- Alessandra Salaris Studio
- Fondazione Berengo
- MeLa Media Lab
- Siard Studio Design Architettura
- Apparati Effimeri
- Centre des Arts
- C.A.R.M.A.
- Th&Ma Architettura · Arplan · Bruger Studio
- Boselli · Arredo Dal Pozzo · Salaposa Studio
Manufacturers, professional studios and communication agencies: a wide choice of internship paths in Italy and abroad.
Enrolment — XIV Edition
How to apply to the IMID Master
The procedure is completed online on the Iuav portal in five steps. The committee evaluates your CV, motivation letter and a mandatory online interview, at an appointment scheduled by the committee. A portfolio is not required.
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Register on the Iuav portal
Obtain your access credentials (login and password) via the Iuav registration page. Issuance takes a few hours at most.
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Log in
Access iuav.esse3.cineca.it with your credentials (menu at the top right).
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Open the admission application
From the menu select «Segreteria» → «Preiscrizioni» (or «Domanda di ammissione» if you are a former Iuav student). The portal is in Italian.
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Fill in and attach your documents
European-format CV, scan of a valid ID document and motivation letter (a portfolio is not required). At the end you download the €50 application fee payment slip.
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Pay the fee and submit the receipt
Complete the €50 payment following the portal instructions and make sure your application is complete by 2 October 2026, 12:00 noon. For questions about the procedure write to master@iuav.it.
Dates and deadlines
- 2 October 2026, 12:00 noon
- Application deadline
- From 13 October 2026, 12:00 noon
- Publication of the admission ranking list
- By 20 October 2026, 12:00 noon
- Enrolment and first instalment payment (€4,000 + €16 stamp)
- 11 December 2026
- Classes start (indicative date)
Fees
- Application to the selection process €50
- First instalment — by 20 October 2026 (+ €16 stamp) €4,000
- Second instalment — within three months of enrolment, after course activation €4,000
- Graduation fee (two revenue stamps) €32
Tax deduction. For Italian taxpayers, fees for a master at a state university count as deductible university expenses (19%, art. 15 TUIR). Check your case with your accountant.
Admission requirements
First-level degree or equivalent foreign qualification, preferably in Architecture, Design or Computer Science. Basic graphic design knowledge required. Other backgrounds are also considered: all software is taught from the basics.
Final-year students
If you have not yet graduated you can take part in the selection and be conditionally admitted: you pay a €1,500 deposit by the enrolment deadline and submit your degree application by 5 March 2027; once you graduate, you complete enrolment and payment.
Evaluation criteria
- · CV: academic, teaching, scientific and professional titles
- · Motivation letter: content, writing, motivation
- · Mandatory online interview: at an appointment scheduled by the committee
Frequently asked questions
FAQ
When does the next edition start?
The XIV Edition of the IMID Master starts on 11 December 2026 (indicative date). The application deadline is 2 October 2026 at 12:00 noon.
What are the class days and times?
Friday and Saturday, 9:00 am to 6:00 pm, on site at Palazzo Badoer in Venice. We chose the weekend format so that working professionals can also attend.
Are online classes available?
No. Teaching is designed around direct experience with companies (in-company classes), guests (designers, product representatives) and classmates. The photography and video-making modules require shooting equipment and on-location filming.
How many students does the course admit?
Up to 20 students per edition, with a minimum of 8 required to activate the course.
What are the admission requirements?
A first-level degree or equivalent foreign qualification, preferably in Architecture, Design or Computer Science, with basic graphic design knowledge. Other backgrounds are also considered: in the past, students of economics, journalism, cultural heritage and performing arts have successfully completed the programme. All software is taught from the basics: what we look for is strong motivation for a career in interior design.
Can I apply if I have not yet completed my bachelor degree?
Yes. You can take part in the selection and be conditionally admitted: you pay a €1,500 deposit by the enrolment deadline, submit your degree application by 5 March 2027 and, once you graduate, complete enrolment and payment.
How are candidates selected and evaluated?
The committee evaluates:
- CV: academic, teaching, scientific and professional titles;
- motivation letter: content, writing skills, motivation;
- a mandatory online interview, which is also part of the evaluation.
A portfolio is not required for the application. There is no practical exam to sit: the interview appointment is scheduled by the committee and communicated to candidates.
Is there data on alumni employment?
More than 85% of our alumni work in interior design and brand & product communication: style and technical offices at manufacturers, design and marketing at furniture retailers, styling and image at communication agencies. Some work as freelancers with interior design and image studios, others have founded companies and studios of their own.
Which software is used during the course?
- SketchUp, Blender — 3D modelling and animation
- AutoCAD — 2D technical drawing
- Unreal Engine — immersive VR
- Adobe Photoshop or Affinity Photo (free equivalent with a Canva account), Camera Raw, Capture One — photographic post-production
- DaVinci Resolve — video editing
- Figma — web design, plus free frameworks for web development
Are scholarships available?
No scholarships are currently available; fee-reduction grants may be activated during enrolment, as in previous editions.
Can I see the theses of former students?
All theses are deposited and available at the Iuav library. A short selection by topic is available in a private video: request access via the contact form.
Where can I do my internship?
The master has 50+ partner organisations and growing, including manufacturers (Magis, Fortuny, Lapalma, Wonderglass, Valcucine, LAGO, IKEA, Safilo and more), communication and visual agencies (BigRock, Insiderender, Drawlight and more) and studios and institutions (Elisa Ossino Studio, Fondazione Berengo and more). Interviews with companies take place during the programme, with dedicated project briefings.
Does the master also teach generative artificial intelligence?
Yes. Generative AI tools are integrated into the 3D modelling (text-to-3D and image-to-3D), rendering (render enhancement with generative models), animation (generative video) and post-production (upscaling, colour) modules. The approach is artisanal and professional: modelling, rendering and animation are learned by hand, then AI tools enter the workflow as an accelerator. AI emerges from the programme — and the image theory module teaches how to use it consciously.
How is the master degree awarded?
The final exam is the thesis defence before a committee. It requires at least 70% attendance of teaching and internship hours (unless otherwise stated in the call), regular fee payments and completion of the internship or project work at least 15 days before the defence. There is a single session, scheduled within the extraordinary session of the academic year; the thesis must be uploaded in PDF/A format to the online desk at least 10 days before the session date, together with the AlmaLaurea questionnaire and the €32 graduation fee.
Does the master grant professional training credits for architects?
Yes. The IMID Master grants professional training credits (CFP) to architects registered with the Italian Ordine degli Architetti, under the CNAPPC continuing-education guidelines. The certificate is issued on completion of the degree.
Which professional profiles does the official call list?
The Iuav call lists five profiles: interior designer, art director and set designer; project manager for managing and promoting design collections; image consultant for communication, sales and product distribution; ADV and social media specialist for brand communication; exhibition space designer for trade fairs, showrooms and retail.
Are the fees tax-deductible?
For Italian taxpayers, yes: fees for a master at a state university count as deductible university expenses at 19% (art. 15, para. 1, lett. e, TUIR). Check your situation with your accountant.
Contact us about the XIV Edition 26-27
Let's talk
Write to us or book a 30-minute call with the director, Luciano Comacchio. We will tell you whether the master is for you, even when the answer is no.
Direct contacts
For information on teaching, faculty, programme, partners and internships. We reply within 24 working hours.
Iuav administrative office
For fees, enrolment and administrative matters.
Open to the public Mon–Fri, 9:30 am–12:30 pm.
Master office hours
Monday – Friday, 10:00 am – 6:00 pm
Master venue
Palazzo Badoer, San Polo 2468
Venice, 30125, Italy
Request info or book your orientation call
Fill in the fields to receive the detailed programme and all the information you need to enrol in the XIV Edition — or to book a free online orientation call with the director, with practical advice on your CV and motivation letter.