AUDIENCE

The competition is open to candidates who have a valid Secondary School Diploma that satisfies the requirements to enter university or who are about to graduate within the Bachelor’s Programme beginning.

PLEASE BE AWARE THAT CANDIDATES CAN APPLY TO ONE PROGRAMME ONLY.

REQUIRED MATERIALS

The competition proposal should be presented in a single pdf file format

• Domus Academy Competition Application Form

• Portfolio of projects [1] or/and Project assignment [2A,2B,2C,2D] (Please see specific indications in the competition brief)

• Personal statement. Please write a text composition (max 500 words) elaborating on the following questions. In the next future:

- what job would you like to do after you graduate?

- why did you choose Domus Academy to achieve that?

- what are your favorite means of expression?

- what or who inspires you?

- how living and studying in Milan will positively influence your work?

• Copy of the higher secondary school diploma or final year school attendance certificate in original language and English if needed*

• Copy of the higher secondary school transcripts in original language and English if needed*

• If applicable, copy of the final document for the National test or final exam necessary to enter a higher education institution

• If applicable, copy of the final document for the Foundation year (certificate of completion along with transcripts) or further studies at University/Academy level (transcripts and study plan)

• English language certificate (if available)

• Copy of passport

Any further attached material will be considered a plus and will be evaluated by the Jury.

*Accepted languages: Italian, English, French, Spanish

COMPETITION BRIEF

1] PORTFOLIO OF PROJECTS (Alternative or additional to the project assignment)

All materials submitted should be clearly labelled with the applicant’s name and contact information and cannot be returned. Digital, paper or internet-based works can be submitted.

Portfolios are reviewed on the following qualitative measures: aesthetic awareness, composition, drawing, design, colour perception, spatial perception, quality of presentation, technique, and originality. Favourable consideration is given to strong 2D and 3D work that shows fully rendered pieces, excellent craftsmanship, attention to technique, and original design.

Guidelines to portfolio preparation:

A portfolio of projects is the presentation of yourself, of your previous academic and/or professional and/or amateur works. There is no need to include many projects rather a selection of your strongest works that will let us understand your skills and potentials.

WHAT TO INCLUDE: 5 to 10 projects divided into separate folders.

Submissions may include drawings, illustrations, paintings, computer graphic, design, printmaking, collage, photography, sculpture, jewellery, fashion, furniture, or videos. Portfolio pieces may represent classroom assignments as well as independent projects. The portfolio should be purposeful, demonstrate originality of concept, use of appropriate materials and visual literacy. Each project should have a PDF description containing title of the project, year of production, information if it is a project developed at school, or on your own.

DIGITAL FORMATS:

• Photos, graphic projects, drawings, sketches: PDF (including fonts), JPG or PNG 300 dpi.

• Websites: complete folder including html, CSS, images, SWF, other. If it is online: please provide us with the URL.

• Videos: MPEG4 or AVI.

• FIGMA project: online link.

• Texts, research or presentations: PDF.

Applicants should not submit work copied from film, television, photographs, magazine/book illustrations or other sources.

If you are filling an application for Design or Design Management, you might want to consider the following suggestions to include in your portfolio:

• 2D images designed and created by you: at least 5 hand drawings (various techniques may be used), optional: Digital drawings, photos, collages, etc.

• 3D work including experimentation and development.

• Finished work accompanied by a short explanation of the piece and your thinking.

• Idea generation.

• Inspiration and research material.

If you are filling an application for Fashion Design, you might want to consider the following suggestions to include in your portfolio:

• Research images for fashion design, using a range of materials (drawings, notes, photographs, images of items that you find inspirational for fashion design).

• Images of your fashion design sketches (sketches demonstrating your development of a fashion theme).

• Images of finished fashion illustrations (using colour and demonstrating your skills of preparation, these could be hand-drawn, painted, collage or computer images).

• Images of any other creative work. We leave the decision of what to include to you.

If you are filling an application for Communication Design, you might want to consider the following suggestions to include in your portfolio:

• Graphic design projects, visual communication projects, posters, publications, social media content or digital communication materials.

• Drawings, illustrations, photography, collages or other visual creative works.

• Examples demonstrating storytelling and visual thinking.

• Finished work accompanied by a short explanation of the piece and your thinking.

• Inspiration and research material.

2A] PROJECT ASSIGNMENT FOR THE BA IN FASHION DESIGN

• Choose 3 relevant topics in the contemporary fashion landscape that you feel inspired or keen to investigate. You may be inspired and refer to socio-cultural changes, fashion history and heritage, pop culture, technological and sustainability trends.

• Based on the identified topics, start 3 research streams collecting relevant images/pictures related to the chosen subjects and arrange them into 3 moodboards.

• Write a short description of the project and the rationale behind it and list some well-reasoned and founded key words for each subject.

• Develop 3 mini projects related to the chosen subjects, one for each. Projects may be composed of drawings and illustrations, outfit sketches, or technical drawings and renders designed by you - either by hand using different techniques or with digital software - that showcase your creative and technical skills. Each of the projects should include at least 3 images.

2B] PROJECT ASSIGNMENT FOR THE BA IN DESIGN

Your design task shall include 2D images designed and created by you:

• at least 2 hand drawings (various techniques may be used)

• at least 2 digital drawings, photos, collages, etc.

Design is a subject closely connected to objects, their functionality and the environment surrounding them.

You are asked to:

• choose an object with a specific function

• give the object a second life, by changing its function and shape (any material and technique can be used)

• represent it:

a. Take a picture of the object before and after the morphing.

b. Describe the process and the concept behind it.

2C] PROJECT ASSIGNMENT FOR THE BA IN COMMUNICATION DESIGN

Your Communication Design task shall include:

FOR STUDENTS WHO HAVE ALREADY ATTENDED COURSES RELATED TO GRAPHIC DESIGN, VISUAL COMMUNICATION OR ADVERTISING

• Two communication design projects: research and final design on a logo, visual identity, editorial project, poster or digital communication project.

• Two advertising or communication projects: research and development of creative proposals.

FOR STUDENTS WHO HAVE A BACKGROUND NOT RELATED TO GRAPHIC DESIGN OR VISUAL COMMUNICATION

• Make a selection of illustrations/pictures among your creative works.

• Make a selection of photos among your creative works.

• Select 2 examples of visual communication (one example that you consider effective and one example that you consider ineffective) and describe their positive and negative features.

2D] PROJECT ASSIGNMENT FOR THE BA IN DESIGN MANAGEMENT

Design Management combines creativity, innovation and strategic thinking to create meaningful products, services and experiences.

Your task shall include:

• Select a product, service, experience or brand that you regularly use.

Describe:

• what makes it successful;

• who benefits from it;

• what could be improved.

Support your analysis with relevant evidence (e.g. data or observations), images, sketches or examples. Develop an innovative proposal that could improve the selected product, service, experience or brand.

Represent your proposal through:

• sketches;

• diagrams;

• collages;

• storyboards;

• visual presentations.

Write a short description explaining:

• your idea;

• its value for users;

• what makes it innovative in comparison to existing alternatives.

PRIZES

20 scholarships per BA Programme. 20% deduction calculated on the full tuition fee (net of the Regional Tax corresponding to Euro 190), amounting to €16.800 for non-EU passport holders (diploma fee is not included) and €12.800 for EU & EFTA passport holders (diploma fee is not included).

** The scholarship is considered renewed for the second and third academic year provided the student passes exams for at least 40 credits within the 3rd exam session (autumn - September), with a weighted average not less than 27/30.

SCHEDULE

The works must be sent to Domus Academy by and no later than January 15th, 2027.

Candidates will be informed about the results of the competition by e-mail within February 12th, 2027.

Applications received during Christmas and new year’s school closing (from December 23rd 2026 and January 3rd 2027) will be processed starting from January 4th 2027.

ENTRY DELIVERY

All the required materials in digital format may be uploaded to this page: competition.domusacademy.com

An e-mail of confirmation will be sent to candidates 2 working days of the receipt of their materials. In case candidates do not receive confirmation, they must write to: competitions@domusacademy.it

ELIGIBILITY: 

• The applicant must hold an official upper secondary school qualification issued by a recognised institution within the relevant national education system.

• The qualification must grant access to first-cycle (undergraduate) higher education in the country where it was awarded.

• The qualification must normally be obtained after a minimum of 12 years of schooling.*

• Applicants holding qualifications obtained after 11 or 10 years of education may be required to provide additional qualifications or evidence of further studies, according to Italian Ministry of University and Research (MUR) regulations.

• Where required in the country of origin, applicants must also provide evidence of having passed any national examination or academic suitability test necessary for access to higher education.

For certain educational qualifications and systems, specific requirements or conditions may apply. Please contact our Counsellors before applying if you belong to one of the following categories:

• 11-year High School Diploma

• US High School Diploma

• Ontario Secondary School Diploma

• British qualifications

• International Baccalaureate

• National Swedish High School Diploma

• Students who attended more than one upper secondary education institution

*In the calculation of the twelve years a pre-primary year may be considered where permitted by Italian regulations.

English language requirement:

• IELTS 5.5

Participants not holding the official entry requirements may be evaluated for the Diploma Programme and, at the end of the course, will receive a Domus Academy Diploma.

We strongly recommend contacting the Admissions Office before applying.

Please write to: competitions@domusacademy.it

GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS

• All moral and authorship rights remain that of the author.

• The jury will make these judgments at its own discretion, and its decision is final.

• The scholarship described in this public announcement cannot be combined with other economic reductions offered by Domus Academy.

• The scholarship amount will be deducted from the balance of the tuition fee.

• If a candidate declines a scholarship offer, the scholarship may be transferred to the next candidate on the list.