school: IED Milano
course: Master of Arts in Design for Other Species: Transdisciplinary Practices Towards More-than-Human Futures
location: Milano
course dates: October 2026
application deadline: 09/30/2026
Can design facilitate the transformations necessary for humans and non-humans to collectively address the environmental challenges crucial to the survival of both?
The Master of Arts in Design for Other Species adopts transdisciplinary design as a cultural and ecological practice aimed at fostering conditions of coexistence for, with, and by other living species. This two-year programme addresses the most pressing global issues of our time—climate change, biodiversity loss, and growing environmental awareness—advocating for the well-being of all species through a shift towards non-anthropocentric design and an eco-centric outlook.
Students will learn to develop ethical design practices that account for complex ecological interactions, the rights of other living beings, and the consequences of human interventions on natural systems. Through participatory design methodologies and collaborations with experts in ecology, ethology, environmental humanities, and sociology, the programme fosters innovative dialogue that considers other species not as subjects of study, but as equal participants in the design and research process.
By shifting perspectives on how we perceive the world, students learn to recognise shared values and goals among the diverse species that inhabit the same environments. Designing at the scale of ecosystems—not only for individual species—opens new possibilities for creative and responsible intervention.
The faculty guides students in developing projects that integrate both humanistic and scientific perspectives, while fostering critical engagement with the ethical questions central to the course. The mentors are professionals who provide knowledge, critical insight, and appropriate methodologies to help students navigate the complex network involved in understanding and designing for non-human worlds.
After graduating, participants can work in research and development centres within institutions and companies or pursue academic research, engaging in design at all scales. They may also embark on individual artistic careers focused. The programme is also open to professionals from disciplines outside of design who seek to apply design thinking to pose new questions, define emerging project areas, and build partnerships with institutions engaged in research in these fields.
This course is aligned to IED’s vision DesignXCommons narrative, an ecological design approach that promotes the care of common goods and the regeneration of the planet. Also, graduates have the opportunity to pursue PhD programmes at the end of their studies in an Italian or international university.
To know more, check out this video.
Credits photo: Dotodotdot, Data Bugs, 2024 ph. Credit: DSL Studio - Piercarlo Quecchia
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