Furniture Design Study Abroad Programs in Florence, Italy

Istituto Lorenzo de' Medici offers a variety of Certificate Programs and Special Workshops that are carefully designed with intentionally structured plans of study. These programs provide on-site educational opportunities that allow students not only to develop professional knowledge and the theoretical underpinnings of exciting fields, but also to harness creativity, artistic talent, and technical skills. Location, either Florence or Tuscania, is dependent on the individual programs. Semester Certificates: Italian Gastronomy; Balance in Nutrition; Architecture in Urban Context; Interior Design in Contemporary Living; Product Design towards Sustainability; Visual Communication for Fashion; Fashion Sustainability; Applied Integrated Media (AIM) Yearlong Certificates: Fashion Design; Fashion Marketing and Merchandising; Fine Arts; Graphic Design and Visual Communications; Interior Design; Jewelry Design; Restoration and Conservation Summer Certificates: Wine Business and Culture; Human Creativity; Global Sustainability; Branding Special Workshops: Archaeology Field School; Summer Conservation Workshop; Stop-Motion Workshop

Interior design uses research, analysis, and knowledge to meet client needs and goals. The Academic Year in Interior and Furniture Design trains designers to manage the whole process, focusing on space and decoration. It fosters design sensitivity, a personal expressive language, and multidisciplinary knowledge, combining theory and practice. The Academic Year is part of a three-year Interior and Furniture Design course for 2nd-year undergraduates attending IED. It has two semesters to develop cultural, methodological, technical, and technological skills. Students explore interior and furniture design, gaining theoretical and practical knowledge of spaces, tools, processes, and materials. They complete three projects: designing a restaurant, working with innovative materials, and creating a furnishing product from components to disposal. Classes are held Monday to Friday mornings and afternoons. This intermediate program is for students with at least a year of experience in Interior Design, Industrial Design, Furniture Design, or Architecture. Applicants must master drawing, sketching, rendering, computer graphics, modeling, and verbal communication.

The Summer Furniture Design course aims to develop knowledge and skills related to aspects of furniture design, from development to production to management of prototypes. Running for 4 weeks, this short course involves the study of presentations of materials, history, theories, and detailing of Italian and international furniture. It teaches furniture design skills and provides a general overview of furniture history. The program is designed for students with a strong interest in Italian furniture design, interior design, and industrial design. This course is excellent for students of all levels. People with a general interest in Furniture Design but no immediate plans to pursue a degree are also encouraged to enroll.

The Accademia Italiana is internationally recognized as one of Europe's most prestigious institutes of art and design. Each year, creative students from all over the world come to the Accademia Italiana to take courses in the Accademia's signature programs in fashion design, graphic design and visual communications, interior and product design, window display design, photography and new media and studio arts. The Accademia also offers study abroad students courses in liberal arts and Italian language and culture. Italian culture courses include art history, history, literature, cinema and style. The Accademia has semester and year-long academic programs, bachelor's and master's degree programs, and short-term summer programs. Design courses are taught in Italian and in English languages. University credit is available.

The Apicius Professional Program in Hospitality Management offers international students a unique opportunity to specialize in hospitality while studying in Florence, one of the world's most challenging cities for tourism. The program is based not only on theory but also on practical experience. For this reason, site visits, guest lectures, and internships are organized for students. Combining a unique and sophisticated city with a program that provides individual care and attention ensures a remarkable experience for each hospitality student.

Please note that the Woodworking and Furniture Restoration classes take place entirely off-campus, in one of our artisan laboratories, directly in contact with the craftsmanship atmosphere of the Italian atelier. Carving, hand plane basics, woodturning/lathe basics, making pen kits, turning bowls, working with epoxies and resins, sanding and finishing/staining techniques, recycling or upcycling furniture, veneering, making cabinets, furniture, and other large projects. We keep the number of participants very small to facilitate teacher-student interaction and feedback and to learn effectively and quickly in a stimulating environment.