Design for Food

Course

​​​​​The future of the Food System is now!

​​​The food sector is experiencing major changes in manufacturing, processing and distributing. For example, there is increasing attention to food waste and innovative recovery strategies, with a focus on sustainability and circular economy. The Specializing Master in Design for Food addresses these themes by combining design, gastronomic and humanistic sciences, engineering and food technology. Through a learning-by-doing approach, it explores science and technology aspects of the contemporary Food System as well as the cultural, social and economic implications of the supply chain. 

​​​​The training experience targets participants willing to develop a critical spirit and acquire skills and techniques to design innovative products and services in the Food System, with special attention to the issues of circularity and sustainability in the entire supply chain. Future R&D Managers, Product & Service Designers, Brand Managers and entrepreneurs in the food industry: the Specializing Master programme shapes these and other figures through trainings that enhance individual backgrounds and develop diversified expertise. In addition, students connect with a global professional network and expand their network thanks to a multicultural class, as well as exchange and continuous comparison with industry experts. 

The Specializing Master in Design for Food is a programme in English that opens up new business opportunities in an ever-changing market. Systemic vision, ability to manage complexity, design from micro to macro scale, creativity and strategy: these are the skills that ones will acquire through the experimental approach of the educational activities listed below.

• Theoretical lessons to analyse and understand the principles of the Food System
• Workshops focusing on the design of new products and services
• Study trips to deepen theoretical aspects through direct experience and meetings with professionals and people working in the industry
• Internships in attractive businesses of the Food System or development of professionalising projects based on specific interests

Gallery

Testimonials

Didactics

Training objectives

The Specializing Master in Design for Food trains highly skilled professionals qualified to develop innovative and sustainable solutions for the food sector. The core goals of the teaching activities are outlined below. 

• Acquiring methods and tools to analyze food supply chains, taking into account territorial, economic and environmental aspects 
• Maturing a solid understanding of the main technologies employed to innovate production and distribution processes in the food sector 
• Developing the ability to intervene strategically within the food system, with particular attention to circularity and reduction of environmental impact 
• Acquiring relevant skills to develop integrated products and services, combining design, communication and user experience 
• Gaining the skills to manage complex projects, from conception to implementation, through a strategic and transversal approach 

Didactic Modules

The Specializing Master lasts 15 months (for a total of 1000 teaching hours). The didactic plan is divided into areas and training modules that guarantee a unique and transversal training by integrating contributions from the academic and professional world. 

FOOD SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AREA 

Goal: analysing and understanding the main aspects, processes and problems related to food production and processing. 

Focus: 

• ​​​​​Food and ecology 
• Foraging and ethnobotany 
• Food and taste sciences 
• Food safety
• Sensory analysis and food technology for quality food 
• Principles and processes of food fermentation  

HUMANITIES & FOOD STUDIES AREA 

Goal: implementing knowledge related to the complexity of the contemporary food system in order to develop skills related to communication and entrepreneurial strategies. 

Focus: 

• Semiotics of food 
• Food aesthetics and communication
• Circularity strategy
• Advanced food and trade law
• Novel food entrepreneurship 

 DESIGN AREA 

Goal: investigating how the discipline of design – in its various declinations and through the application of specific tools – enables a strategic approach to the contemporary food system. 

Focus: 

• Food packaging design
• Food service design
• Food product design
• Food branding and narrative
• Systemic design for circular economy
• Design for social innovation and sustainability
• Retail design and event creative process
• Food innovation future practices (contemporary challenges)
• Food design experience 

DESIGN – WORKSHOP AREA 

Goal: developing – through ‘hands-on’ project experiences – new product/service solutions on the basis of real needs shared by companies and external entities collaborating in the development of classroom activities. 

Focus: 

• WS1 Product-service innovation
• WS2 Product-service innovation
• WS3 Product-service innovation 

FOOD ENGINEERING AREA 

Goal: acquiring the basics of the major processes and management systems in the contemporary food system. 

Focus: 

• Systems, technologies and logistics for food industry
• Food business innovation and sustainability challenges 

FIELD EXPERIENCE AREA | STUDY TRIP  

Goal: deepening the topics covered during classroom sessions through direct experiences in real situations: tastings, visits to companies and production facilities, meetings with experts in the Italian food sector. 

Focus: 

• Study trip in Piemonte (10 days)
• Study trip in Emilia Romagna (3/4 days) 

EMPOWERMENT AREA 

Goal: acquiring relevant soft skills in terms of personal and professional growth. This module is accompanied and integrated with the ‘Talent Placement’ programme, which guides  students in the phase of identifying and choosing an apprenticeship and/or developing a professional development project. 

Focus: 

• Career Building
• Curricular traineeship or professional development project (500 hours), to be carried out at one of the Specializing Master’s partner institutions or proposed by the participants, in agreement with didactic coordination. 

Title Released

The Specializing Master awards 60 CFU, equivalent to 60 ECTS. The Specializing Master’s Degree in Design for Food from Politecnico di Milano is awarded at the end of the course. 

Employment Opportunities

Employment opportunities in the labour market at the end of the Specializing Master’s course are manifold. The exiting professionals combine the design and experimental approach typical of design with the thematic knowledge of the logics underlying the Food industry in all its extension ‘from the field to the table’. Students acquire awareness of traditional as well as more advanced production and distribution systems, with a specific focus on sustainability. Below are some of the trained professionals ending the programme. 

• R&D Food Project Manager: Research and development managers for the improvement and implementation of food processing and production processes
• Food Service & Product Designer: professionals specialising in the conception and design development of sustainable food products and services
• Food Brand Manager: marketing managers for the development and implementation of innovative food product-service lines
• Food startupper/entrepreneur: inventors and self-employed entrepreneurs capable of transforming innovative ideas into sustainable new agri-food businesses 
• Food Innovation Specialist: professionals and consultants of innovative food strategies and policies within companies, public institutions, research centres and third sector organisations 

Admission

Requirements

The Specializing Master welcomes candidates with a Degree or Specialist/Master’s Degree in Design, Engineering, Architecture, Economics and/or Management, Social Sciences/Humanistic Sciences, Gastronomic Sciences, Agriculture, Food Technology, or to people with other types of degrees who have also gained significant professional and work experience and who wish to strengthen their professional path in the field of food innovation, acquiring and developing specific and qualified competences.

Selection will be made on the basis of the documentation sent, followed by a possible interview in English language (remotely). The selections will be made in chronological order with respect to the date of receipt of the application, until all available places are filled.

Deadlines

To take part in the VI edition of the Specializing Master in Design for Food, starting on October 27th, 2025, applications must be submitted according to the following criteria*:

Italian qualification within 60 days before the starting date

STEP 1
1) Documents to be sent for preliminary verification to POLI.design

• Curriculum vitae
• Portfolio
• Motivation letter
• Copy of ID document
• Other

The following documents should be uploaded on this page

2) Documents to be sent for preliminary verification to Politecnico

• ID document copy
• Copy of the Diploma Supplement and copy of the degree diploma or self-certification on the appropriate form that can be requested to POLI.design (selezioni@polidesign.net)
• ANIS certification (access to the ANIS portal is via SPID or CIE from the following link)

The following documents are to be uploaded on this page by following the instructions at this link
____________________

European qualification within 60 days before the starting date

STEP 1
1) Documents to be sent for preliminary verification to POLI.design

• Curriculum vitae
• Portfolio
• Motivation Letter
• Copy of ID document

The following documents should be uploaded on this page

2) Documents to be sent for preliminary verification to Politecnico

• Copy of ID document
• Copy of Diploma Supplement
• Photocopy of degree certificate

The following documents are to be uploaded on this page by following the instructions at this link

STEP 2
1) Documents to be sent for authenticity verification (within 45 days before the start date) 

• Diploma Supplement with a digital signature or verifiable QR code. Should the student lack a Diploma Supplement with a valid signature or verifiable QR code to verify its authenticity, the student will have to submit one of the documents required for students with a non-EU qualification (cfr. next item).

The following documents are to be uploaded on this page by following the instructions at this link
____________________

Non-EU degree within 60 days before the start date

STEP 1
1) Documents to be sent for preliminary verification to POLI.design

• Curriculum vitae
• Portfolio
• Motivation Letter
• Copy of ID document

The following documents are to be uploaded on this page by following the instructions at this link

2) Documents to be sent for preliminary verification to Politecnico

• Copy of ID document
• Degree in original language + Italian/English translation
• Original transcript of passed examinations + Italian/English translation

The following documents are to be uploaded on this page by following the instructions at this link

STEP 2
1) Documents to be sent for authenticity verification (within 45 days before the start date) 

• Enic/ Naric Certification or CIMEA 
• World Education Services (WES) Certification 
• Statement of value 
• Copy of the visa application or copy of the visa

According to the timeframe provided for by Italian law, the details of the application for a residency permit must also be communicated as well as the residency permit as soon as it is issued.

The following documents are to be uploaded on this page by following the instructions at this link

*Applications submitted after the deadline may be considered at the discretion of the Scientific Committee.

Price

The cost of the University Specializing Master’s programme is € 16.500,00 broken down as follows:

• € 500,00 – enrolment fee to be paid to the Politecnico di Milano, no later than 30 days before the starting date following the procedures that POLI.design will specify;
• € 16.000,00 – participation fee for the University Master’s Course to be paid to POLI.design following the procedures that will be specified upon admission.

PROMO

FAMILY SUPPORT: -50%
A chance to gift your siblings the encouragement they need to invest in their future.

FRIEND TO FRIEND: -20%
An opportunity to gift to a friend to make education the foundation of their growth.

POLI.NETWORK: -50%
A promotion designed to strengthen the bond and identity among members of the Politecnico di Milano community.

BACK TO SCHOOL: -1.000€ on Specializing Masters
The discount for those who have already trusted POLI.design and Polimi, and wish to return to study and build their future.

SUPPLIERS
A promotion for those who collaborate or have collaborated with POLI.design. Our way to say thanks and share knowledge.

PER MERITO
Intesa San Paolo supports talents and gives access to training. Discover more details here.

Faculty

The Specializing Master in Design For Food programme is taught by a multidisciplinary faculty, with academics from Politecnico di Milano and other universities, and a selection of external professionals.

Partners

Past editions