Design for Kids & Toys

Course

The Specializing Master aims to train, in terms of content and method, a new generation of designers able to manage highly complex product service systems, typical of all the sectors that have the child as a reference user.

Its objective is to develop a transversal competence to move confidently between concrete constraints, such as security and law, and abstract goals such as cultural, cognitive, educational, recreational and ethical.

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Didactics

Attendance

The training course is based on a online learning model. Using an e-learning platform, students are able to access theoretical training modules that they can manage independently according to their own schedule.

Following this, the programme includes workshop activities, for which physical presence at POLI.design is strongly recommended but not mandatory, and a project work developed during a professional internship.

Training objectives

The Master in Design for Kids & Toys is organized in partnership with Assogiocattoli, which represents Italian manufacturers and distributors working in this industry. Italy generally excels in design (that means culture, method and practice of project and production) in several fields like fashion, food and creativity applied to multiple activities, but in the toy and childcare productions Italian design has yet to play a key role in building a recognizable identity.

The “Design System” and “System of Enterprise”, shows significant episodes but certainly not a coherent and recognizable oversight in children’s products, in furniture for children, in the game and in the toy sector. From this scenario it comes a need in poly-technical and multi-skill training.

Designers and, in particular, strategic designers have the role of create scenarios understanding the many aspects and skills that compose the system.

Design a toy or a product/service for children needs the skills to design the whole system of artefacts, around the child and for products and services.

Too often actually products for children have been interpreted as the declination of pre-existing goods, overloaded with signs, functions and colours inserted in a deliberately redundant packaging, or the unmediated reproduction of an adult object.

Today technology offers interesting opportunities but often it is not a vehicle of qualified contents able to generate new ways of playing, learning and socializing or stimulating creativity and imagination, but more often it is a self-referential and not suitable for children component.

If we think today about the “Design for Kids”, then we realize the number and type of skills needed to design a quality product aimed at the world of children.

Didactic Plan

The educational project is based on a blended learning approach that integrates theoretical training modules in e-learning with face-to-face workshop activities and a project work developed during a professional internship.

Didactic Modules

Theoretical training modules in e-learning mode:

Students, using thee- learning platform, follow all the e-learning didactic modules managing autonomously the times and the hours of use of the didactic contents with exercises for the assessment of learning contents. The theoretical training modules, delivered in e-learning mode, concern the following subjects:

• strategic design and design thinking;
• human centered design;
• marketing and communication;
• companies, the sector and the markets;
• materials and technologies;
• laws and safety;
• pedagogy, psychology, cognitive ergonomics;
• communication and distribution.

Face- to-face design workshops:

The workshops are intensive design sessions lasting four weeks each (the master’s program includes 2 workshops carried out with companies operating in the children-oriented sectors). Starting from the skills gained in the e- learning modules and during the workshops, the candidate will then be able to develop a project work during a professional internship lasting 3 months. During the internship, the candidate will be able to independently develop a final project based on the practical experience developed in the internship and the knowledge and interests gained through out the Master. The Final Project must be delivered in the form of a digital presentation and discussed in an exam session with the presence of the appointed Teaching Committee.

Title Released

At the end of the course, students who pass the final examination will receive a joint first-level Specializing Master in “Design for Kids and Toys” from Politecnico di Milano.

The Specializing Master grants 60 credits, equivalent to 60 ECTS.

Employment Opportunities

Master in Design for Kids & Toys has three types of employment opportunities:

• Freelance professionals and consultants able of thinking, developing and managing product service system projects and educational activities (training, laboratories, workshops etc.);
• Startuppers able of giving life to new businesses within offering for kids by taking cross-cutting opportunities in different sectors and areas (from technology to services);
• Positions in research and development offices, technical office, marketing and communication of companies, agencies and institutions that have business related to the child system;
• Positions in retail specialized in the child system.

The Master also has the cultural goal of training mothers and dads aware of the role of play in the educational development of children. The Master aims to train professionals able to exploit all the potentials and opportunities of technology and markets, putting the child at the center of any design process and innovation.

Admission

Requirements

The Master is held in English: a good knowledge of the English language will be an advantage.

Master in Design for Kids & Toys is open to applicants who have a University degree (Laurea, equivalent to a Bachelor of Science) under the old or the new educational system or a Laurea Magistrale (equivalent to a Master of Science) under the new educational system in Architecture, Engineering and Industrial Design, and in related economic disciplines, Communication Science, Educational Science and to applicants with equivalent qualifications.

The Board shall admit applicants who have qualifications in disciplines other than those specified above, if the Master may complete the training of the applicant or the professional skills and experience shown by same.

The selection is made by the Commission.

The selections will be made in chronological order with respect to the date of receipt of the application, until all available places have been filled.

Deadlines

To take part in the VII edition of the Specializing Master in Design for Kids & Toys, starting on July 07th, 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 should be uploaded on this page

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 € 10.500 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;
• € 10.000 – participation fee for the University Master’s Course to be paid to POLI.design following the procedures that will be specified upon admission.

PROMO

OPEN DAY: -10%

A promo for those who have shown interest in our Master’s programs and are looking forward to starting an experience at POLI.design.

Deadline application: within May 30, 2025
Deadline for sending the signed contract and payment of the deposit of the participation fee: within June 13, 2025

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 10% reduction to be applied on the participation fee (excluding registration fee or VAT) for suppliers and former suppliers of POLI.design. The reduction can be combined with other forms of discounts and/or exemptions*

*POLI.design reserves the right to verify the existence of the collaboration relationship.

PER MERITO

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