Eco-Systema - NABA Communication Fest | Milano

Eco-Systema | NABA Communication Fest è il festival con cui NABA, Nuova Accademia di Belle Arti, celebra e riflette sull’evoluzione dei linguaggi, degli stili e dei mezzi della comunicazione contemporanea, premiando i migliori progetti realizzati durante l’Anno Accademico 2024/25 dagli studenti dell’Area Communication and Graphic Design dei campus di Milano e Roma. Il festival inaugura la stagione del NABA Public Program e si svolge a Milano dal 15 al 21 gennaio 2026, con una tappa a Roma il 22 gennaio 2026 presso l’Opificio Romaeuropa.

Il nome Eco-Systema nasce dal concetto di ecosistema come insieme dinamico di elementi che coesistono, interagiscono e si definiscono a vicenda. All’interno di questo processo creativo, ogni studente è rappresentato da un simbolo — elemento fondante della comunicazione visiva — che diventa il cuore del progetto e metafora del ruolo attivo degli studenti nella costruzione del proprio spazio artistico.

Dal 15 al 21 gennaio 2026, il campus NABA di Milano (Via C. Darwin, 20) ospita un ricco palinsesto di appuntamenti aperti al pubblico, con Fedrigoni come partner dell’intero festival. Il programma si apre il 15 gennaio alle ore 17:30 con la Cerimonia di Premiazione dei NABA Communication Awards, dedicata ai migliori progetti studenteschi selezionati da una giuria composta da oltre 40 professionisti del mondo della comunicazione, presieduta da Stefania Siani, Chief Creative Officer di Serviceplan Italia e Presidente ADCI – Art Directors Club Italiano. A seguire, alle 18:30, inaugura nello Spazio Arena la mostra dei progetti finalisti e dei lavori più rappresentativi dell’ultimo Anno Accademico, con un display curato da Francesco Zanot. Ispirata al concetto di archivio, l’esposizione raccoglie stampe e video realizzati dagli studenti dei Trienni, dei Bienni Specialistici e dei Master Accademici dell’Area Communication and Graphic Design. La mostra è visitabile dal 16 al 21 gennaio, anche in occasione dell’Open Day del 17 gennaio (esclusa domenica 18).

Nel corso della settimana, Eco-Systema propone talk, tavole rotonde e incontri editoriali, a cura dell’Area Communication and Graphic Design dell’Accademia, in particolare di Patrizia Moschella e dei Course Leader dell’Area — Giulia Conti, Fabio Pelagalli e Samuel Mathias Zitelli. Tra gli appuntamenti, la tavola rotonda Re-design Democracy affronta i temi della pace, della democrazia e della progettazione civica, con la partecipazione del Ruedi Baur, del copywriter Giuseppe Mazza, Patrizia Moschella, Fabio Pelagalli, insieme alle docenti Susanna Cerri (membro Civic City) e Giulia Gatto. La riflessione sui linguaggi visivi contemporanei prosegue con la serie di talk Narrazioni visive del contemporaneo, con interventi tra gli altri dell'artista e designer Erik Kessels e di Roberto Santillo, Direttore Creativo The Walt Disney Company Italia, oltre a presentazioni editoriali e incontri con autori e illustratori, tra cui Vanna Vinci.

Eco-Systema | NABA Communication Fest si configura come uno spazio di dialogo e condivisione, in cui studenti, professionisti e pubblico sono invitati a esplorare i linguaggi della comunicazione contemporanea e a immaginarne le evoluzioni future.

Eco-Systema | NABA Communication Fest is the festival through which NABA, Nuova Accademia di Belle Arti, celebrates and reflects on the evolution of contemporary communication languages, styles, and media, while awarding the best projects produced during the 2024/25 academic year by students of the Communication and Graphic Design Area at NABA Milan and Rome campuses. The festival opens the NABA Public Program season and takes place in Milan from January 15 to 21, 2026, with a stop in Rome on January 22, 2026, at Opificio Romaeuropa.

The name Eco-Systema comes from the concept of an ecosystem as a dynamic network of elements that coexist, interact, and define each other. Within this creative process, each student is represented by a symbol — a foundational element of visual communication — which becomes the heart of the project and a metaphor for the students’ active role in shaping their artistic space.

From January 15 to 21, 2026, NABA Milan campus (Via C. Darwin, 20) hosts a rich program of public events, with Fedrigoni as partner of the entire festival. The program opens on January 15 at 5:30 PM with the NABA Communication Awards Ceremony, celebrating the best student projects selected by a jury of over 40 communication professionals, chaired by Stefania Siani, Chief Creative Officer of Serviceplan Italia and President of ADCI – Art Directors Club Italiano. Following the ceremony, at 6:30 PM, the Spazio Arena hosts the opening of the exhibition showcasing the finalists’ projects and the most representative works of the last academic year, with a display curated by Francesco Zanot. Inspired by the concept of an archive, the exhibition presents prints and videos produced by students from the BAs, MAs, and Academic Masters of the Communication and Graphic Design Area. The exhibition is open from January 16 to 21, including the Open Day on January 17 (excluding Sunday, January 18).

Throughout the week, Eco-Systema offers talks, roundtables, and editorial meetings, organized by NABA Communication and Graphic Design Area, particularly Patrizia Moschella and the Course Leaders — Giulia Conti, Fabio Pelagalli, and Samuel Mathias Zitelli. Among the highlights, the roundtable Re-design Democracy addresses the themes of peace, democracy, and civic design, featuring the designer Ruedi Baur, the copywriter Giuseppe Mazza, Patrizia Moschella, Fabio Pelagalli, as well as lecturers Susanna Cerri (Civic City member) and Giulia Gatto. The exploration of contemporary visual languages continues with the talk series Visual Narratives of the Contemporary, including interventions by artist and designer Erik Kessels and Roberto Santillo, Creative Director at The Walt Disney Company Italy, alongside editorial presentations and meetings with authors and illustrators, including Vanna Vinci.

Eco-Systema | NABA Communication Fest is conceived as a space for dialogue and sharing, where students, professionals, and the public are invited to explore contemporary communication languages and imagine their future developments.

Info: Award ceremony for the best projects of the internal NABA Communication Awards competition, selected by a jury of industry professionals. The ceremony opens with Stefania Siani (ADCI President), who presents the Grand Prix.

Info: Opening of the exhibition showcasing the finalist projects of the internal NABA Communication Awards, offering an overview of the different competition categories and the creative approaches behind them.

Info: "Re-design Democracy" brings together Ruedi Baur, Susanna Cerri, Giulia Gatto, Fabio Pelagalli, Giuseppe Mazza, Patrizia Moschella for a public talk and presentation of student projects. The event features posters on the theme of peace created by students of the BA in Graphic Design and Art Direction, developed with lecturer Giuseppe Mazza, alongside the Re-design Democracy projects by students of the MA in Visual Design and Integrated Marketing Communication. Inspired by the research of Civic City, these works will later be submitted to the Poster for the City call; the event at NABA offers an exclusive preview of the projects.

Info: A showcase of the finalist projects of the internal NABA Communication Awards, offering an overview of the different competition categories and the creative approaches behind them.

Info: A showcase of the finalist projects of the internal NABA Communication Awards, offering an overview of the different competition categories and the creative approaches behind them.

Info: A showcase of the finalist projects of the internal NABA Communication Awards, offering an overview of the different competition categories and the creative approaches behind them.

Info: A focus on contemporary editorial design and publishing, curated by Roberto Clemente, with guest speakers to be announced soon.

Info: The talk explores how visual communication today intersects with art and design, creating visual hybrids that move beyond the conventions of classic communication and open up new possibilities for media and messaging.

Info: Talk by Roberto Santillo, creative director in publishing, focusing on contemporary editorial practices and the evolving relationship between storytelling, visual identity, and publishing within the creative industries.

Info: A showcase of the finalist projects of the internal NABA Communication Awards, offering an overview of the different competition categories and the creative approaches behind them.

Info: Book presentation with Alessandro Isidoro Re and Simone Liscio, offering an in-depth exploration of simulation theory and critical approaches to representation, examining how reality, copies, and interpretations intersect in contemporary culture.

Info: Talk with Vanna Vinci, comic artist and illustrator, exploring her artistic practice and the role of illustration and graphic storytelling in contemporary visual culture.

Info: A showcase of the finalist projects of the internal NABA Communication Awards, offering an overview of the different competition categories and the creative approaches behind them.

Info: Presentation of the book "Nati Cyborg. Cosa l’intelligenza artificiale generativa ci dice dell’essere umano" with the author Claudio Paolucci and Giacomo Festi (NABA Lecturer), exploring how generative artificial intelligence reflects on the human condition and reshapes our understanding of creativity, identity, and society.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

NABA | Nuova Accademia di Belle Arti, 20 Via Carlo Darwin, Milano, Italy

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