The master’s program is currently undergoing accreditation by the MUR for the academic year 2025/2026
In a world where the boundaries between retail and hospitality are increasingly blurred and customer experience is paramount, designing innovative interior spaces requires a fusion of creativity, strategy, and technology. AANT’s First Level Master’s Degree in Interior Design – Retail & Hospitality provides advanced training to conceive and create commercial and hospitality environments that blend functionality, aesthetics, and experiential storytelling. With a multidisciplinary approach and a focus on the global market, the program prepares professionals to excel in a sector that is constantly evolving.
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MMode:Full time
tTitle:Interior Design – Retail & Hospitality
dDuration:16 months
IStart:November 2025
LLanguage:Italian
CCredits:60 CFA
Training objectives and competencies developed
The Master aims to develop expert professionals capable of tackling the modern challenges of retail and hospitality by integrating creative, managerial, and cultural skills. The program takes an innovative approach, addressing key topics such as cultural sociology, lighting design, and brand design to prepare students for managing complex projects in a rapidly evolving global context.
The goal is to provide a solid theoretical and practical foundation, building specific expertise in the design of retail and hospitality spaces, consumer trend analysis, inclusive design, and strategic project management. Through interactive courses, case studies, and workshops, participants will gain a global perspective on emerging market needs, with a focus on sustainability, inclusivity, and the use of new technologies to optimize the customer experience.
Teaching Methodology
The program blends lectures, seminars, hands-on workshops, case studies, and mentorship sessions, enriched by contributions from industry experts and company visits. Students learn in an experiential environment, working on real projects that allow them to apply the knowledge acquired in concrete, interactive contexts. This practical methodology, reinforced by international case studies and direct engagement with industry, helps develop a professional mindset that is competitive on a global scale.
Career Opportunities
This program prepares professionals to work in design studios, retail and hospitality companies, creative agencies, and luxury brands, both in Italy and internationally. Participants develop entrepreneurial skills and build a strong professional network, positioning themselves at the forefront of an increasingly global and competitive interior design job market.
With the blend of creative and managerial expertise gained, the Master opens up career opportunities in roles such as Retail & Hospitality Interior Designer, Visual Merchandiser, Retail Store Planner, Hospitality Design Consultant, Art Director for commercial spaces, Brand Experience Designer, and freelance interior design consultant, among others.
Program
- Introduction to Retail & Hospitality: theoretical and historical foundations of the retail and hospitality sectors, including business models, marketing strategies, and operational approaches for commercial and hotel environments.
- Trend Forecasting: techniques for predicting consumer trends, analysis of social, economic, and technological factors, and application of emerging trends in designing shopping and guest experiences.
- Anthropology of Design: exploring the interaction between culture and space design, using an anthropological approach to create immersive experiences that are socially and culturally meaningful.
- Design for All (Inclusive Design): principles of universal design and innovative solutions to create spaces that are accessible and welcoming to everyone, ensuring positive experiences for all users.
- Experiential Marketing & Consumer Behavior: advanced marketing strategies for engaging customer experiences, study of consumer behavior in physical and digital environments, and design of memorable, customer-centric spaces and services.
- Digital Innovation & Sustainability: integration of emerging technologies (e.g. AI, big data, augmented reality) to enhance user experience, combined with sustainable design practices for responsible management of retail and hospitality spaces.
- Brand Design & Luxury Experiences: creating and managing successful brand identities, designing exclusive environments aligned with the brand’s philosophy, and studying global trends in luxury interior design and premium guest experiences.
Duration:
16 months (November 2025 – March 2027), totaling 1500 hours (420 hours of in-class instruction, 400 hours of internship, 680 hours of independent study).
