NABA

What NABA does

NABA, Nuova Accademia di Belle Arti, is Italy's largest private arts and design academy, founded in Milan in 1980 by Ausonio Zappa, Guido Ballo, and Gianni Colombo. The institution operates as a non-state accredited member of the Italian AFAM (Higher Artistic and Musical Education) system, recognized by the Ministry of Education (MIUR) since 1981, and delivers First Level (Bachelor of Arts), Second Level (Master of Arts), Academic Master, and PhD degrees equivalent to Italian university qualifications. Its portfolio spans design, fashion design, graphic design and art direction, multimedia arts and new technologies, set design, visual arts, and curatorial studies, delivered through undergraduate (3-year BA), postgraduate (2-year MA), Academic Master, PhD in Artistic Practice, Foundation, Gap Year, Summer, and Study Abroad programs.

The academy operates across three campuses: Milan (HQ, Via Carlo Darwin), Rome, and London (Here East, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, opened December 2025). London BA (Hons) programs in Design, Fashion Design, and Fashion Marketing Management are validated by Regent's University London. Technology is not a proprietary platform; rather, NABA provides project-based education through specialized labs (Design Lab, Fashion Design Lab, Textile & Knitwear Lab, Multifunction Lab) and a Career Service platform called Talent Harbour. The institution does not disclose AI/ML or proprietary software platforms.

Revenue is generated primarily through tuition fees across program levels and campuses, with scholarship programs (up to £7,000 in London, up to €6,000 for EU students, 50% reductions via the NABA Future Talents - Made in Italy partnership with Breil, Clementoni, and Venchi) used as enrollment levers. The go-to-market is sales-led via admissions counseling, direct online application (admission.naba.it), phone enrollment, campus open days, live webinars, and multi-language digital presence (EN, IT, ES, Chinese). Customer segments are individual prospective undergraduate students (primary), postgraduate students, and international students.

Name

NABA

Legal name

Nuova Accademia S.r.l.

Website

https://naba.it

Company type

Private

Founded year

1980

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

NABA is Italy's largest private arts and design academy, founded in 1980, offering BA, MA, Academic Master, and PhD programs across design, fashion, media, and visual arts at campuses in Milan, Rome, and London.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Milan

HQ country

Italy

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Academic Programs: NABA generates revenue primarily through tuition fees from its academic programs including Bachelor of Arts (3-year), Master of Arts (2-year), and Academic Master degrees. Students pay for enrollment in undergraduate, postgraduate, and special programs across multiple campuses (Milan, Rome, London). The academy also offers summer courses, foundation courses, and gap year programs as additional revenue streams.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

NABA is a private higher-education academy delivering AFAM-accredited academic programmes in arts, design, fashion design, graphic design, media design, new technologies, set design, and visual arts. Its core sellable offerings include three-year Bachelor of Arts degrees, two-year Master of Arts degrees, Academic Master programmes, a PhD in Artistic Practice, and shorter-term Foundation, Gap Year, Summer, and Study Abroad courses delivered across Milan, Rome, and London campuses. Supporting services include admissions counseling, live webinars, open days, and career services such as the Talent Harbour platform.

Product overview

NABA, Nuova Accademia di Belle Arti, is an Italian arts and design academy offering a comprehensive portfolio of educational programmes. The Academy operates as a unified platform with three campuses (Milan, Rome, London) offering AFAM (Higher Artistic and Musical Education) programmes. The core product portfolio consists of: Undergraduate Programmes (Bachelor of Arts) and Postgraduate Programmes (Master of Arts) providing accredited degree-level education in design, fashion design, graphic design, multimedia arts, new technologies, set design, and visual arts; Academic Masters offering specialized professional programmes; a PhD in Artistic Practice for doctoral research; Foundation Courses and Gap Year programmes for preparatory education; Summer Courses for intensive short-term study; and Study Abroad Programmes for international exchange. The London campus represents a significant expansion, offering BA (Hons) degrees validated by Regent's University London in Design, Fashion Design, and Fashion Marketing Management. Supporting services include NABA Live Webinars, Career Services with Talent Harbour, and NABA Open Day events. All degrees are recognized by the Italian Ministry of Education, University and Research (MIUR) and are equivalent to university degrees. NABA is the largest private arts academy in Italy and has been ranked among the world's top 50 universities in Art & Design by QS World University Rankings for five consecutive years.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Undergraduate Programmes (Bachelor of Arts) Three-year AFAM-accredited Bachelor of Arts degree programmes spanning design, fashion design, graphics and communication, multimedia arts, new technologies, set design, and visual arts for prospective undergraduate students seeking MIUR-recognized degrees equivalent to university degrees.
• Postgraduate Programmes (Master of Arts) Two-year AFAM-accredited Master of Arts degrees offering advanced specializations in fashion design, textile design, interior design, product and service design, user experience design, creative media production, and visual arts and curatorial studies, for graduates and professionals seeking advanced creative credentials.
• Academic Masters First Level Academic Master programmes providing specialized professional training in areas such as Contemporary Art Markets, Photography and Visual Design, Interior and Living Design, Italian Design, Creative Advertising, Luxury Brand Management, Fashion Digital Marketing, and Sneaker Design, aimed at graduates and professionals seeking targeted professional credentials.
• PhD in Artistic Practice Doctoral programme offering advanced research in artistic practice, representing the highest level of academic study offered by the Academy, aimed at candidates pursuing research-led creative careers.
• Foundation Course Introductory programme that prepares students for subsequent BA (Hons) degree studies with stronger preparation and greater project awareness, available at the Milan and London campuses.
• Summer Courses Short-term intensive summer programmes in Milan and Rome covering Communication and Graphic Design, Design, Fashion Design, Media Design and New Technologies, Set Design, and Visual Arts.
• Gap Year Programme One-year preparatory programme that allows students to explore creative disciplines before committing to a full degree programme.
• Study Abroad Programmes Exchange programmes allowing students from partner institutions to study at NABA campuses in Milan, Rome, or London for one or more semesters.
• BA (Hons) Design (London Campus) Three-year BA (Hons) degree offered at NABA London that prepares students to design objects and spaces responding to contemporary society needs by combining methodology, practice, and innovation. Validated by Regent's University London.
• BA (Hons) Fashion Design (London Campus) Three-year BA (Hons) degree offered at NABA London integrating fashion design, textile experimentation, and collection development with Italian know-how. Validated by Regent's University London.
• BA (Hons) Fashion Marketing Management (London Campus) Three-year BA (Hons) degree offered at NABA London training specialists in brand identity, digital marketing, visual communication, and trend forecasting within the fashion sector. Validated by Regent's University London.
• NABA Live Webinars Free live online webinar sessions that allow prospective students to learn about NABA's programmes, meet faculty, and ask questions, delivered via the Zoom platform.
• Career Services Career support services for students and graduates including the Talent Harbour platform connecting graduates with employers, CV preparation, interview coaching, and industry networking opportunities.
• NABA Open Day In-person and online events where prospective students can explore NABA campuses, meet faculty, and learn about academic offerings, delivered across Milan, Rome, and online.

Quantifiable outcome

• 92% employment rate within 1 year of graduation for BA, MA, and Academic Master graduates
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Breil, Clementoni, and VenchiminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Collaboration for the NABA Future Talents – Made in Italy Program, offering 20 scholarships with a 50% reduction on tuition fees for Bachelor of Arts programmes A.Y. 2026/27 in Milan and Rome. These Italian companies support talent development in creative industries.
• QS International Student SurveyminorOthers · 1 January 2024Reference to QS International Student Survey 2024 data showing that 49% of respondents identify the United Kingdom as their most desired study destination, supporting NABA's strategic expansion into the UK market.
• Regent's University LondoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNABA London campus BA (Hons) programmes (Design, Fashion Design, Fashion Marketing Management) are validated by Regent's University London, granting internationally recognized degrees. This accreditation partnership ensures degree validity and international recognition for graduates.
• Here EastcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNABA London campus is located in Here East, the innovation district within the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. The district is home to over 6,500 professionals, tech companies, start-ups, and creative institutions including V&A East Storehouse, BBC Music Studios, and Sadler's Wells East.
• Ipsos DoxaminorOthersIndependent research body conducting employability surveys for NABA graduates. The 2025/26 survey conducted by Ipsos Doxa provided employment rate data showing 92% employment within 1 year of graduation.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Rhode Island School of Design (RISD): US-based top-ranked private art and design college; comparable in tuition-driven model, fine arts focus, and QS Top-50 global positioning across art and design disciplines.
• Central Saint Martins (UAL): UK-based arts and design college within University of the Arts London; NABA's most direct competitor in the London market for fashion, design, and fine arts undergraduate and postgraduate students.
• Istituto Marangoni: Italian private fashion and design school with campuses in Milan, London, Paris, and other cities; directly comparable to NABA as a for-profit Italian arts academy competing for the same fashion and design student pool with similar tuition-driven model.
• Parsons School of Design: US-based premier art and design school offering BA, BFA, and MFA programmes; comparable as a globally-ranked private design school competing for the same international student pool.
• Domus Academy: Milan-based private design and fashion school offering masters and undergraduate programmes; closest geographic and product peer, competing directly for the same Italian and international design students.
• IED Istituto Europeo di Design: Large private Italian design school with campuses across Italy, Spain, and Brazil; comparable in scale, scope, and tuition-based model across design, fashion, visual communication, and management disciplines.

Others

• ECAL (École cantonale d'art de Lausanne):

Broad incumbents

• Politecnico di Milano: Italy's leading public technical university with strong design and architecture programmes; competes with NABA in Milan for design students, with the advantage of significantly lower public-university tuition.
• Royal College of Art: UK postgraduate-only public university in art and design; competes with NABA's MA and Academic Masters programmes for top international candidates, particularly in London.

Emerging players

• Falmouth University: UK-based public university with growing arts, design, and creative business programmes; competes with NABA London for UK and international students in creative disciplines at a lower price point.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• TikToktiktok.com/@naba_official
• Xx.com/NABAMilano
• Facebookfacebook.com/NuovaAccademiadiBelleArtiMilano
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/naba-nuova-accademia-di-belle-arti

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about NABA