The best online courses of 2025

Finally, the new year has arrived, and, as tradition dictates, January brings with it new resolutions. Among the changes anticipated for 2025, beyond gym plans or other healthy habits likely to be forgotten by February, there is a renewed focus on education. However, not everyone has the time or resources to pursue new interests consistently. In this context, MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses) have established themselves over the years as a valuable tool for developing hobbies and acquiring new knowledge. Completely free and entirely online, MOOCs cover an incredibly wide range of topics, often offered by prestigious institutions. It’s a bit like going back to university but without the stress of exams. For many, they also represent an opportunity to finally explore a passion that, precisely because it is a passion, has never found space among academic priorities. Among the many opportunities offered by MOOCs, some courses stand out for their focus on art, fashion, and design, representing a fascinating chance to delve deeper or explore new perspectives in these fields. Here is a list of the 5 best free courses to take in 2025, curated by nss.

MoMA - Fashion as Design 

Offered by the MoMA as part of their new free online course project, Fashion as Design explores a selection of garments and accessories from around the world, ranging from kente cloth to denim, turtlenecks, swimwear, and 3D-printed dresses. Through these items, participants analyze what we wear, why we wear it, how it’s made, and what it means. The course includes direct contributions from designers, artisans, historians, and other experts who work daily with clothing, in some cases reinventing it for the future. Studio visits, interviews, and additional resources provide an overview of the history, development, and evolution of each item’s use and significance, highlighting their impact over time. You can enroll here.

Università Luigi Bocconi - Management of Fashion and Luxury Companies

What better time to understand the backend of luxury than during one of the industry’s biggest crises? With Bocconi’s expertise, the course Management of Fashion and Luxury Companies provides an overview of how fashion and luxury companies operate, analyzing brands, products, retail strategies, and communication. Through case studies, the course delves into strategic brand management in the luxury and fashion sectors, highlighting the balance between tradition and innovation, expertise and experimentation, casual and sophisticated. The goal is to enhance brand value while preserving the cultural heritage and staying relevant in the global market. For more information, visit the official site. 

University of Edinburgh - How to Keep a Design Sketchbook

Perhaps the prevailing sentiment of 2025 is to move away from the digital realm and return to a tangible, material world. Drawing is an art, but doodling is within everyone’s reach. In line with the journaling trend, the University of Edinburgh offers a course focused on the importance of the sketchbook as an essential creative tool for designers. Through five two-hour sessions, participants explore various techniques to develop and use their sketchbooks effectively, not only as support for current projects but also as a source of inspiration for future ideas. The proposed exercises provide a practical starting point, encouraging regular use of the sketchbook to enhance creativity and refine the design process. The first lesson here. 

Politecnico di Milano - Made in Italy. Stories of Italian Design

In preparation for Design Week, one of the most intriguing courses for those wanting to delve into the Italian design tradition is Made in Italy. Stories of Italian Design, offered by the Politecnico di Milano. The course explores the history of Italian design, focusing on the second half of the 20th century, and highlighting its role in contemporary living. Through a constantly updated selection of works and projects, participants deepen their understanding of the legacy left by Italy’s most influential design figures. Created in collaboration with institutions like CASVA, the Franco Albini Foundation, the Achille Castiglioni Foundation, the Vico Magistretti Foundation, Kartell Museo, and the Museo del Design Italiano at Triennale Milano, the course celebrates the cultural heritage preserved by these foundations, archives, and museums. Especially recommended for students preparing for the Politecnico di Milano School of Design entrance exam, the course is available on the official platform. 

The University of Tokyo - Words Spun Out of Images: Visual and Literary Culture in Nineteenth Century Japan 

To step beyond familiar grounds and broaden cultural horizons, UTokyo offers a course on visual and literary culture in 19th-century Japan. In their ambition to capture “real life,” 19th-century Japanese painters, poets, novelists, and photographers collaborated in ways rarely explored by their European contemporaries. This course provides an opportunity to delve into the behaviors, moral standards, and material conditions surrounding Japanese artists of the era, challenging conventional notions of artistic “realism” and its meaning. The course guides participants in understanding how society and the individual were conceived and represented in early modern Japan. Unlike Western art forms of the time, which recognized a bond as “sister arts” but remained distinct by genre, Japanese visual and literary culture tended to merge. You can enroll here.