Casa IED opens in NYC — A night with New York Nico

Join us on Thursday November 6th for our first in a series of exclusive events organized in collaboration with IED - Istituto Europeo di Design - the largest network of arts and design schools in Europe, for an intimate chat with Nicolas Heller aka New York Nico, the visionary video maker and “unofficial talent scout of New York City.”

The opening of Casa IED in New York marks a historic moment for the school as it brings its unique educational model to one of the most important creative centers of the world. Together with Salotto, a hub for Italian Creatives, this continuous collaboration will fully start in 2026 including more thought-provoking events, lectures, workshops and more.

The evening will open with Riccardo Balbo, Academic Director of IED, who will unveil the school’s forward-looking vision for design education and discuss how plural intelligences can redefine the way we learn, create, and connect. The conversation will then move to Nicolas, who will share his inspiring journey as a video maker and influencer. The talk will conclude with a Q&A and light refreshments.

Nicolas Heller is a commercial director and documentarian better known to his 3 million+ social media followers as @newyorknico. Dubbed the “Unofficial Talent Scout of New York” by The New York Times, Nicolas Heller is a filmmaker and commercial director known for working with real people to tell stories that stick. Whether documentary, scripted, or branded, his work puts authenticity front and center—capturing moments that are raw, funny, and emotionally resonant.

He’s directed campaigns for some of the most important brands in the world—blending cinematic visuals with character-driven storytelling and a knack for casting the unexpected. And his new documentary 26.2 about New York City marathon runners is out now.

IED - Istituto Europeo di Design is an international group with a proudly local outlook and 11 campuses in 3 countries, Italy, Spain and Brazil. The largest Higher Education Network in the creative field to have maintained a global outlook and a deeply Italian cultural matrix, since 1966. Their educational experience has changed over time but continues to be based on a simple and effective model: combining theory with practice and knowledge brought into the classroom by professionals from the world of work. Teaching students to be one step ahead, in the present.

As a B-Corp, IED promotes transparency as an inclusive, transdisciplinary school that uses design as a universal language for change.

→ Nicolas Heller
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