From February 13th to 17th, the School of Design of Politecnico di Milano has been transformed into a large open and international studio thanks to its Master’s Degrees in Integrated Product Design and in Digital Product Design. Six teams of international professors led six workshop experiences on cutting-edge topics in which design culture becomes a framework connecting other cultures and disciplines.
The workshops have always characterised the learning and training experience of designers at the School of Design. They represent a real opportunity to work with professional designers and the different cultures, companies, and organisations they represent.
Below are the designers involved in the workshops and the related topics:
Ron Gilad with Eithan Sharif for Glas Italia
Ron Gilad, designer and art director of several companies, presents a workshop that reflects on contemporary products’ aesthetic-formal and expressive dimensions that often incorporate or enhance new technologies. He will collaborate with Eithan Sharif, expert in new technologies and the engineering of digital products. This year they will collaborate with the company Glas Italia.
Duy Phong Vu with Ilaria Vitali and Gianluca Silvestrini for DeLonghi Group.
Duy Phong Vu, head of design for the DeLonghi Group, comprising the Braun, DeLonghi, Imetec and Kenwood brands, presents an approach to design that starts from positive elements in the experience of interacting with contemporary products, emphasising the aspects of the pleasantness of use and desirability. He will collaborate with Ilaria Vitali and Gianluca Silvestrini, a School alumnus now a member of the Braun design team.
Mauro Porcini, Marie Therese Cassidy, Christian Saclier and the PepsiCo team
PepsiCo Team present a workshop reflecting on the iconic brands within the company galaxy. The workshop focuses on atypical product types to explore how snacking might evolve in a more digitally connected world, developing envisions for future “phygital” food and beverage experiences.
John Thackara
John Thackara, journalist, writer and design theorist, author of numerous outstanding publications, including In the Bubble – Designing in A Complex World (MIT Press) and the blog Designing for Life. He will offer a speculative workshop with Roberta Tassi, reflecting on the Ecology of Relational Sustainability and Design, searching for new dimensions of contemporary design about the renewed challenges of sustainability.
Daisuke Ishii with Kentaro Shibukawa, Yasuyuki Suki, Ryu Shibata, Reiko Mitsugi and Mariko Watanabe for Sony Corporation
Daisuke Ishii is the creative director of Sony Corporation and head of the AI Robotics Design Team. Over the years, he has designed iconic products such as the Handycam, the Walkman and the AIBO robot. The workshop will focus on integrating technology into furniture to support everyday life and expand the user experience.
Pieter Desmet with Wim Schermer
Pieter Desmet is Professor of Design for Experience and Head of the Department of Human-Centred Design at TuDelft University. His research focuses on the emotional capacity of design, contributing to the well-being of individuals and communities. The workshop will explore methods and tools for eliciting emotions dealing with the automotive industry.