Three students from IED Milano’s BA Design programme took part in SURF 2026 - Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship at Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (XJTLU) in Suzhou, China
Date
07 September 2026
How will humans and intelligent technologies collaborate in the future? And how can design contribute to imagining new relationships between people, robots and manufacturing processes?
These questions were at the heart of the experience of three students from IED Milano’s BA in Product and Interior Design programmes who participated in SURF 2026 – Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship, an international research programme hosted by IED partner Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (XJTLU) in Suzhou, China. The initiative was led by XJTLU Associate Professor Yang Song along with 5 students from XJTLU, with the support of IED Milano professor, Matteo Rigamonti.
Over seven weeks, including online and in-presence sessions, the students worked closely with faculty and researchers in an international applied research environment, enabling continuous exchange between students and faculty and creating the conditions for an intensive experimental process.
The programme gave IED students the opportunity to strengthen their skills in Rhinoceros, develop their expertise in parametric modelling through Grasshopper, and explore new approaches to computational design. They then applied these skills to the interaction with an industrial robot through Augmented Reality systems, exploring new possibilities for assisted fabrication.
Students also took part in a summer digital fabrication workshop focused on the construction of a parametric timber structure.
By participating in SURF 2026, students experienced first-hand how design can operate at the intersection of technology, research and emerging forms of production.
This is the kind of international learning experience that connects with different educational and research ecosystems, engages with contemporary challenges and develops skills through real experimental projects.
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