Date

27 February 2025

Design as a tool to foster cohesion among communities and create a better life

In the year of the XXIV International Exhibition of Triennale Milano, the Italian Design Day 2025 embraces its theme to highlight a defining feature of Italian design: working to create a better life, reduce inequalities, value differences, and improve access to individual and collective well-being.

Italian Design Day is an initiative by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (the Farnesia), in collaboration and with the support of the Ministry of Culture launched in 2017. It is an effective tool in supporting the promotion of design and the internationalization of a strategic industrial sector for Italian exports.

As part of the international ecosystem of Italian design, we have been part of different events around the world:

 

  • Lagos, Nigeria – Riccardo Balbo, Chief Academic Officer and Dean at IED Istituto Europe di Design Group

“Rapid Integration of AI in Architecture” was the title of the event that took place on February 25th.

More info here.

 

  • Copenhagen, Denmark – Giovanni Ottonello, IED Art Director.

Copenhagen Design Museum hosted the event where Giovanni Ottonello and

Prof. Marco Sammicheli, Italian Design Museum director and curator, presented their vision on how design can contribute to creating a better world.

More info here.

 

  • Lyon, France – Simona Bordone, IED Milano teacher.

Simona Bordone offered a talk about what democratic design means today.

More info here.

 

  • Barcelona, Spain - Manuela Procopio, Academic Manager.

Manuela moderated a roundtable where designers Elena Salmistraro and Pepa Reverter reflected on the role of design as a tool for transformation.

More info here.

 

Keep tuned for new events in the following days. 

You may be interested in:

11 May 2026

Design tells its story at the Turin International Book Fair with EDICOLA IED

From 14 to 18 May, a newsstand of creativity presents the first two issues of Notes on Plural Intelligences alongside a selection of the best Italian and international magazines, accompanied by a programme of talks and workshops exploring themes of design, publishing and contemporary communication

11 May 2026

Silvia Brandi brings the second season of IED MUSES Talks to a close

The Italian architect and cultural manager shared her vision on sustainability, design and rural revitalisation in the episode that concludes the second edition of the IED’s inspirational talks series.

08 May 2026

Diego Bicet, IED Barcelona alumnus, nominated for the Work Forward Awards ’26

A graduate in Interior Design, he is in the running to win with “Hope, un camino a la esperanza”, a project envisioning a workshop-school for refugees in the heart of Barcelona.

06 May 2026

IED at the “Lápiz de Acero” Award in Colombia

IED joins Lápiz de Acero 2026 in Bogotá, supporting emerging talent and the future of design.

28 April 2026

Abitare con cura: IED and Sex & the City rethink collective and collaborative housing in Turin

28 April 2026

IED Milano partner in the international Blended Intensive Programme

The programme has been coordinated by ENSAV La Cambre, Brussels.

21 April 2026

IED Barcelona alumna Jaime Rose De Candole presents “What the Trees Told Me” at OFFF Barcelona 26

She was one of ten students selected by the prestigious festival of art, design and creativity to showcase her final degree project at NXT, its platform for emerging talent.

20 April 2026

“Caliu”, by alumnus Judith Aubà, to be exhibited in “Matter Matters. Designing with the World”

The project has been selected by the Museu del Disseny-DHub as part of the annual “Matèria Prima” open call to feature in this exhibition, which rethinks the relationship with matter understood as an active agent.

Luxury catamaran sailing at sunset

17 April 2026

The catamaran “OW” (IED Barcelona) wins the Digital Yacht Week 2026 Award

Designed by student Marco Bonfliglia (Transportation Design), in collaboration with Álvaro Prados and Alicia López Jaimes (Interior Design), the project has prevailed over thirteen other international entries.