Students of the Master in Design and Master in Car and Transportation Design, under the guidance of Eliana Lorraine and Claudia Raimondo presented the results of the workshop organized by Domus Academy in collaboration with Bayer Material Science, a world leader in high quality materials producing including high-tech polymers such as polycarbonates and polyurethanes.

During the workshop the students have explored the possible applications and uses of polyurethane in design, focusing in particular on Bayflex ® Integral, a flexible integral skin foam of the most important products developed by Bayer MaterialScience

Students from the Master in Urban Vision and Architectural Design (MUVAD), together with California State University (CSU) students had the opportunity to spend a 2 day workshop at the CSU campus in Florence.
The design workshop was led by leading architects and professors: Gianandrea Barreca, director of MUVAD; Francesca Vargiu, tutor at MUVAD; Paola Giaconia, professor of Architecture at CSU; Marco Brizzi, professor of Architectural Design at CSU; and Achille Michelizzi, professor of Architecture at CSU.
The main focus of the initiative was to analyze a specific local traffic node that is today a crucial point for the future development of the city of Florence. This traffic junction exclusively works as a mobility device and lacks spatial layout, aesthetic quality and social functions. At the same time, it has a great potential as it provides a relevant urban surface and could become an interchange hub for the multiple traffic flows crossing the area. During the event, professors and students exchanged ideas and shared information on the topic in order to understand the problem and find a concrete solution.
After this experience Domus Academy and CSU undersigned a formal cultural cooperation agreement.

Best spot of the year: the students of the Master in Car Design, guided by the Director of the Course Philippe Casens, visited the historic Ferrari Museum located in Maranello, where they had a first approach with the old vehicles, the pictures, the trophies that made the history of the brand, just before experiencing a real tour along the “Fiorano Raceway”.  At the end of the path, our students had the chance to get closer to the secrets and the hidden world of the worldwide renowned ‘Testa Rossa’ by visiting the Ferrari Factory.

The Professional Development Programs propose a wide and updated synthesis of Domus Academy know-how in three different formats: Professional Workshop, Theme-Based Courses and Design and Culture Experiences. The courses will be held by leading professionals in the world of design, fashion and interior design and will take place at Domus Academy from June to September 2012. The courses are aimed at professionals willing to enhance knowledge and skills with the objective to open new perspectives for the business implementation in the fields of design, fashion, interior, service and management.

“Design & Architecture Entrepreneurship, an overview on Italian and Indian visions” is the theme of the initiative organized in collaboration with MDFItalia, held at Domus Academy on the February 20th. The list of speakers included Andrea Tosi, Director of Master in Business Design and Canna Patel, one of the most prestigious Indian architects. The introduction was held by the Consul General of India Mr. Sanjay Kumar Verma. The event is part of an initiative organized by the Italian Design Foundation that involves the participation of leading Indian architects.

On February 15th and 16th in the new building of Domus Academy in Milan, Via Pichi 18 has taken place the Italian session of the Fashion Colloquia organised in collaboration between London College of Fashion, Domus Academy, Institut Français de la Mode and Parsons NY.

Marc Ledermann, CEO Laureate Italian Art & Design Education and Alberto Bonisoli, Domus Academy Dean, have opened the morning session welcoming guests and public and inviting them to visit the two exhibitions displayed in the hall: “Fashion Fast Forward” and “Fashion Management People”.

The morning round table, titled “Time vs Creativity – Costraints or stimuli? Fashion weeks and calendars, a system to be re-thought?” and moderated by Barbara Trebitsch, Director of the Fashion Design Department at Domus Academy and Antonio Mancinelli, Senior editor Marie Claire, has seen the participation of: Antonella Antonelli, Director Marie Claire; Mario Boselli, President Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana; Ennio Capasa, Costume National; Frances Corner, Head of College, London College of Fashion, University of the Arts London; Riccardo Grassi, Riccardo Grassi Showroom; Sara Maino, Senior Fashion Editor Vogue; Maurizio Modica e Pierfrancesco Gigliotti, Frankie Morello; Raffaello Napoleone, CEO Pitti Immagine.

In the afternoon Annagemma Lascari, Director Fashion Management Department Domus Academy and Simona Segre Reinach, Fashion Anthropologist, have moderated the second round table “Fashion system and intangible values. New and evolved professions in a new balance between Creativity and Industry” that has seen the participation of Fiona Dieffenbacher, Program Director, BFA Fashion Design, Parsons The New School for Design; Paolo Fanara, Product Manager Red Valentino; Dominique Jacomet, General Director IFM – Institut Français de la Mode; Felice Limosani, Digital Story Teller; Marco Lucarelli, International Communication Manager Maison Fendi; Christina Lundari, Director Google Italia Retail; Marherita Pogliani, Director Style.it and Roberta Valentini, Penelope Stores.

You can watch the recording of the two round tables by clicking here .

The Pechakucha session (download the detailed program) has taken place later in the afternoon.

Under the guidance of Mario Trimarchi, owner at Fragile, and Elena Pacenti, Director of the Master in Service and Experience Design, students are now working on service identity and prototyping in the health care sector.
The definition of a coherent brand strategy is crucial for any service company: this new workshop focuses on the understanding of the essence of a Service Identity and the translation of such an identity into all the aspects that contribute to the creation of a coherent experience for users. The values of the service become the drivers for designing its communication strategies, its visual and tangible elements, its interaction modalities as well as the overall experience.

Another peculiar spot of the year: our Master in Car Design class visiting Materioteca, one of the leading Company on polymeric resources, exploring the technological implementation of the materials and their potential aesthetics, guided by the renown Plastic & Materials Expert Diana Castiglione. Enjoy the pictures!