Labs

The Department's Laboratory System represents the largest international center of technological infrastructure to support research and teaching in the field of design. It consists of four instrumental laboratories occupying a total area of more than 6,000 square meters, providing equipment and expertise to support research, design and prototyping activities in the various fields of design.

Constantly expanding and updating, the Laboratories provide a vital link between research and education. Through advanced equipment and instruments, they allow supporting experimental activities in teaching. Thanks to specialized technical staff and in collaboration with faculty and researchers, they also support experimental research conducted in the Department and offer external partners technical services for the design, prototyping and testing of new products, solutions and systems. The Design Labs facilities are enriched by a free-access area, lower ground floor B2 building, where practical activities and collaborative design projects can be carried out independently.

Image

Fashion

Prototypes and Exhibit

Design Competence Center- Pilot Lab

Access to Design Labs

From the 2025–26 academic year onwards, a new Specific Training Course on Safety will be mandatory for accessing the Design Labs.

For new enrolments, the course is divided into three parts:

  • Design Lab Course - Part 1 - Online Video Conference (VCS): this is an online course on safety in the Design Department Laboratories and contains precise instructions for working safely in the Fashion, Prototypes and Exhibits, Image and Pilot LAB Laboratories. This course is available by reservation and appointment only. Bookings can be made via your personal page on the website www.polimi.it by following this path: Online Services > Booking spaces, lockers and other resources. Further details will be provided by email to interested parties.

  • Design Lab Course - Part 2 – On Campus (FSP): practical and demonstrative in-person course on working safely within the Design Department's laboratory spaces and with its technologies. It is available by reservation and dedicated appointment only (booking accessible from your personal page on the website www.polimi.it by following the path: Online Services > Booking spaces, lockers and other resources). It is only available after the user has completed part 1 with at least 80% attendance. Further details will be provided by email to interested parties.

  • Design Lab Course - Part 3 – Final assessment (on campus): this is an end-of-course assessment consisting of 30 multiple-choice questions. It must be taken in person at the end of Part 2 on a personal device (laptop or mobile) and you must be identified using your university credentials. The test is passed by achieving a minimum score of 70%. Further details will be provided by email to interested parties.

Those who already have the relevant qualifications will be able to access the laboratory facilities they have been trained in, while those who wish to access the DCC Pilot Lab will receive additional training.

For any questions or clarification, please email accessolabb-design@polimi.it.