Circular materials, care environments, artificial intelligence, archives and new ways of living are among the themes explored by the projects selected for the ADI Design Index 2026, reflecting the breadth of fields in which Politecnico di Milano’s design community works. Alongside research projects from the Department of Design, the selection features professional work by faculty and researchers, research partnerships and projects by students from the School of Design selected for Targa Giovani, the section dedicated to outstanding student work.
Design at Politecnico di Milano in the ADI Design Index 2026
ADI DESIGN INDEX 2026
Selected projects from the Department and School of Design, alongside those by their community of faculty and researchers.
Selection in the ADI Design Index is the first step towards the Compasso d’Oro ADI. Projects included in the 2026 and 2027 editions will form the pool for nominations for the 30th edition of the award, scheduled for spring 2028. This two-year process brings together diverse practices and fields of contemporary design.
SELECTED PROJECTS:
Italian Space Design. Design for Space as a Discipline
A research and curatorial project exploring how microgravity transforms the design of objects, environments and interactions. Travelling exhibitions and multimedia displays bring university research, the aerospace industry and design companies into dialogue.
Authors: Annalisa Dominoni and Benedetto Quaquaro.
Commissioned by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.
Collaborators: the Department and School of Design at Politecnico di Milano, the European Space Agency and propp.
Design & Autism
The volume brings together reflections, experiences and projects developed within the COmeta laboratory, exploring the relationship between design and autism. At its heart is an inclusive approach based on collaboration with autistic people and accessible content.
Edited by Venanzio Arquilla and Federica Caruso.
Commissioned by the Department of Design, Politecnico di Milano.
Foreword by Fabrizio Acanfora. Contributions by Giuseppe Andreoni, Andrea Bonarini, Daniela Bulgarelli, Luca Casartelli, Alessandra Damiani, Tommaso Elli, Giorgia Favia, Elena Gabardi, Davide Genco, Paola Golzi, Fabio Guaricci, Alessandro Morganti, Sylvie Ray-Kaeser and Nadia Zanella.
Osmosi
A research project exploring hybrid sociocultural spaces as neighbourhood hubs and sites of urban regeneration. Through pilot projects at Open Casello in Milan and the Museo delle Città del Mondo in Palermo, it combines co-design and digital tools to involve communities and institutions in designing and managing these spaces.
Project team: Laura Galluzzo, Ambra Borin, Andrea Giuseppe Manciaracina, Elisa Cinelli, Salvatore Di Dio, Paola La Scala, Elisabetta Di Giovanni, Mara Soncin, Giulia Vaiani, Ingrid Maria Paoletti and Federica Pradella.
Collaborators: Claudia Mastrantoni, Mathew Spialtini and Alessio Consoli. The project involves Politecnico di Milano, the University of Palermo, BASE Milano and Farm Cultural Park, with funding from the Italian Ministry of University and Research through PRIN 2022.
Not for her. AI revealing the unseen
Presented at the 24th International Exhibition of Triennale Milano, the installation explores gender inequalities in the workplace through generative artificial intelligence. A multimedia journey and an individual interactive experience invite visitors to recognise bias and critically examine the use of technology.
Project team: Umberto Tolino and Ilaria Bollati, Department of Design; Nicola Gatti, Department of Electronics, Information and Bioengineering; Matteo Ruta and Ingrid Paoletti, Department of Architecture, Built Environment and Construction Engineering; Donatella Sciuto, Rector of Politecnico di Milano.
Collaborators: Variante Artistica, ML cube, Alice Biancardi, Valeria Bucchetti, Francesca Casnati, Paolo Iacci, Clara Mori, Kevin Pedron, Ornella Rondinella, Viola Schiaffonati and Giacomo Zanotti.
La Collezione
A modular furniture system for care environments for people living with dementia. Bookcases, room dividers, sound-absorbing panels and tables support non-pharmacological therapies, promoting orientation, independence and social interaction through spatial design.
Design: Labirint Research Atelier, Department of Design, Politecnico di Milano, for HCH - Health Care Help.
Collaborators: Eleonora Alberti, Arzu Babayeva and Nicoletta Lovo.
MICS – Made in Italy Circolare e Sostenibile
The selection also includes the national partnership promoted by Politecnico di Milano to support the circular and sustainable transition of Italian manufacturing. The programme connects universities, research centres and businesses to develop methods, skills and processes in the clothing, furniture, and automation and mechanical engineering sectors. The Department of Design contributes through research into ecodesign strategies and product-service systems.
Credited organisation: Fondazione MICS.
Commissioned by the Italian Ministry of University and Research.
Auxetic Systems for Circular Upholstery
A modular upholstery system for furniture, developed within MICS, that facilitates the repair and recovery of components. Cells made from recyclable thermoplastic materials and coated with natural latex connect without adhesives and can be replaced individually.
Design: Stefano Maffei, Patrizia Bolzan, Francesca Zeccara and Massimo Bianchini, Department of Design, Politecnico di Milano, within MICS – Made in Italy Circolare e Sostenibile.
TARGA GIOVANI
Thirteen projects from Politecnico di Milano have been selected for the Targa Giovani section. Developed through courses, workshops, thesis projects and educational collaborations, they address themes ranging from accessibility and sustainability to health and new user experiences.
Compleat – Rehabilitating Attention One Meal at a Time
A system designed to support rehabilitation during mealtimes for people with unilateral spatial neglect.
Project by Erika Rivetti.
Lecturers: Giuseppe Andreoni, Carlo Emilio Standoli, Lorenzo Palmeri, Chiara Bertarelli and Matteo Squaiella.
MatBioAtlas
An atlas that helps users select bio-based materials according to their visual and perceptual qualities.
Project by Giulia Grimaz.
Supervisor: Flavia Papile. Co-supervisor: Lia Sossini.
Dis – O Kit
An educational kit that introduces primary school pupils to techniques for clearing airway obstructions.
Project by Bernardo Campisi.
Lecturers: Giuseppe Andreoni, Carlo Emilio Standoli, Lorenzo Palmeri, Chiara Bertarelli and Matteo Squaiella.
GOGO
A wearable device that uses tactile cues to help blind and partially sighted people navigate their surroundings.
Project by Alessandro Argintieri.
Supervisor: Venanzio Arquilla.
I Fruttosauri
Corrugated cardboard packaging that makes kiwifruit easier to eat and introduces children to nutrition and biodiversity.
Project by Aleksandr Mitsikulev.
Lecturers: Mario Bisson, Stefania Palmieri and Federico De Luca. In collaboration with Ghelfi Ondulati.
IceShake – Shake Your Ice Cream!
A kinetic ice cream maker that turns food preparation into a shared game, designed to accommodate children with food selectivity or on the autism spectrum.
Project by Carolina Maria Mariani, Arianna Bevoni and Alessia Fratepietro.
Lecturers: Venanzio Arquilla, Davide Genco and Fabio Guaricci.
Odyssey Waveform
An esports training platform that combines sensors and data analysis to explore cognitive performance and mental wellbeing.
Project by Guilherme Lambert, Andrea Frer, Dhruvi Harsora, Filippo Ghioni and Lucija Pezer.
Lecturers: Beatrice Villari and Mario Crippa. Developed with Samsung Italia.
Ramoka
A compact, portable, solar-powered coffee maker designed for outdoor use.
Project by Francesco Vasquez, Federico Lombardi, Stella Rossa, Ludovica Mazzon and Aurora Perini.
Lecturers: Stefano Maffei and Massimo Bianchini.
Silan
A system of tableware and rechargeable devices designed to maintain food temperature and enhance the shared dining experience.
Project by Phan Thi Hien Nhi.
Lecturers: Venanzio Arquilla, Mattia Ciurnelli, Emanuele Magini, Innocenzo Rifino and Emmanuele Villani.
Spectra – Air-Purifying Panel
Modular indoor panels incorporating living moss, exploring its potential for air purification.
Project by Donatella Di Giorgio, Francesco Di Bitonto, Federico Maccalli and Matteo Romeo Nodari.
Lecturers: Francesco Zurlo, Barbara Del Curto and Alessandro Perrone.
Spektra
A bookcase that combines mirrors and lighting to create optical effects and alter the perception of space.
Project by Alessandro Trombatore.
Lecturer: Davide Bruno.
Spin-off
A modular system that integrates the electrical supply into its mechanical supports, allowing kitchen appliances and components to be reconfigured.
Project by Filippo Perucconi.
Lecturers: Venanzio Arquilla, Emanuele Magini, Innocenzo Rifino, Emmanuele Villani and Mattia Ciurnelli.
Tan Tan
A multifunctional object for washing, draining and displaying fruit, collecting the water for reuse on plants.
Project by Pietro Pasquali, Lorenzo Crivelli, Tommaso Bulgheroni and Davide Franchello.
Lecturers: Marina Parente, Carla Sedini and Daniela Maurer.
Collaborations and professional work by the Department of Design Faculty
AIAP CDPG – AIAP Graphic Design Documentation Centre
The digital platform makes the collections of AIAP’s Graphic Design Documentation Centre accessible. Search filters, thematic pathways and personalised collections open up new ways of exploring and showcasing visual communication archives.
Design: Laura Bortoloni - IdaStudio, QZR, Lorenzo Grazzani and Francesco Ermanno Guida, a faculty member in the Department of Design.
Commissioned by AIAP - Italian Association of Visual Communication Design.
PINK. Women in Italian Graphic Design. From Its Origins to the Present
An international travelling exhibition and a book dedicated to the contribution of women graphic designers working in Italy from the 1940s to the present. The project brings renewed visibility to designers who have shaped visual culture and the collective imagination.
Design: Francesco E. Guida and Lorenzo Grazzani - AIAP; Marcello J. Biffi - Biffipol.
Commissioned by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and AIAP - Italian Association of Visual Communication Design.
Guide to the Collections. AIAP CDPG Inventory
A bilingual guide to the archival collections held by AIAP’s Graphic Design Documentation Centre. The volume combines a historical and critical essay with detailed entries and visual documentation, providing a resource for studying and exploring graphic design heritage.
Design: Aldo Caprini and Flavia Lunardi - Sezione Grafica; Lorenzo Grazzani, Sonia Chianchiano and Francesco Ermanno Guida.
Commissioned by AIAP - Italian Association of Visual Communication Design.
LET’S TALK(S). Gender equity in design and art
A research project exploring gender issues and equity in design and art through a series of lectures, an exhibition and an edited volume. The project brings together different perspectives, from visual design and inclusive language to digital technologies and design history, offering tools for research, education and professional practice.
Author: Letizia Bollini. Publisher: AIAP Edizioni.
With contributions by Francesco E. Guida and Valeria Bucchetti.
The Schengen Museum and the Prinzessin Marie-Astrid Europa Boat
The permanent exhibition traces the evolution of the concept of borders through interactive installations and multimedia environments. The project encompasses the Schengen Museum and the transformation of the boat associated with the signing of the 1985 agreement into an exhibition space.
Design: Ico Migliore and Mara Servetto, Migliore+Servetto; Paolo Ranieri and Rino Stefano Tagliafierro, Karmachina.
Commissioned by the Municipality of Schengen.
Pagina
A modular bookcase combining marble and metal, with shelves of varying depths and concealed joints. Its modules allow different configurations, creating a dialogue between furniture and architectural space.
Design: Ico Migliore and Mara Servetto, Migliore+Servetto, for Neutra.
Collaborators: Riccardo Mara and Daniele Pellizzoni. Ico Migliore is a faculty member in the Department of Design.
The Supply Chain of Wonders
A book tracing eighty years of FederlegnoArredo and the contribution of the wood and furniture supply chain to Italian design culture, through illustrations by Mauro Bubbico and a critical reflection on its history.
Project: Mauro Bubbico and Beppe Finessi.
Commissioned by FederlegnoArredo and Corraini Edizioni.
Collaborators: Elena Pontiggia and Mario Piazza.
Isao Hosoe. The Trickster of Design. A Journey into the Mind of a Great Visionary
An exhibition dedicated to Isao Hosoe’s design thinking, explored through sketches, prototypes, models and videos. The exhibition highlights the importance of play and experimentation in his design practice.
Curated by Francesco Zurlo, Lorenzo De Bartolomeis, Masaya Hashimoto, Akira Hosoe, Mariko Hosoe, Takeo Hosoe, Taro Hosoe, Ann Marinelli, Lorenzo Palmeri, Alessandra Salvin and Renata Sias.
Commissioned by Isao Hosoe Design. Francesco Zurlo is a faculty member in the Department of Design.
Angelo Mangiarotti / Giorgio Casali. Framing the Project
A volume that reinterprets Angelo Mangiarotti’s work through photographs by Giorgio Casali and accounts by contemporary designers and scholars. Contributors include Beppe Finessi, a faculty member in the Department of Design.
Design: Giulia Pastore and corrainiStudio. Edited by Anna Mainoli and Francesca Acerboni.
Commissioned by Agape and Corraini Edizioni.
Contributors: Fulvio Irace, Paolo Ulian, Franz Graf, Martino Gamper, Konstantin Grcic, Giulio Iacchetti, Fumihiko Maki, Beppe Finessi and Angelo Maggi.
THE EXHIBITIONS
The projects selected for the ADI Design Index 2026 are on display at the ADI Design Museum in Milan until 15 October. The exhibition will then move to L’Aquila, the Italian Capital of Culture 2026, at Palazzo ex OMNI, from 30 October to 17 November, with an opening event on 29 October.
Photo credits: Roberto De Riccardis