Honorary Master's Degree in Fashion Design for the fashion system

Nanni Strada

The image captures a solemn moment during an academic ceremony. At the center of the composition, an elderly woman wears a black gown and mortarboard, symbols of a prestigious academic achievement or honorary degree. Her gaze, directed slightly upward, conveys serenity and pride, while a colorful scarf and a blue stone necklace add a personal touch to the formal institutional attire. In the background, an audience watches the event attentively; among them are men in formal wear, some busy taking photos with their smartphones to document the occasion. The soft lighting and shallow depth of field highlight the protagonist, emphasizing the significance of the academic recognition and the atmosphere of deep respect characterizing the event.

A tribute to innovation: Nanni Strada and her revolutionary approach to industrial design for fashion.

On March 27, 2024, Politecnico di Milano awarded an Honorary Master's Degree in Design for the fashion system to Nanni Strada, as an acknowledgment of the important role played by Strada in the innovation process of industrial design for fashion. This is the second Honorary Degree awarded by the Design for the Fashion System program in the last twenty years, preceded only by the one conferred to Giorgio Armani in 2007

The image captures a solemn and institutional moment, depicting an elderly woman as she dons or adjusts her academic cap. The woman, with a focused and engaged expression, wears eyeglasses and a dark robe embellished with a scarf or stole featuring green and gold bands, typical of graduation ceremonies or university honors. On the right, another figure in academic regalia is partially visible, suggesting a context of interaction or preparation during an official event. The neutral background and selective focus emphasize the main subject, conveying a sense of authority, experience, and prestige associated with the world of academia and culture.
The image captures a moment of preparation during an official ceremony, likely a graduation or the awarding of academic honors. At the center of the scene, an elderly woman with gray hair and glasses is being assisted by another person as she puts on her academic gown, which features wide puffed sleeves, tassels, and refined detailing. The woman is already wearing the mortarboard (academic cap) and a ceremonial stole with green and gold bands. In the background and on the sides, other individuals dressed in the same formal regalia can be seen, with one person appearing to point or interact with the group. The lighting is bright and natural, and the focus remains on the care and respect with which the garments are being adjusted, conveying a deep sense of solemnity, institutional belonging, and intellectual prestige.

The renowned Milanese fashion designer revolutionized the fashion world by introducing the language of design into garment creation, continuously experimenting with technological innovations and industrial production.

To understand her pioneering spirit and her dedication to innovation, it is essential to remember how her constant interest in the fields of design and architecture gave rise to the concept of clothing as a "pure element," detached from traditional tailoring and seasonal trends.

Since the 1970s, she has conducted cross-disciplinary research in collaboration with leading clothing and textile companies, designing collections for Dolomite, Ermenegildo Zegna, Fiorucci, La Perla, Max Mara, Nordica, Visconti di Modrone, contributing to bring the excellence of Made in Italy to the world. In 1984, she trademarked "Nanni Strada" and "Nomade" to produce and distribute her creations internationally.

Nanni Strada has exhibited in important international contexts and has published several fundamental volumes on fashion design and design culture. Among the prestigious awards she has received over the years, we recall the Compasso d'Oro ADI in 1979 for the pioneering garment system "Il Manto e la Pelle", created for Calza Bloch with automated processes and zero production waste. It consisted of a single piece garment-cloak made of fabric, the world's first seamless garment entirely produced.

he image captures a moment of significant institutional importance during an academic ceremony. At the center of the scene, an elderly woman in a gown and mortarboard sits at a wooden podium, delivering a speech or answering questions during a conference. Microphones and some paper notes are visible in front of her. In the background, a large LED screen projects a real-time close-up of the woman speaking, alongside an informative slide featuring academic titles and institutional logos, including that of the Politecnico di Milano. To the right, a row of other academic figures, also in ceremonial attire, can be seen attending the presentation. The professional lighting and the modern architecture of the conference hall emphasize the importance of the event, conveying an atmosphere of prestige, wisdom, and the celebration of intellectual merit.

The reasons behind the decision to confer the Honorary Degree to Nanni Strada refer to the innovation in the field of industrial design for fashion, the ability to place design culture as a central element in defining objects, and the development of radically innovative projects during all phases of the industrial process: design, construction, material selection, and garment assembly.

The image captures a significant solemn academic ceremony held at the Politecnico di Milano, as indicated by the logo on the podium. The scene takes place in a modern auditorium filled with an audience, seen from behind as they attend the event. On stage, a committee of eight academics in gowns and mortarboards sits behind a long wooden table. Behind them, a massive LED screen dominates the room, divided into two sections: on the left, a live projection of an elderly woman speaking at the podium; on the right, a celebratory slide announcing the awarding of an Honorary Master's Degree in Design for the Fashion System to Nanni Strada, dated March 27, 2024. The atmosphere is formal and prestigious, celebrating the recognition of a prominent figure in the international design scene within a setting of institutional excellence.

The ceremony opened with greetings from the Dean of the School of Design, Professor Francesco Zurlo, and was attended by Professor Paola Bertola, Deputy Director of the Department of Design, who delivered the laudatio that introduced Nanni Strada's lectio magistralis.

During the ceremony, Professor Valeria Maria Iannilli, Coordinator of the Programme Board of Design for the Fashion System at Politecnico di Milano, underlined:

«Nanni Strada has contributed to the development of design culture and is part of those cultural roots which since the 1960s have made design for fashion one of our country's expressions of excellence»
The image captures the culminating moment of a prestigious academic ceremony. At the center of the scene, designer Nanni Strada, smiling and visibly moved, holds a large bouquet of colorful flowers while wearing her academic gown and mortarboard. Beside her, a representative of the Politecnico di Milano proudly holds an open blue case displaying the diploma for the Honorary Master's Degree in Design for the Fashion System. Around them, other faculty members in ceremonial attire applaud and join in the celebration. In the background, the large LED screen shows a photograph of the designer and the details of the award, confirming the significance of the recognition. The atmosphere is filled with joy and institutional respect, celebrating a career dedicated to innovation in design and fashion within one of the most renowned academic institutions.
«Nanni Strada is part of the cultural roots of the School of Design, with whom she has shared her complex system of knowledge and practices as a teacher since 1999, in the newly established Industrial Design Degree Course at Politecnico di Milano. Our degree program, created specifically to train a new class of fashion designers, feels particularly aligned today with a designer who has made the innovation of design culture the centerpiece of her research and design practices. At the same time, we are proud to provide our students in Fashion Design programs with a new identity reference capable of enriching awareness of their cultural roots, which find a place in the history of those designers who have interpreted fashion as design»
The image shows an institutional group portrait taken during an academic ceremony at the Politecnico di Milano. Ten individuals, men and women, pose formally in front of a light wood wall; everyone is wearing the official black academic gown with intricate wide sleeves and the mortarboard (academic cap). In the center of the composition stands designer Nanni Strada, the focus of the event, surrounded by faculty members and academic authorities. The diverse appearances and personal styles of the participants, visible through the details beneath their robes, add a touch of modernity to the solemnity of the academic regalia. The atmosphere is one of understated celebration and institutional pride, marking the awarding of the Honorary Degree.

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