The activities of the Department of Design at the 2025 International Engineering Festival

Technology for Humanity

A small, futuristic, rounded robot is the center of the image, positioned against a gradient background shifting from cyan blue to neon pink. The robot's body is white and glossy, with metallic details and a spherical head featuring large dark eyes that give it a friendly and curious appearance. The soft lighting and colorful reflections on its surface highlight a modern and technological aesthetic, typical of artificial intelligence and advanced robotics.

Once again in 2025, the International Engineering Festival reaffirms itself as a key event for scientific and cultural outreach at Politecnico di Milano.

From September 19 to 21, 2025

This year the Festival expands to include all of the University’s Milan campuses, offering a rich and diverse program designed to engage a broad audience: 38 open labs, 30 activities for children, 27 activities for teenagers and career orientation, 40 outreach lectures, 10 talks, 20 exhibition spaces, 5 events and performances, along with a “Fuori Festival” that will further animate the city.

The Department of Design will also take an active role in the Festival, contributing with initiatives that highlight the dialogue between engineering, design, and innovation. This is a chance to explore the intersection of design culture and technological development, fostering an interdisciplinary and sustainability-oriented vision.

Activities involving the Department of Design:

Festival Opening Ceremony

19 September · 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

TEENS ACTIVITIES

Materials Design for Transition: Experimenting from a Biodesign Perspective

By Valentina Rognoli

Campus Bovisa – Durando

An open-access biomaterials workshop set up as an interactive biolab-gazebo, designed to introduce visitors to contemporary practices in materials design for ecological transition. The focus will be on bio-based, bio-inspired, and experimental approaches that connect design, science, and sustainability.

September 20 · 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM

A researcher or student attentively observes a large display wall covered with numerous bio-based and experimental material samples. Each specimen is cataloged and pinned to a white base, showcasing a variety of textures, degrees of transparency, and organic colors ranging from amber brown to charcoal gray. The image illustrates a process of scientific analysis and cataloging applied to design, where research into new biological materials becomes the cornerstone for developing sustainable and innovative solutions.

KIDS ACTIVITIES

Creative Weaving – Between Warp and Weft

By Angelo Sabbioni, Fashion Lab

Campus Bovisa – Durando

Using a basic loom, participants will learn how fabrics are created and how, by changing the weaving patterns or using yarns of different thicknesses, it is possible to create a wide variety of designs.

September 20 · 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM

September 20 · 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM

September 21 · 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM

September 21 · 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM

An artisan's hands work carefully on a small hand loom, weaving white and black wool yarns to create a thick, linear patterned fabric. The image focuses on the technical details of the warp and weft, highlighting the precision and patience required in traditional weaving. The combination of simple tools and natural materials underscores the value of manual skill and the revival of historical techniques in contemporary textile design.

Wood and Design

By Mariano Chernicoff, Prototypes and Exhibit Lab

Campus Bovisa – Durando

This workshop is dedicated to exploring wood and its main derivatives through hands-on activities and the creation of small objects. Participants will explore the characteristics of different materials, joinery techniques, and the use of essential woodworking tools, trying their hand at making a solid wood sculpture and a scale model chair.

September 20 · 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM

September 20 · 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM

September 21 · 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM

September 21 · 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM

Two hands carefully hold a handful of polished wooden stones, surrounded by a spread of similar elements showing various natural grains and tones, from cream to dark brown. Each piece is shaped into smooth, organic forms reminiscent of river pebbles, highlighting the tactile warmth of the raw material and the beauty of nature-inspired design. The image celebrates wood craftsmanship and the pursuit of formal perfection through sustainable and sensory materials.

Harry Potter and the Magic of Cinema

By Mariana Ciancia

Campus Bovisa – La Masa

Appearances and disappearances, dazzling transformations, flying brooms, and staircases that change direction on their own:is it really all thanks to the magic of Harry, Ron, and Hermione… or is there a touch of digital wizardry involved? Join Mariana Ciancia on a journey to the heart of Hogwarts, where you'll uncover the secrets behind the most famous spells.

September 20 · 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM

festival ingegneria_Harry Potter

EXHIBITIONS AND INSTALLATIONS

Design Convivio

By Giampiero Bosoni, Paola Bertola

Campus Bovisa – Durando

Guided tour of the Design Convivio installation, curated by Giampiero Bosoni together with Paola Bertola, part of the Design Philology project. Design Convivio brings to life the origins of the institutionalization of design at Politecnico di Milano. The installation stages an imaginary dialogue between some of the pioneering figures who played a key role in this journey.

September 20 · 10:00 AM – 10:30 AM

September 20 · 12:00 PM – 12:30 PM

September 20 · 3:00 PM – 3:30 PM

September 21 · 10:00 AM – 10:30 AM

September 21 · 12:00 PM – 12:30 PM

September 21 · 3:00 PM – 3:30 PM

A backlit table with the inscription "DESIGN Convivio" displays a series of three-dimensional graphs made of red and gray elements, representing data or timelines related to the design world. Behind the table, four black-and-white cutouts depicting historic masters of Italian design stand out in a convivial atmosphere, while bright screens in the background show images of iconic furniture. The installation creates a visual dialogue between design history and contemporary analysis, inviting visitors to a collective reflection on the legacy of design.

Fuori Festival

Visit to the Gianfranco Ferré Research Centre

Via Tortona, 37

Guided tour of the Gianfranco Ferré Research Centre, with an itinerary illustrating the different types of materials that make up the Ferré Archive – drawings, photos, clothes, jewellery and publications. This activity has been designed to highlight the artistic and cultural references present in the design of some of Gianfranco Ferré's collections, presenting pieces inspired by artistic movements or works by artists such as Alberto Giacometti, Paul Signac and Vittorio Zecchin, among many others.

18 September · 2:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.

18 September · 3:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.

19 September · 2:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.

19 September · 3:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.

A selection of hand-drawn fashion sketches, showcasing elegant gowns and stylized silhouettes, is laid out on a dark workbench. Next to the drawings are several gray archival binders labeled "Alta Moda," referring to historical collections from the 1980s. The image provides a privileged look into the creative and preservation process of a fashion house, highlighting the transition from a sketched idea on paper to the methodical documentation of stylistic heritage.

Registration and booking are required to participate in the activities.

Discover the complete programme directly on the Festival website.

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