The Department of Design at the 2025 Engineering Festival

It was an opportunity to explore the intersection between design culture and technological development, promoting an interdisciplinary and sustainability-oriented vision.

A rich and varied program was created to engage a diverse audience: 38 open laboratories, 30 activities for children, 27 activities for teenagers and career guidance, 40 popular science lectures, 10 talks, 20 exhibitionspaces,5 events and performances,along with a Fuori Festival that brought even more energy to the city.

Here are some of the activities involving the Department of Design:

Valentina Rognoli curated Materials Design for Transition: Experimenting from a Biodesign Perspective, a biomaterials workshop open to the public. Set up as an interactive biolab-gazebo, it was designed to introduce visitors to contemporary practices in material design for ecological transition.

For the youngest participants, the Fashion Lab created the workshop Creative Weaving – Between Warp and Weft, an activity designed to bring children closer to the world of weaving in a simple and engaging way. Using a rudimentary loom, participants were able to experience the process of fabric creation first-hand, discovering how varying the interlacing and yarns can result in different structures and patterns.

The Wood and Design workshop, organized by the Prototypes and Exhibit Lab, offered participants a learning opportunity to explore the expressive and functional potential of wood and its main derivatives. Through guided practical activities, participants were able to create a solid wood sculpture and a scaled-down chair, experimenting directly with joint techniques, basic wood working tools, and the distinctive properties of various materials.

At the La Masa Campus, the event Harry Potter and the Magic of Cinema explored the technological secrets behind the special effects of the iconic film saga. Led by Mariana Ciancia, participants embarked on a journey into the world of Hogwarts, discovering how cinematic magic takes shape through digital tools, visual effects, and advanced filmmaking techniques.

During the Festival, the Design Convivio installation – part of the Design Philology project – was also open to the public. Curated by Giampiero Bosoni together with Paola Bertola, the installation brought to life the origins of the institutionalization of design at Politecnico di Milano, staging an imaginary dialogue among some of the pioneering figures who shaped this story.

The program was completed by a guided tour of the Gianfranco Ferré Research Center, aimed at exploring the various types of materials preserved in the Ferré Archive. The visit highlighted the artistic and cultural influences that inspired some of the designer's collections, through pieces connected to movements and artists such as Alberto Giacometti, Paul Signac, Vittorio Zecchin, and others.

The Department of Design’s participation in the Festival offered a valuable opportunity to showcase the design approach as a tool for connecting disciplines, languages, and different bodies of knowledge. A meaningful contribution that emphasizes the role of design in building a more sustainable, inclusive, and innovative future.