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The Department

The Department of Design is the leading Italian centre for scientific research in the field of design. Rooted in the Italian design culture, it is oriented towards exploring new disciplinary frontiers.

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A person, viewed from behind with dark hair tied back and a knotted scarf, carefully observes a large exhibition wall covered in a regular grid of material samples. The light-wood display board holds dozens of small white sheets, each featuring a different textile or organic fragment: subtle weaves, translucent amber films, porous or braided surfaces are distinguishable in shades ranging from dark brown to ochre, alongside geometric or textured patterns. Each sample is accompanied by a text label underneath, evoking the atmosphere of a textile design laboratory, a biomaterials research center, or the archive of a fashion atelier where new creative and sustainable solutions are studied and classified.

DIPARTIMENTI DI ECCELLENZA

Design for Systemic Change

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Focus

Designing the unknown. Design as a practice of anticipation

Anticipation Conference 2026

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Focus

Designing Democratic Transitions. Milan Symposium at Politecnico di Milano

An initiative within the CoDesign4Transitions project.

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Designing for Living Together. Why PDC 2026 Speaks to the Future of Design

International Conference

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News

PoliMi Sailing Team wins SuMoth Challenge 2026

Award

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News

Density Design Lab’s infographic project awarded Bronze

European Design Awards 2026

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Silhouette of a person standing in front of a large digital installation made of thousands of colorful images and visual fragments arranged like an abstract map on a dark background with overlapping circular lines.

Focus

Project Ecologies. The Department of Design at DRS 2026

Design Research Society Conference

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Compasso d’Oro ADI 2026

Recognising Excellence in Design and Design Culture at Politecnico di Milano

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News and events

Summit

September 10, 2026, from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm, Brussels, Belgium

OPENVERSE Summit 2026. Open and co-created Virtual Worlds for Europe

European policy and ecosystem event dedicated to building open, interoperable, and human-centric Virtual Worlds.

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Academic exhibition

July 11, 2026, 11 am – 7 pm, Dotdotdot, Via Tertulliano 68, Milan

Undeclared: Highlighting Hidden Conflicts through Communication and Speculative Design

Exhibition showcasing the outcomes of the projects developed in the Final Synthesis Design Studio C1 of the Bachelor's Degree Programme in Communication Design, School of Design, Politecnico di Milano.

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Delegation for Innovation and Corporate Relations

July 9, 2026, 4:30 pm, Building B3, Bovisa Durando Campus, Milan

Innovation & Entrepreneurship Event

The Innovation & Entrepreneurship Events series begins with its first appointment, dedicated to those aiming to transform innovative ideas and research outcomes into opportunities for impact.

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Exhibition opening

June 30, 2026, 6:30 pm, Fabbrica del Vapore

We say stop. 90 Posters Against Violence Against Women

The exhibition presents a selection of the outcomes of an initiative conceived and developed by the dcxcg research group of the Department of Design, with the aim of addressing gender-based violence through the perspective of communication design.

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The Department of Design celebrates well-being through sport, health and community

June 23, 2026, from 9:30 am to 1:00 pm, Bovisa Durando Campus

Olympic Day 2026

Politecnico di Milano will celebrate Olympic Day, the international initiative promoted by the International Olympic Committee.

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Book presentation

June 23, 2026, 5:00 pm, Workshop space quattro, Building B3, Bovisa Durando Campus, Milan

Alberto Seassaro. The demiurge

Presentation of the first book in the “I Maestri” series, dedicated to Alberto Seassaro.

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Award

PoliMi Sailing Team wins SuMoth Challenge 2026

The team secured the Overall Winner title for the third consecutive year.

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Photo exhibition

From 13 May 2026 to 16 October 2026, Spazio Mostre Archivi Storici, Building B1, Bovisa Campus Campus, via Candiani 72, Milan

Ritratti/Portraits

An exhibition that explores the face as both document and interpretation, offering an original way of reading the materials preserved in the archives of the Politecnico di Milano.

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Incontri 26

June 17, 2026, from 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm, Aula De Donato, Building 3, Leonardo Campus, Milan

Meeting with Gianni Biondillo. La città che scegliamo

Event with Gianni Biondillo, author of the novel "Quello che noi non siamo".

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A TUTTE LE ORE

June 17, 2026, 7:00 pm, Bar Basso, Via Plinio 39, Milano

Un libro sonoro da leggere, ascoltare, attraversare

A TUTTE LE ORE project in Milan presents its sound book at Bar Basso, one of the locations featured in the project.

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Design Labs

Design Lab System

Image

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A professional television set features a man with glasses in a dark jacket, positioned in front of a bright blue backdrop inside a recording studio. The environment is equipped with LED light panels mounted on stands and reflectors strategically placed to illuminate the subject, while in the foreground, the dark silhouettes of the crew and a camera mounted on a tripod framing the scene are visible. On the left, a heavy dark curtain blocks out external light, while on the right, next to the set, a chair and technical equipment can be seen, highlighting the complex preparation behind a video production.

Design Lab System

Fashion

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A small wooden and black fabric dress form dominates the foreground, with a piece of dark cloth elegantly draped over its shoulders. In the blurred background, several students are focused on manual work around large wooden tables in a bright fashion laboratory. The workspace is dotted with tools of the trade, including white paper patterns, rollers, and blue folders, creating an atmosphere of intense creative activity and craftsmanship.

Design Lab System

Prototypes and Exhibit

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A specialized operator, wearing a blue apron with the words "STAFF DESIGN X DESIGNER," is focused on using a precision drill press inside a mechanical workshop. The man, protected by safety glasses and work gloves, fixes his gaze on the piece of wood he is drilling, while a small group of students closely observes the technical demonstration. The setting is spacious and well-lit by rows of LED lights on the industrial ceiling, with shelving and woodworking materials visible in the background, giving the space a laboratory and educational feel.

Design Lab System

Design Competence Center- Pilot Lab

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