Una biblioteca tutta per sé

The Communication Design Study Programme of the School of Design at Politecnico di Milano together with AIAP Associazione italiana design della comunicazione visiva and the Centro di ricerca interuniversitario Culture di genere, in collaboration with AWDA (AIAP Women in Design Award), organize and promote the meeting Una biblioteca tutta per sé.

On the occasion of International Women’s Day 2026, the aim is to reflect and discuss — through texts, publications and contributions promoting an equal and inclusive perspective — the role and point of view of communication design, thereby enriching an ideal library on design culture and gender.

• We say stop. Critical reflections and contributions to counter violence against women (edited by Valeria Bucchetti and Francesca Casnati, Nomos, 2024) represents a step in the path opened by “Anticorpi comunicativi. Progettare per la comunicazione di genere” (edited by Giovanni Baule and Valeria Bucchetti, FrancoAngeli, 2012) and documents the contribution and responsibilities of communication design, presenting the research developed by the DCxCG group of the Design Department.
  
  
• Communication Designers for Fairness. A Feminist Model to Activate Gender De-Biasing Paths (by Francesca Casnati, FrancoAngeli, 2025), starting from a reinterpretation of the intersections between feminist theories and visual cultures, explores strategies, tools and methods for training aware communication designers capable of questioning biases and hegemonic narratives and contributing to a culture of equity.
  
  
• Let’s Talk(s). Gender Equity in Design and Art (edited by Letizia Bollini, AIAP Edizioni, 2025) invites dialogue on gender and inclusion in the fields of design, culture and art, moving beyond equality toward equity. A collection of essays offering diverse perspectives and addressing crucial issues for both academic education and professional practice.
  
  
• How Many Women Are in the Room? (edited by Cinzia Ferrara, Laura Moretti and Carla Palladino, AIAP Edizioni & The Printing Office, 2025) documents the fifth edition of the AWDA — AIAP Women in Design Award — the prestigious international biennial prize dedicated to communication design women professionals. Alongside selected and awarded projects, essays, focuses and interviews address themes related to design and feminism: work, rights, inequality, language and activism.
  
  
• PINK. Donne del progetto grafico italiano. Dalle origini alla contemporaneità (by Francesco E. Guida with Lorenzo Grazzani, AIAP Edizioni, 2025), presenting the figures and contributions of over 40 graphic designers active in Italy from the 1940s to today, enables discussion about the role and importance of historical research in defining reference models. The volume highlights women’s contribution to the evolution and development of the profession and Italian visual culture, and more broadly how little recognition their work has received in the creation of iconic images, in some cases embedded in the imagination of millions of people.

Speakers

Letizia Bollini / Full Professor of Design, Libera Università di Bolzano

Valeria Bucchetti / Full Professor of Design, Politecnico di Milano

Francesca Casnati / Researcher, Design Department, Politecnico di Milano

Francesco E. Guida / Associate Professor of Design, Politecnico di Milano / President AIAP

Laura Moretti and Carla Palladino / AWDA, AIAP Women in Design Award

Introduction: Elena Caratti / Coordinator of the Communication Design Degree Program

The event will also be streamed online on Webex.

The event is part of the “DDC MEETS” series, which will continue in the coming months with new meetings dedicated to communication design and design culture.