Carlo Branzaglia serves as the Ambassador of the Postgraduate School of IED Milan, whilst also holding a teaching position at the Academy of Fine Arts in Bologna. His latest publication, “Design Innovation and Culture of the Territory” (Lupetti, 2020), underscores his expertise in the field. He also sits on the Board of Directors of ADI Industrial Design Association, and on the Scientific Committee of the Cirulli Foundation. In conjunction with the 8th edition of Italian Design Day worldwide, the Embassy of Italy and the Italian Cultural Institute Jakarta are hosting a series of events in collaboration with the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB) and Binus University in Jakarta. Branzaglia will be a featured participant in these festivities.
Can you tell us more about Italian Design Day?
It is an annual event that allows us to celebrate Italian design worldwide. Ambassadors, including designers, teachers, and journalists, from various parts of the world come together to showcase the essence of ‘Made in Italy’ design. This platform not only underscores the cultural significance and economic influence but also accentuates the quality of Italian material culture as a cornerstone for the success of its enterprises. Each year, Italian Design Day revolves around a specific theme that pertains to emerging global issues.
What will be the theme for this year’s Italian Design Day?
This year, the theme is “Manufacturing Value: Inclusivity, Innovation, and Sustainability.” The theme reflects the multifaceted role of design in today’s society. It emphasises the importance of creating value beyond mere status symbols, focusing on building meaningful relationships with users and stakeholders whilst addressing pressing global issues such as sustainability, inclusivity, and innovation.
What will be the theme for this year’s Italian Design Day?
This year the theme is “Manufacturing Value. Inclusivity, Innovation and Sustainability.” The theme encompasses multiple aspects of design’s contemporary functions. On one hand, it highlights the ability to provide value, which entails not only ensuring a status but also constructing a network of relationships with users and stakeholders to ensure effectiveness in the production and utilisation of goods and services. On the other hand, it reflects the primary challenges outlined in the UN Agenda 2030, particularly the theme of sustainability, which encompasses economic, social, and environmental dimensions.
How does design play a role in this situation?
The task of design, along with the creative industries in general, primarily involves proposing innovative development models that align with the environmental and social challenges we are currently facing. These challenges revolve around finding a balance between various aspects: ensuring that production yields necessary revenues for our industrial system, minimising environmental impact as much as possible, and ensuring equitable access to goods and services irrespective of cultural, social, economic, religious, gender, or psychophysical differences.
In this context, the role of design has significantly evolved beyond its original concept of providing services for generating industrially produced goods. Although, in reality, the history of design itself perhaps began with a focus on services rather than goods production. Today, design, when viewed as a process, encompasses entire systems, engaging with communities as well as economic and industrial sectors. Its aim is to reconcile strategic considerations with tactical needs, adapting to the ever-changing dynamics of our world.