Design Excellence

IAnD Exclusive 
Special Report

By Savitha Hira

Photography: Courtesy Istituto Marangoni

New Design School, Istituto Marangoni, Milan

The launch of the New School of Design by Istituto Marangoni in Milan on January 23, 2014, expounded the institute’s inherent philosophy that ‘design is infusive and all-pervading’.

 

Anna Dello Russo - Fashionista & Editor at-large Vogue Japan

The scenario was mesmerizing. The street was dark, and the building exterior awash in lavender hues. We were welcomed warmly and led up the few steps into a dark, crowded foyer. Acclimatizing our eyes to the bevy of guests – quite a few recognized celebrities and of course the three dignitaries of the new school –Roberto Riccio - MD Istituto Marangoni, Massimo Zanatta - Director of the new design campus and Giulio Cappellini - CEO & founder of Cappellini and Creative Director, Istituto Marangoni. 

Reception foyer at the new Design School

Strategically located in Milan’s fashion and design district, the renowned institute (incidentally, it completes 80years in 2015), has a massive reputation for developing expertise and creating new talent in the field of fashion design. With the new school, it strengthens its foothold in the design arena as well.

Giulio Cappellini - CEO & Founder of Cappellini & Creative Director, Istituto Marangoni.

Speaking about his involvement as the artistic director at Marangoni and the fact that all of Marangoni’s campuses in Milan, London, Paris, Shanghai, and offices in New York, Mumbai and Chongqing are furnished by Cappellini, Mr. Cappelini stated in his inaugural speech that he and his creative team firmly believe that the new school represents how a culture of industry and a culture of training can be seen to converge with the city of Milan. “We still have a lot to create when it comes to design and by listening to young creative minds from Istituto Marangoni, we will be able to find the ongoing incentive we need to rethink and renew things,” he said.

Malcolm McInnes_Massimo Zanatta_Marina Lazzati_Roberto Riccio

Once the dignitary speeches were applauded and a ribbon was cut to mark the opening, soft lighting filled the interiors, revealing the 4 contemporary high-tech floors of the campus; oozing Italian style and acting as a meeting place, where students and individuals from all over the world can come together and enjoy an ongoing exchange of ideas, designs and visions.

Further, educational training is provided in the fields of interior design, industrial design and visual design here. Undergraduate programmes (lasting one year and three years) and postgraduate programmes (pre-masters and masters courses) have begun from early this month - February 2014.

Cafeteria opening out on to a small terrace

Directed by Massimo Zanatta and coordinated by Malcom McInnes (director of training for the five campuses), the new school will aim to develop the creativity of students, based on the concept of high-end designer Italian production and the legacy of Italian craftsmanship, imbued with strong aesthetic references in terms of Italian art history, fashion and design.

This is comprehensive training with a multi-disciplinary approach that includes theory and practice and that ranges from marketing and laboratory prototype creation, to fashion and design seminars. In terms of teaching, the school boasts an outstanding and unrivalled tutor-student ratio of 1 to 10 and, as a result of their ongoing contact with major Italian and international designers, its highly expert tutors are able to convey their professionalism by relating what is taught in the classroom to the actual marketplace. The new Design School has it all: a fully equipped space, where you can effectively express your creativity and interpret trends; a large and up-to-date materials library (the result of a solid association with leading companies in the industry), a laboratory for light modelling (to help develop projects in terms of 3D perspective, forms, construction techniques and functional details); a large library; new-generation IT rooms with smart boards; and large, open common areas with spaces for working and socializing.

Roberto Riccio, Group Managing Director of the school

Amidst an appetizing array of hors d'oeuvres and sparkling wine, we toured the campus and were further impressed with their way of imparting knowledge, bringing together the distinct but parallel worlds of fashion and design - both excellent examples of luxury Italian manufacturing.

Believing in the value of specialist education, periodically revamping their study programmes so that they remain in keeping with changes in style and in the market to meet the demand for highly particular professional training, Marangoni impresses with its vision of considering design as a “complete and global concept”. As Roberto Riccio, Group Managing Director of the school, stated, “With the same curious and design-oriented spirit that has characterized Istituto Marangoni for years (still continuing with our great success in fashion education, our new educational project will be just as unique, distinctive and personal, providing those who choose to train here with the right tools to express themselves creatively and become outstanding designers of tomorrow.