Francesco Salvatore
F.Salvatore - Interaction Design: one discovery after another to understand what to do when you grow up
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Francesco, 23, studied design and product development in Rome. Before attending the Master’s programme, he had already developed 3D-printed aids for an 8-year-old boy who plays tennis and has upper limb disabilities. The FabLab on the SUPSI Campus immediately became his favourite place, because he can devote himself to digital manufacturing while focusing on the more human and perceptive side of Interaction Design, thus meeting people’s needs. He is now in Malmö, Sweden, for a several-month internship in the field of Experience and Technology Design.
Why did you choose to attend the Master of Arts SUPSI in Interaction Design?
I didn’t want to choose a purely theoretical course like at other universities, but one that would prepare me for a career. I looked into who the lecturers were and was thrilled to discover that Matteo Loglio teaches here and that Massimo Banzi (the founder of Arduino and the first FabLab in Italy) also taught in the Master’s programme. I really like Loglio’s approach: he is a great inspiration to me because his projects make you think while entertaining you. It was the quality of the teaching staff that convinced me to enrol. They keep you up to date with the latest developments and prepare you for the future; in addition to teaching, they also work outside the university. Before the Master’s programme, I had little experience with programming: I realised that it is a fundamental tool for bringing digital projects and prototypes to life. I don’t think I could have learned what I am learning here elsewhere with this intensity and diversity.
Is there an experience that has left a mark on you?
More than one, actually. The first was meeting Matteo Loglio because hearing him speak in person and learning about his approach to product and service design was very meaningful. I admire his ability to do great things with a sort of lightness; he has vision and intuition. Another important episode for me was Leonardo Angelucci’s course on “prototyping spatial experiences” in a former cement factory, Saceba in Morbio Inferiore. For two days, with two classmates, we designed an interactive installation. For the first time, we left the classroom and faced the real challenges that arise in a space with specific characteristics.
Has anything changed in your approach since you started the Master’s programme?
Yes, my attitude towards work. There is a lot to do and I want to learn as much as possible and try everything, including research. I have realised that research is not only academic, but also necessary in a company. I also find group work stimulating: we tackle the dynamics and problems that arise together. Design is meant to be a group effort: if you’re on your own, there’s no comparison.
In what field would you like to work once you’ve finished your studies?
One of my main interests is renewable energy from a designer’s point of view, not an engineer’s, with all the implications for environmental impact. When I started the Master’s programme, I discovered the world of artificial intelligence and I’d love to work in that field. However, I also enjoy cutting, building, 3D printing and reassembling. Because of this passion for the tangible, for making and creating, I might gravitate towards companies that do installations, because that would bring together everything I like: creating experiences that combine the physical and digital dimensions and making them accessible to the public.