Istituto design (IDe)

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Institute of Design (IDe)

The Institute of Design carries out its activities by providing solutions applied to the needs of the cantonal, national and international territory, developing its mandates with a view to increasing and developing the quality of the disciplines in the field of design as an important element of well-being and quality of the life of the company.

The Institute of Design is based at the SUPSI Campus in Mendrisio.

What we do

The Institute of Design promotes research in design and the transfer of scientific knowledge and skills in response to the social, productive and economic changes induced by digital transformation processes. The research results aim to generate systemic innovations centered on the needs of the individual, to make accessible and enhance the cultural and territorial heritage and to develop communication strategies, applying open, participatory, collaborative and socially sustainable tools and methodologies.

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Culture and territory

The "Culture and Territory" research sector studies the ways in which culture relates to territories and societies and participates in their development. The "Culture and Territory" sector fits into the field of social design and innovation with a transdisciplinary approach.
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Design for Science

In the knowledge society, the ever-increasing speed of scientific progress and the growing need of citizens to make informed choices on emerging issues impose a constant renewal of communicative devices to foster the understanding and implementation of scientific knowledge, the dialogue between science and society, as well as communication between experts.
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Interaction Design

Research in the area of interaction design is increasingly important today in the context of digital transformation, representing the field of design that applies principles, methods and processes aimed at directing and governing social, economic, cultural and production changes where there is an impact of technology.
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Mission and goals


The mission of the Design Institute is to work in favor of the local area by combining the culture of design, technological evolution and social and economic changes with a view to an open, sustainable, inclusive and democratic design.
We think of design solutions that are systemic, accessible and shared, capable of evolving with respect to social, political, economic and technological transformations. We use design methodologies included in processes based on constant multidisciplinary collaboration with national and international partners.
We combine research, technology transfer and training through the synergistic relationship between the activities carried out by researchers, teachers, students, Bachelor and Master degree courses and FabLab.

Discover our research activities

Scientific journals and conferences

Publications List

Workshops and lectures by our experts

Designing With: Integrating Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence and Data Visualization in Design Curricula

International workshop organised with EPFL and NOVA to test a new educational module suitable for application in multidisciplinary environments to integrate Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML) and Data Visualization (DV) in Design curricula. 17-21 July, 2023. SUPSI Mendrisio Campus.
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Design as Common Good

International symposium exploring the contribution of design disciplines to the common good. Online Conference, 25-26 March 2021. Swiss Design Network, SUPSI, HSLU.
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Interaction Design Talks and Seminars

Master of Arts in interaction Design, Thesis Exhibition & Talks, 22 february 2023, Campus SUPSI Mendrisio.
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Undisciplined Robots

Conference on Robotics, Design and Architecture, 20 July 2022, SUPSI Mendrisio Campus.
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Degree courses and continuing education

Through intensive collaboration with the Bachelor of Arts in Conservation and Restoration, Visual Communication and Interior Architecture and the Master of Arts in Interaction Design the Institute of Design and its staff are actively involved in education. With its continuing education courses, it offers constant training support to students, researchers and professionals.

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Bachelor of Arts in Visual Communication

As part of the degree course in Visual Communication, collaborators and researchers are involved in teaching with lectures and workshop activities in the courses Image Analysis and Synthesis, Illustration, Infographics, Brand Design, Visual Sociology.
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Bachelor of Arts in Conservation

During the first year of the Bachelor of Arts in Conservation and Restoration, students attend lectures and workshop activities for the courses of Collection Management and Preventive Conservation. The activities, carried out by professors and staff of the institute, take place in museums, galleries and heritage institutions.
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Bachelor of Arts in Interior Architecture

During the second and third years, the Bachelor of Arts in Interior Architecture offers its students an articulated course dedicated to museography and exhibition spaces. Lecturers and researchers from the design institute are involved in the didactics with lectures and atelier activities in the Museography, Museology, Curatorship and Museotechnics courses.
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Master of Arts in Interaction design

The Master of Arts in Interaction design is a cutting-edge curriculum on the national and international scene that combines design thinking, experience design, rapid prototyping techniques, digital fabrication, software and hardware programming to train professionals to play a leading role in the most innovative sectors of industry, technology and design.
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Continuing education

The Institute of Design offers short and long-term continuing education courses for students, researchers and professionals to explore cutting-edge topics and update their skills in relation to the latest state of the discipline and technology.
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Institute of Design

University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland

Campus SUPSI Mendrisio
Via Flora Ruchat-Roncati 15
CH-6850 Mendrisio

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