Triennale Milano: A Legacy Of Design Shaping The Future
Step into the world of Triennale Milano, a cultural icon at the heart of Italy’s design legacy who shaped the future of art, architecture, and culture. But its journey doesn’t stop there: our students are now taking on the challenge of crafting the future narrative of this iconic institution.
Triennale Milano, founded in 1923, has a rich history rooted in the evolution of Italian design and culture. Initially established as a biennial exhibition of decorative arts in Monza, it moved to its current home in Milan’s Palazzo dell’Arte in 1933. Designed by architect Giovanni Muzio, the building itself became a symbol of modernist architecture. Over the decades, Triennale has played a pivotal role in showcasing Italy’s design legacy, hosting exhibitions that feature groundbreaking works and collaborations with notable designers, architects, and artists.
These include Gio Ponti’s Torre Branca from 1933; the White Bar and the Living Room Pavilion, now a library, from 1954; Giorgio de Chirico’s Mysterious Baths Fountain and the small staircase Seated Musical Accumulation from 1973.
Triennale Milano is nowadays a vibrant cultural hub that embraces a multitude of contemporary cultural expressions, ranging from design and fashion to architecture and urban planning. It serves as a platform for showcasing significant works by both Italian and international architects, designers, and artists, hosting a diverse array of exhibitions, performances, and discussions that engage with pressing societal issues and public debates.
As the only Italian cultural institution featuring its own large-scale theater, Triennale Milano is committed to offering a multidisciplinary program that attracts a global audience. Additionally, it hosts a rich permanent collection of Italian design artifacts, complemented by a library, a historical archive, and a conservation lab, making it a vital resource for scholars and enthusiasts alike.
Domus Academy students from the Master in Visual Brand Design, Master Service Design and Master in Business Design have been tasked with analysing Triennale Milano’s current initiatives and developing a strategic narrative for its multifunctional spaces. The students are working under the guidance of Project Leader Andrea Banfi, Programme Leader and Mentor Elisa Chiodo, and Tutor and Mentor Kayla Jagush. Their objective is to examine how Triennale’s identity can be communicated more effectively across different media and propose innovative ways to engage both existing and new audiences, keeping into account Triennale’s existing offerings—such as Triennale Estate, a successful summer programme that includes a wide range of cultural events in the Garden, spanning contemporary art, design, music, and sports.
During this workshop, students are expected to identify strategic channels that resonate with the public, ensuring the continuation of a coherent brand identity. The challenge lies in maintaining this cohesive image while encompassing Triennale’s various activities, from live cultural performances to intellectual discussions, ultimately crafting unique and executable ideas to enhance its dialogue with a broad community.
The workshop will benefit from insights shared by industry experts, including Laura Varisco (Interaction & Experience Design Lead), Claudia Neri (Creative Director), Guido Guerzoni (Adjunct Professor of Museum Management), Cristiano Bottino (Co-founder & Creative Director of studio FM), and Jeffrey Schnapp (Chief Visionary Officer at Piaggio Fast Forward, Harvard metaLAB). Their combined expertise will support the students in crafting unique, executable ideas to enhance Triennale’s dialogue with its past, present, and future communities while maintaining a cohesive brand identity across its diverse activities.