From Heritage to AI: Cross-Cultural Perspectives on Italian Design

In collaboration with the Embassy of Italy in Riyadh
 

Italian design has always stood out for its ability to combine creativity, technological research and manufacturing excellence, generating objects, environments and services that have marked the history of international design. From furniture to sports cars, from fashion to food, Italian design culture has been able to combine experimentation and quality, redefining languages and functions. Similarly, Saudi Arabia possesses a rich heritage of traditional arts and craftsmanship that is being preserved and innovated for contemporary contexts. Today, this heritage is facing a pivotal challenge: artificial intelligence, which is radically transforming processes and skills, from design to communication. Design is called upon to reinterpret its founding values — craftsmanship, culture, innovation and attention to detail — in order to integrate them into an evolving digital ecosystem. The debate in Riyadh will explore the role of education in this transition: how design schools and cultural institutions are reimagining their pedagogical approaches, fostering meaningful exchanges between human creativity and artificial intelligence, and preparing new generations of designers to honour their cultural roots while embracing technological advancement.

Event in English

Speakers:

Randa A. Mahmoud, Dean of the College of Architecture and Design, Prince Sultan University
Francesco Zurlo, Dean of School of Design, Politecnico di Milano
Eiman Yahya Kurdi, Director of Continuing Education, Royal Institute of Traditional Arts
Sergio Nava, Director of Education, Istituto Marangoni Milano Design School
Moderator Silvia Mazzetto, Associate Professor at the College of Architecture and Design, Prince Sultan University