Fifteenth International Conference on Design Principles & Practices

Abstract

The theme of the new cultural language is a key theme in the development of identities in design. The renewal and adaptation of the decorative elements represent a complex challenge for new designers: the task is, on the one hand, that of an interpretation of the forms, decorations, and symbologies that come from territorial peculiarities, and on the other hand, that of the elaboration of new signs, an expression of diversity, that can strengthen the relationship between objects and places. The birth of a new expressive phase guides the definition of an identity design that looks at places as an unlimited source of inspiration for the project. Borders can be a limitation or an opportunity. In our vision, the border represents an unlimited opportunity for connections between different identities. Hence the desire to build bridges that can connect diversities. Borders and Bridges is an academic exchange project between international universities. The main idea of the project is to create strong connections between designers belonging to different explicit cultural systems in order to elaborate on new languages of contamination, including signs, textures, patterns, and material usage. The project of each couple of students has to narrate in languages, references, forms, materials, the two cultures of origin, and then try to elaborate dialogue between the two systems of signs. The research method is instituted in 120 Italian and 120 foreign students from universities involved in the research.