São Paulo Design Visions: Strategic design as an agent of dialog and transformation (original) (raw)

2009, Strategic Design Research Journal

This essay aims at reporting the development of a research project for SENAC São Paulo. From the valorization of the actions and projects already promoted by the Brazilian partner, the project promoted by Design System from Politecnico di Milano outlines a different role and positioning of design in social, cultural and economic contexts locally, based on experimental international experience. The whole project starts from the belief that nowadays, even in the countries characterized by strong industrial growth, design plays the role of both antenna and interpreter of emerging social and economic principles, as well as agent of cultural change of productive and consumption systems. Thus, besides being characterized as a generator of ideas and solutions, design is seen as promoting changes through activities of mediation between training and production system; between university, profession, company and society. The research project has started a strategic dialog between the Italian and Brazilian partners, targeting the generation of a different and original vision of design that leads the Brazilian institution to develop and propose a new educational and economic model in the design area, established in the territory and strongly distinguished. The project methodology is shaped in sharing the experiences of both partners and valorizing their reciprocal competence and sensitivity, which are strong due to their cultural Latin root in common linking both countries: Italy and Brazil.