Interior Design
Hacking Tradition: Reinventing Craftsmanship and Materials
Florence
On campus
ENG
Second Level Academic Diploma (DASL) in Design - Specialization in Design for Public Spaces
Language
English
Start date
October 2025
Frequency
Full time
Fruition
On campus
Duration
2 Years
Credits
120
Course Coordination
Francesco Toselli
Can contemporary design hack deeply rooted artisanal traditions, transforming them into an experimental and innovative language?
Design is a transformative process that shapes the material environment in which we live, considering complex social, political, economic, cultural, and environmental interconnections. By engaging in constant dialogue with the local territory and its traditions, design goes beyond creating spaces and objects; it consciously responds to the context's needs, enhancing our relationship with the world.
Our Master’s Degree in Interior Design, Hacking Tradition: Reinventing Craftsmanship and Materials aligns with this vision by redefining the relationship between designers and their surroundings through mindful design. It hacks traditional knowledge and explores new applications of material and natural resources within local contexts. By fostering continuous dialogue between innovation and tradition, and between local and global influences, the course equips designers to create sustainable and culturally significant products, in line with the broader vision of DesignXCommons — an approach to ecological design centred on the integration and care of common goods and the regeneration of the planet.
The programme is rooted in a strong connection between mastering design methodologies and engaging directly with the local context. Tuscany’s renowned manufacturing sector, a symbol of Italian excellence in marble, textile, furniture, jewellery, and leather craftsmanship, has long intertwined design and production with its territory, traditions, and related social and economic dynamics.
These manufacturing hubs become open, collaborative laboratories where designers can experiment, develop, and prototype ideas, working with sustainable materials while respecting local resources. Students will learn to understand and interpret social, economic, and cultural contexts, transforming these dynamics into meaningful, context-rooted projects. Through advanced knowledge of materials, product life cycles, and market strategies, combined with practical experience in workshops, field trips, and visiting studios, students will gain the skills to understand market dynamics, strategically position their projects, and communicate their creative process through compelling visual storytelling that values every phase of their work.
The course develops professionals who blend creativity, technical expertise, and process storytelling into a strong, authorial identity with critical analytical skills. Graduates will be prepared to work as independent professionals or as part of design teams in fields like Interior Design, Furniture Design, Sustainable Industrial Design, Collectible Design, and Luxury Design. Their strategic competencies also prepare them for consulting roles with brands and local districts, integrating innovation with tradition.
Additionally, graduates will have the opportunity to pursue PhD programmes at Italian and international universities.
Issued Degree:
Diploma Accademico di Secondo Livello (DASL), corresponding to a Master of Arts Degree (MA) – EQF7 Level (European Qualification Framework).
Credits:
The course awards 120 CFA (Academic Formative Credits), corresponding to 120 ECTS (European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System).
* The accreditation procedure with the MUR - Ministry of University and Research - for the academic year 2025/26 will be started for this course. The information on this page will be updated when the accreditation procedure is completed.
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