Grand Tour of Italy

Twenty of Carleton University's industrial design students traveled overseas to Italy with the expectations to gain a better understanding of Italian design. Throughout June we traveled to Rome, Florence, Milan and Venice; visiting a vast range of studios, manufacturing plants, schools, museums and more. Guided by our instructor Lorenzo Imbesi, we met well established designers and other people working in the industry who gave us valuable insight pertaining to the direction of where Italian design is heading. Every day of our tour was packed with scheduled meetings; we were constantly on the move with camera and sketchbook in hand.

"Grand Tour" refers to a traditional and historical journey in the seventeenth and eighteenth century, initially undertaken by upper-class Englishmen. They would travel from city to city in Europe while learning about the culture of whichever city they stayed in. Paris, Rome and Venice were usually key stops on the trip, which could last from a number of months to several years.

During our own grand tour, I feel that seeing and hearing various perspectives has broaden my knowledge of what exactly is Italian design. I'm sad to see the trip coming to a close but I am even more appreciative of having the chance to travel to a country that is tremendously saturated with design culture.