Laboratorio della Creativita e dello Stile Italiani

Macro Museum, Roma - Tuesday, June 21st, 2011

"Creativity Lab" at the Macro Museum

Our Italian Design Grand Tour is slowly coming to an end and here we are in our last week, reflecting on what we've seen and making connections with what we've learned. It almost feels like our studio back home: the long hours, the constant snacking, the uncomfortable stools, and being surrounded by our fellow classmates. Then again this familiarity is interrupted by the high windows and the organic desk that can cater to group work or individual work. 

You may have thought the trip was all touristic fun and nerdy design trips, but it has been more than that. We've all gained so much in the past three weeks: inspirational stories and advice, new appreciation for the work that goes into what we do, and a different cultural view on design and lifestyle in general. On top of that, we've visited many successful design firms, met numerous design legends and seen countless iconic products. Now, we are compiling together everything we've learned about what "Italian design" is and depicting it in a mind map presentation. 

 We are working in groups of three and discussing what keywords best describe Italian design.

 We are brainstorming.

 We are making mind map after mind map to figure out how our keywords connect.

 We are posting blog posts like crazy in between everything else.

 We are eating so many snacks - the favourites are Loacker wafers and bruschetti chips.

Of course we are sketching - Justine's Moleskin is packed 

with portraits and sketches of who and what we've seen.

Everyday has been so non-stop, we haven't had a real chance to catch our breath and reflect on our trip. This workshop has allowed us to express what we have learned in Italy. It's for certain that we are few of the lucky design students to have this experience.

Ruby