Design in Action: Design as a value creation practice
Date and time
14/05/2026 (09:30 - 13:00)
Location
Aula de Carli
Via Giovanni Durando, 10, 20158 Milano MI
By following the Conference you will learn
Today, design is expected to generate value in an increasingly dynamic context, marked by the spread of AI and cognitive automation, the growing systemic complexity of the problems to be addressed, and the accelerating pace of change—both within organizations and in end-user contexts. Yet, in recent years, this discipline has often been viewed as a simple process of creative problem-solving, enriched by tools and frameworks, but rarely examined from a systemic perspective capable of questioning its assumptions, practices, and contribution. The conference presenting the research results of the Design Thinking for Business Observatory therefore proposes an interpretation of design as a value creation practice: a practice that takes shape within the organization, is expressed through the materialization of ideas, and is grounded in continuously evolving skills. Through the analysis of surveys and design workshops, the research investigates how design is structured within organizations to contribute to value creation, how emerging technologies are redefining its practices and roles, and which skills come into play in the construction of design outputs, in order to gain perspective on the evolution of the profession and its role in business in the coming years.
On the day of the event, the research booklet will be available for free download.
The complete proceedings, including the conference video on demand, will be available from the days following the event.
You will know how to answer these key questions
- How is the design function organized today, and what role does it play in the business?
- How is the value of design generated and measured within organizations?
- How are GenAI and emerging technologies transforming the field of design?
- What practices enable the development and realization of design ideas?
- How do different design practices affect the effectiveness of design outcomes?
- What skills define a designer today, and how will their relevance change in the future?
Event schedule
Registration & Welcome coffee
Welcome & Introduction
Stefano Magistretti
Research Direction @ Politecnico di Milano
Talk
In Search of the Sublime: Excellence as the Last Competitive Advantage in the AI Era
Roberto Verganti
Director of the Center for Art and Innovation @ Stockholm School of Economics
Full professor of Art and Innovation @ Stockholm School of Economics
Visiting Lecturer @ Harvard Business School
Research Findings
The State of Design in Italy: The Transformation of Design Practice and Profession
Chiara Esposito
Research Platform Development @ Politecnico di Milano
Inspirational Debate
moderated by
Claudio Dell’Era
Scientific Committee @ Politecnico di Milano
Research Findings
Design as Practice: The Materialization of Ideas Through Action and Cognition
Stefano Magistretti
Research Direction @ Politecnico di Milano
Inspirational Debate
moderated by
Cabirio Cautela
Scientific Committee @ Politecnico di Milano
Research Findings
Designing the Designer: Skills for an Uncertain Future
Gianluca Carella
Research Direction @ Politecnico di Milano
Inspirational Debate
moderated by
Michele Melazzini
Senior Researcher @ Politecnico di Milano
Closing | Towards the 10th Edition
Stefano Magistretti
Research Direction @ Politecnico di Milano
Researchers
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Martina Vertemati
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