The meeting point between academia and industry creates value when it is based on shared goals: innovation, quality, and vision. It is from these principles that the collaboration between Smeg and Istituto Marangoni Milano Design was born—a project that demonstrates how a premium brand and a creative educational institution can grow together, influencing one another.

Visualizza questo post su Instagram

Un post condiviso da Istituto Marangoni MI Design (@istitutomarangoni_milanodesign)

A dialogue between design and memory

The collaboration took shape in the project "Design Holds Memories", a creative and immersive journey involving students from the Master’s programs in Digital Design for Immersive Experiences and Digital Art Direction. At the heart of the work was the iconic FAB28 refrigerator, reimagined through conceptual installations, sensory environments, and a digital communication campaign that blended storytelling, art, and technology.

The contest and the winning project

Amid creativity, new talent, and shared emotions, the internal contest related to the project saw active public participation, as attendees were invited to vote for their favorite FAB28. Taking first place was Matteo De Luca with his project “Seven Shapes”, a personal and visual exploration of the concept of memory, articulated through geometric forms and symbolic meanings.

Alongside him, Mariana Prestes and Yuetong Shi also presented their interpretations—two distinct yet complementary projects that highlighted original approaches to the theme, combining visual language and conceptual reflection.

A multidisciplinary team for an immersive experience

Supporting the designers was a group of students who worked on the immersive and communicative aspects of the project. Tal Schottenfels, Martina Montebugnoli, Sahar Schlinger, Anastasia Istratova, and Alejandro Ramirez contributed to the development of digital installations and multichannel content that enriched the experience and fostered audience engagement, both online and in person.

Real-world project, hands-on training

For Istituto Marangoni Milano Design, collaborating with companies like Smeg means offering students a training model that reflects the real industry landscape. Through this synergy, participants experienced the full scope of a design project—from concept to prototype, from storytelling to promotion—always in direct dialogue with the brand.

Design as exchange and mutual growth

Smeg, a symbol of Italian excellence, successfully enhanced the students’ work and created a space for genuine dialogue between emerging creativity and industrial vision. “Design Holds Memories” thus stands as a virtuous example of collaboration between business and education, where design becomes a vehicle for storytelling, culture, and transformation.

Special thanks go to everyone who participated, voted, and experienced this journey. A special mention also to the students involved, the teaching teams, and all those who made this project possible—an initiative that goes beyond an exhibition to become an opportunity for shared growth.

photo main: ©Crossfingers Studio 

View gallery

SMEG MDW 25 GALLERY