On the occasion of the Salone del Mobile, Alumnus Silvio Pompei will be awarded for “Contemporary Mobility,” a project developed with Nava Design as part of I'M Corporate Lab, Istituto Marangoni's initiative that highlights top talents through collaborations with prestigious companies.

A Versatile Design Concept

Istituto Marangoni and Nava Design have joined forces to develop a multifunctional accessory designed with modern, on-the-go women in mind. The project explores three key mobility categories: Urban Mobility, catering to business and leisure travelers; Extra Urban Mobility, offering functional accessories for out-of-town trips; and Work Mobility, focused on elegant, business-ready designs.

The winning concept, Pocket II, is the brainchild of Istituto Marangoni Design School alumnus Silvio Pompei. More than just a backpack, Pocket II seamlessly integrates digital device storage with a detachable pocket that transforms into a chic mini bag—perfect for effortlessly transitioning between urban and non-urban settings.

Pompei’s design was celebrated during a special event at the Salone del Mobile on June 9 at the Nava Design store on Via Durini. The evening brought together press and industry professionals to showcase the project and toast to the partnership, which champions emerging talent.

“This project was an extraordinary opportunity for me to give shape to a personal idea,” said Silvio. “Pocket II backpack was born from the observation of everyday uses and habits, with the intention of improving the user experience of those objects we interact with every day. I believe that opportunities like this are fundamental for new designers, because they allow us to take our first steps in a highly selective and competitive sector, giving a real boost to our careers".

Connecting Design Creativity with Real-World Innovation

‘We chose to collaborate with Istituto Marangoni to explore a project that would better meet the needs of people on the move, finding a meeting point between fashion and design. In addition, the removable outer pouch allowed us to target a female audience, a segment we don't usually target but which we felt was interesting to explore”.
“With this project, Nava aims to be a point of contact between the academic and manufacturing worlds. From the idea and the design to the prototype to the finished, concrete, real, material product. The creativity students work on at school is applied to creating an object, combining design and knowledge to develop a project that meets functionality requirements without neglecting the design of the object.” Gian Carlo Soresina, Creative Director - Nava Studio.

I'M Corporate Lab: Fostering Alumni Innovation through Industry Collaborations

This initiative is part of the I’M Corporate Lab, a creative hub that brings together top students from IM schools to develop tailor-made solutions for fashion and luxury companies. It serves as a real consultancy service, addressing companies' needs with innovative solutions in key areas such as Employer Branding and Talent Acquisition. The lab also focuses on specific projects like this one for Nava Design, co-branding communication initiatives, and training programs aimed at reskilling and upskilling.