Within the contemporary landscape of design education, the ability to integrate academia and industry represents a distinctive element. The collaboration between Istituto Marangoni Milano Design and Maison Margiela, developed within the Master’s Program in Interior Contract Design, stands as a genuine educational case study.

The Maison Margiela Residences brief is not a theoretical exercise, but a structured simulation of a real project: 144 luxury residences on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, designed for an international high-net-worth clientele. Students are asked to interpret a well-established global identity while confronting cultural, climatic, strategic, and market constraints.

This type of experience transforms the Master’s program into a professional laboratory, where methodology, critical vision, and design responsibility become as central as creativity itself.

From Brand Analysis to the Construction of a Design Mindset

Within the Master’s program, the first step is not form, but a deep analysis of the brand. Students work to understand the founding principles of the Maison — deconstruction, material honesty, tonal whites, memory, and visual silence — translating them into a coherent spatial grammar.

Reflecting on her initial approach, student Hana Giulia Khamash describes a key moment of methodological awareness:

“What struck me immediately was the idea of restraint. The project does not ask for a strong visual statement, but for a residential environment that translates Maison Margiela’s philosophy into something lived and intimate.”

For her, the real educational challenge lay in understanding that value lies not in visual impact, but in atmosphere:

“I realized the concept could not rely on scenic effect, but on a diffuse and silent storytelling. I asked myself: how can a space be intellectually powerful while remaining subtle?”

This reflection highlights how the Master’s program encourages a crucial shift: from instinctive creative gestures to a conscious, argued, and strategic design approach.

Professional Method: Tools and Responsibility

The project requires the use of tools typical of professional practice: advanced moodboards, in-depth material research, three-dimensional modeling, and the study of natural light.

Hana emphasizes the importance of rigor in constructing a material language:

“With a palette of whites and neutrals, the difference between a flat space and a sophisticated one lies entirely in texture. Plaster, travertine, brushed metals, and textiles need to be tested and understood before being introduced into the project.”

Her reflection also extends to the temporal dimension of materials:

“The brief speaks about memory and authenticity. I’m looking for finishes that react to light and age well over time, especially considering the maritime atmosphere of Yas Island.”

This approach demonstrates how the Master’s program does not simply develop aesthetic skills, but builds a design culture grounded in analysis, research, and technical responsibility.

Interpreting, Not Imitating

One of the most formative aspects of the experience is the need to interpret a strong identity without reducing it to mere aesthetics. Hana clearly highlights this challenge:

“For Margiela, deconstruction does not mean fragmentation, but revealing how things are made. In space, this translates into visible joints, expressed transitions, and structures that are highlighted rather than hidden.”

She adds:

“The biggest challenge is balance. It would be easy to imitate superficial elements, but the real work is understanding the thinking behind the aesthetic. If the result aligns with the Maison’s philosophy while also reflecting my sensitivity toward proportion and atmosphere, then the balance is successful.”

The Master’s Program as a Bridge to the Profession

Through this project, the Master’s in Interior Contract Design establishes itself as a transition platform between academia and professional practice. Students learn how to engage with international brands, interpret a specific target audience, and develop projects that respond coherently to complex cultural contexts.

The collaboration with Maison Margiela demonstrates how education can transform into a concrete experience, training future designers in critical thinking, design responsibility, and strategic vision.

In this sense, the Master’s program becomes a true case study of applied education: an educational model that prepares professionals capable of operating with awareness within the global landscape of contemporary design.