Design Waves
Relations and partecipation in Torino [sic]
Asja Aulisio ¹, Silvia Barbero ², Sara De Menech ², Claudio Germak ², Erica Lombardo ², Andrea Strippoli ²
1 Politecnico di Torino
KEYWORD
#participatory design #actor network mapping
#collaborative ecosystems #systemic design
ABSTRACT
The map presents Turin as a design ecosystem rather than a centre of production. It traces a trajectory from Piemonte Torino Design (1995) to the 2008 World Design Capital and the 2014 UNESCO Creative City of Design designation. The map overcomes the focus on automotive heritage, by highlighting the collaborative network of institutions, schools, associations, foundations, professionals and businesses that shaped Turin’s design culture. Initiatives such as Circolo del Design, Graphic Days and Urban Lab reveal a shift towards a democratic and systemic model of design.
CREATIVE PROCESS
The map combines desk research with direct participation in the processes reshaping Torino Design City. Sources include institutional reports, the “MIRA” report, catalogues and documentation, complemented by a 2025 participatory process involving 30 organisations. Historical timelines, data and stakeholder networks are layered within a visual narrative grounded in Turin’s skyline. A QR code links to the video Always Becoming, which we propose to show alongside the Gigamap.
IMPLICATIONS & NEXT STEPS
The map reveals that Turin’s design ecosystem is shaped less by individual actors than by the relationships built among them over time. It also highlights the role of cultural governance and the need for a shared framework, leading to Torino Design City Festival 2026. While simplifying a complex system, the map is not a definitive representation, but a tool to make relationships and trajectories visible, fostering interpretation and discussion.
References
Bistagnino, L. (2011). Systemic design: Designing environmental sustainability. Slow Food.
Germak, C. (2025). 1995–2025: 30 anni di eventi sul Design. Workshop Design TOgether 2026, Politecnico di Torino.
Jones, P. H. (2014). Systemic design principles for complex social systems. In G. Metcalf (Ed.), Social systems and design (pp. 91–128). Springer.
MIRA. (2022). Economia del Design in Piemonte 2022. Unione Industriale di Torino.