There are three “Research Papers”. Each paper can be
read in isolation but all three are meant to form a cohesive whole and were conceptualized
as one to start. The three papers each cover one aspect, one theme, of “The
Relationship of Italian Design to Innovation Practices”. The three themes are:
the context, players and process of Italian design. Each paper is in a separate
downloadable PDF. The “References” section has a brief bibliography of
the key project texts and other supporting links.
The papers are currently undergoing final revisions and should be available for download in January of 2006. In the meantime, we have posted the abstracts of each of the 3 papers.
"The unique combination of contextual elements within Italy creates a hotbed for
innovation. Despite Italy's ongoing economic challenges, it remains innovative. How?
Each element of Italy's design context is an innovative driver that has a valuable
impact on the country as a design leader. The economic status and market readiness
impact how innovations are realized. The overproduction of knowledge workers places
power in the academia, where highly concentrated areas of knowledge encourage
theoretical research. Geographical distinctions foster diversity of approaches
and Italian virtuosity, which leads to innovation. Finally, Italy's rich history
is one of the most influential contextual elements and is the backbone for the
other contributing elements."
Download the PDF to read more of the abstract.
"Since the onset of modernity and the late - at first slow - industrial
revolution in Italy, it has been particular people and groups who have made this
uniquely Italian design a reality, and who continue to play key roles in Italian
industry to this day. These are the players of Italian design: intellectuals,
designers, and enlightened companies. Through discourse between each other,
the players collaboratively distill the geographic, economic, historic, and
cultural context of Italy into forms that can be applied to production. This
discursive relationship is unique to Italy. It is our entry point for illuminating
how innovative design remains a key factor to Italian economic success and innovation."
Download the PDF to read more of the abstract.
"In Italian design, there is a common yet often unsaid, deeply felt
collective value of "quality". This unspoken notion of quality evolves through
a discourse between the players in Italian design, and is borne out of their
beliefs and their shared Italian context.
It is always first and foremost this shared ideal, quality, and ensuring that it
is achieved, which determines the successful attributes of a particular project.
In Italy, quality is an all-important value and several crucial conceptions of the
quality of the project in relationship to time are always seen as ways to measure
the enduring success of the product rather than a hurdle to overcome."
Download the PDF to read more of the abstract.
