Istituto Marangoni Milano Design opens new Via Verri campus and research center

Istituto Marangoni Milano Design has opened a new phase in Milan with a five-floor campus on Via Verri and a new Advanced Design Research Centre focused on luxury, prototyping and emerging technologies. The expansion deepens ties with industry partners such as Ferrari, Cartier, Alessi and Como 1907 as the school pushes a more hands-on model linking education, research and business.

Why it matters: - The new campus is designed to turn design education into applied research for luxury and high-end industries. - The move strengthens Istituto Marangoni Milano Design’s position in Milan’s design ecosystem and links students more directly to companies, prototypes and market-ready projects. - The school is betting that future design talent needs both creative skills and fluency in emerging technologies, business models and sustainability.

What happened: - Istituto Marangoni Milano Design inaugurated a new phase of its evolution with a campus at Via Verri 4 in Milan. - The site sits in the city’s Luxury District, between Via Montenapoleone and the Durini Design District. - The campus spans five floors and includes more than 500 square meters of labs for prototyping and material research. - The building also includes a Media & Events Hub, collaborative spaces and a rooftop for the international community. - School Director Barbara Toscano said the goal is to make the school a place where future design is tested before it reaches the market.

The details: - The centerpiece of the campus is the Advanced Design Research Centre, focused on applied research for luxury and high-end sectors. - The center covers the full design chain, from concept development to prototyping, production and communication. - Its technology stack includes a 3D Printing Farm, an Advanced Prototyping Lab and an AI Innovation Lab for generative AI experiments in audiovisual production. - The center is built as a collaboration platform for companies, institutions, faculty, researchers and students. - The school says the model supports interdisciplinary projects, new materials, new production processes, new experiences and new business models. - Academic offerings now span Product Design, Interior Design, Visual Communication Design and Innovation Design. - Programs include undergraduate degrees, master’s degrees, intensive courses and advanced training for professionals. - The curriculum combines design, emerging technologies and management skills. - Students are encouraged to move from idea to prototype while considering economic sustainability and business creation. - Mentors for the academic year include Elena Salmistraro for all bachelor’s programs and Marcel Wanders, Luca Fuso, Giulio Cappellini, Carlo Colombo, M+C Saatchi Group, Dimorestudio and Odoardo Fioravanti for master’s programs. - Projects developed from real-world briefs will also be shown during Milan Design Week. - For 2026/2027, the school is expanding corporate collaborations. - Ferrari will work with students in the Master’s in Communication Design. - Cartier will collaborate with the Master in Fine Jewellery Design. - Alessi will lead a product design exploration focused on emerging technologies and Physical AI. - Como 1907 will partner on a supply-focused project with Product Design and Digital Design for Immersive Experiences students that blends sport, design and lifestyle.

Between the lines: - The new setup signals a shift from teaching design as a discipline to treating design as a cross-functional innovation pipeline. - The emphasis on AI, prototyping and business thinking suggests the school wants graduates who can work across creative, technical and commercial roles. - The company partnerships also give the curriculum a market test, which can help students build portfolios tied to real briefs rather than classroom exercises. - The human-centred framing shows the school is positioning technology as a tool, not the end goal. - Istituto Marangoni says its broader model is validated by a 45th-place ranking in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026 for Art & Design, its first entry into the global top 50. - The group reports a 91% employability rate and says Milano Design students have won D&AD New Blood Awards, Red Dot Design Award, Fendi Design Prize 2026 and A’ Design Award.

What's next: - The Advanced Design Research Centre is set to host future collaboration between students, researchers and companies. - The school’s 2026/2027 partnerships with Ferrari, Cartier, Alessi and Como 1907 will bring new projects into the classroom. - The projects built on real briefs are expected to surface publicly during Milan Design Week. - Istituto Marangoni will continue using its global school network to recruit students across fashion, design and luxury markets.

The bottom line: - Istituto Marangoni Milano Design is trying to become more than a school: It wants to be a live testbed for the next generation of luxury design, powered by labs, industry ties and emerging tech.