non-profit cultural association

design culture collective

PROMOTING THE CULTURE AND VALUE OF THE DESIGN PRACTICE

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• VERSIONE ITALIANA

who, why, what

At the roots of the non-profit cultural association Design Culture Collective APS is the desire to reaffirm, foster, promote and divulge the culture and the value of the design practice.The founding team is primarily Italian, but our ambition is to reach out to and involve colleagues and stakeholders at the European and international level.We see design as a practice rooted in history and presenting multiple complexities, always dedicated to enhancing the interaction between the human being and its surroundings.We dislike the habit - all too common - of using the term “design” to indicate the most superficial aspects of a product, service or experience, because it diminishes all the other components of the design process, especially the fundamental research and analysis efforts that precede and accompany it.We are aware that there is a lot of confusion amongst the public and in general, as so many things “are design” and its practice is applied to many scopes, from the more visible and famous - as in fashion, interior, or industrial design - to the less intuitive ones, like sound design, lighting design, or the more recent travel design.All are encompassed by a creative process which is the result of research, experience, and vision and which stems from a void - a need, an opportunity, a desire - and reaches a result - tangible or not - that, when well executed, never fails to fully be at service of the person.We believe in the principle of inclusivity, and in the value that it provides. And we believe that we need to better observe and listen, as only awareness can produce positive changes.We value diversity, multiculturalism, and approaches rooted in plurality.
And we want to learn, understand, divulge, and foster the different traditions of the practice available in all cultures.Ethics, and a heightened attention to the implications tied to the practice of design, are fundamental to us: we are fully aware of the great power of design, and of its impact.For all these reasons, as a socially committed non profit cultural association, we place education at the basis of our work.We will work to divulge and foster the culture and the value of the design practice, both towards those who “use” design - possibly without a real understanding of its importance and potential - as well as its practitioners, with variable levels of awareness, passing through the fundamental role of design educators.

next steps

The association was founded at the end of January 2022 and has been active since the second half of March 2023.Over the past three years, through interviews with experts across different design disciplines, we have worked to show how design practice is cross-disciplinary and in some ways "singular": tools, materials, and techniques vary, but the process at its core remains essentially unchanged.Until last year, our activities were primarily aimed at members. In 2025, we defined a new direction: to be more actively present in communicating design to those who work in other fields, and in inspiring those who are passionate about it or just beginning their journey in this area.We are always glad to welcome new members and new support, but we feel it is important to be transparent. Given the strategic choices we have made, membership does not come with particular privileges: it means supporting the work being done and, if you wish, participating voluntarily in producing it. We consider this an important disclaimer.In the coming months, our focus will be on developing our online space on a platform that allows us to publish our content in multiple formats, and on building an online library dedicated to the various disciplines of design.We would also like to organize some events, online but above all in person (which we know makes for a significantly better experience), though the organizational effort is considerable and we prefer not to make promises.Otherwise, we would love a bit more visibility and some good interaction. You can find us on BlueSky, LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube, or write to us directly. All links are at the bottom of the page.

You

Whether you are designers or not, if you find value in our mission and if you feel like supporting our work, this is the time!To become a member, please write: membership (at) designculturecollective.orgTo become a sponsor member, please write: sponsorship (at) designculturecollective.org