From July 8th to 10th, 2024, a team from the Royal Institute of Traditional Arts of KSA (WRTH), led by Dr. Hesham Maghrabi, visited Politecnico di Milano. This Teaching Transfer activity was part of the Higher Diploma in Traditional Product Development project, aiming to enhance teaching methodologies and refine future strategies through face-to-face exchange and practical insights.
During the visit, the WRTH team experienced the vibrant design environment of Politecnico di Milano, exploring several state-of-the-art laboratories within the university’s Design Department, including the Prototyping Lab, Visual Lab, and Fashion Lab. These labs, equipped with advanced design and manufacturing technologies, showcased the complete process of transforming design concepts into finished products. This comprehensive exposure provided the visitors with a deep understanding of the Design-Driven Methodology that underpins design education at Politecnico di Milano.
Throughout the visit, multiple professors from Politecnico di Milano delivered a series of presentations highlighting the department’s core principles and teaching methods. These covered a wide range of design disciplines, including Product Design, Visual Communication Design, Interaction Design, and Woodcraft Design. The presentations not only outlined the theoretical frameworks of each discipline but also showcased specific teaching cases and successful student projects, offering the WRTH team a clearer view of Politecnico’s effective Project-Based Learning approach.
Beyond exploring design laboratories, the WRTH team delved into the university’s Material Library system. Engaging with the library’s management team, they learned how systematic material classification and documentation can support the long-term preservation and information sharing of material samples. This exposure provided fresh inspiration and practical knowledge for WRTH’s own efforts in preserving and digitizing traditional craft materials.
The visit also included an in-depth discussion between the WRTH team and the Design Department at Politecnico di Milano regarding the project’s future development. Both sides exchanged ideas on course structures, teaching methodologies, and operational strategies for the Higher Diploma in Traditional Product Development. These discussions helped refine the collaboration framework, establishing a solid foundation for upcoming Teaching Transfer activities.
This three-day visit was not only a journey of knowledge acquisition but also a valuable experience in cross-cultural exchange. Guided by the professors, the WRTH team fully embraced Politecnico’s open and innovative design atmosphere. Such an educational approach will bring new perspectives to the WRTH team, supporting the project’s implementation in Saudi Arabia by preserving the cultural value of traditional crafts while integrating modern design innovation.
The visit to Milan marked a significant milestone in the Higher Diploma in Traditional Product Development project’s international collaboration. Moving forward, WRTH and Politecnico di Milano will continue to strengthen their partnership, fostering the integration of traditional crafts with contemporary design methodologies and helping Saudi Arabia set a new benchmark in the global fields of design education and cultural heritage preservation.
