Design Thinking reshaped the way we innovate, bringing creativity and human-centered approaches into mainstream business, education, and design practice. But its story is also one of limits—where popularity led to oversimplification, process overtook substance, and its transformative power began to fade.

In this keynote, Prof Cabirio Cautela will retrace the rise and fall of Design Thinking, reflecting on both its achievements and its shortcomings. More importantly, he will invite us to look forward: to the lessons we can draw from this trajectory and to the need for new approaches that move beyond a single paradigm.

What happens when established models no longer fit the complexity of today’s world? How can we rethink the ways we learn, create, and collaborate in order to open space for more flexible, diverse, and resilient forms of innovation?

This talk will offer a fresh perspective on the future of design-led change—one rooted in curiosity, adaptability, and the dynamics of learning in a fast-shifting landscape.

In an era where artificial intelligence is becoming an integral part of the designer's toolkit, it's essential to distinguish between hype and real innovation. But can AI truly help us design better? 

This keynote will explore the different forms of artificial intelligence - from generative to predictive - most relevant to the world of design, and how they are already being embedded in creative, production, and strategic processes. 

In this joint keynote, Domus Academy professors Stefano Cardini (Course Leader, MA in Design Innovation) and Giovanni Caruso (Course Leader, Master in Interaction Design and Master in Service Design) explore the evolving relationship between artificial intelligence and design. Rather than presenting AI only as a tool or collaborator, they suggest approaching it as a design material. Drawing from studio-based experiments with students and collaborations with brands, the keynote shares examples where AI demands fresh approaches and new ways of thinking. These experiences provide a map to navigate AI’s possibilities, showing how to engage with it critically and how to use its potential to move beyond current imaginaries and discourses. By placing creativity and curiosity at the center, the speakers invite designers, educators, and students to rethink their relationship with technology. They call for a deeper, more nuanced conversation, one that sees AI not as the end of design but as an opportunity to explore less obvious and yet unexplored territories. 

This panel brings together global and local leaders in design education and practice to explore how curiosity, strategic design, and emerging technologies are transforming the creative landscape. Panelists will discuss curiosity as a catalyst for innovation, the pivotal role of design in organizational transformation, and the opportunities and challenges posed by AI. With a special focus on nurturing the next generation of designers, the conversation will uncover essential skills and mindsets for future success. Through diverse perspectives and real-world experiences, the panel aims to inspire actionable dialogue on advancing design and creativity in an AI-driven world. 

How do we spark creativity when established models no longer fit the complexity of today’s world? How can we rethink the ways we learn, create, and collaborate in order to move beyond ready-made solutions?

This workshop builds on the keynote conversation and challenges participants to experiment with their creativity and critical thinking. Using analog tools, serious game dynamics, and customized canvases—adapted from renowned model templates—we will create a space designed to ignite curiosity and stimulate meaningful conversations.

Rather than providing fixed answers, the workshop is structured as an interactive exploration. Participants will be invited to test ideas, challenge assumptions, and discover how curiosity itself can drive innovation.

Through collaborative exercises, the group will unlock new perspectives on how to frame problems and generate value—opening pathways toward more flexible, diverse, and resilient approaches to design education and innovation.

Workshop Reminder

For this workshop, participants are encouraged to bring your preferred devices such as phones, tablets, or laptops, as you may conduct some research during the workshop. Please ensure that your device is fully charged and ready to use for smooth participation in the activities.

For the past two decades, design thinking has shaped how we approach innovation across disciplines - from business to design, from education to public services. But in a world where artificial intelligence is transforming how we ideate, make, and strategise, we can start to explore how this method might evolve. What should we keep? What should we finally let go of? 

In this hands-on workshop, participants will critically explore and creatively remix the classic stages of design thinking, integrating AI tools and strategic design approaches. Working in groups around a simple yet provocative brief, we'll co-create a new hybrid methodology-one fit for today's design challenges. 

Workshop Reminder

For this workshop, participants are encouraged to bring your preferred devices such as laptops for collaborative sharing/ working. Please ensure that you are able to access at least 1 AI tool (include DeepSeek, ChatGPT, Perplexity, etc) and your device is fully charged and ready to use for smooth participation in the activities.  

In this collaborative workshop, Domus Academy professors Stefano Cardini (Course Leader, MA in Design Innovation) and Giovanni Caruso (Course Leader, Master in Interaction Design and Master in Service Design) invite participants to explore the evolving relationship between AI and design. In a playful and creative setting, participants will work together to create a visual or written “future manual” — a speculative guide that explores how AI might transform design practice in the years ahead. 

Through the synthesis of instructions and illustrations, participants will shape this codex by examining how the concepts of creativity, creation and collaboration and how they may be transformed because of AI. By embracing a speculative mindset, the workshop provides a space to critically reflect on AI’s influence on contemporary design, weighing both the risks and the opportunities it brings to the creative field.