Design Thinking changed the way we innovate—bringing human-centered methods, rapid prototyping, and creative confidence into boardrooms everywhere. But today, its influence is fading. Why? 

This keynote unpacks the rise, plateau, and rethinking of Design Thinking—and asks what’s next. As the world moves beyond Post-its and brainstorms, a new paradigm is emerging—one shaped by learning dynamics, curiosity, and the ways we manage attention in a digital age. 

What kinds of curiosity drive bold, visionary ideas? How do design mindsets shift between analog and digital environments? And why is rethinking how we learn the key to reimagining how we design? 

Join us for a provocative look at the next chapter in design-led innovation—beyond the buzzwords, and into the future. 

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. 

Following his keynote on navigating the rise and fall of design thinking in the tech era, Prof. Cabirio Cautela will lead a workshop that explores the evolving role of curiosity in both analogue and digital contexts. Participants will take part in interactive group challenges, applying design thinking principles to real-world problems using digital tools. The session blends collaborative exercises with micro design challenges, encouraging attendees to experiment, engage in discussion, and present innovative solutions. Tailored for practitioners and future leaders, this workshop offers a practical framework for harnessing curiosity and strategic design in the age of AI.​

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. 

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 codex, a structured written compilation of future artifacts and their associated information. By creating these “artifacts from the future” and describing their attributes, functions, and underlying logic, the entries will collectively offer a shared vision of how AI might transform design practice in the years ahead.

Through the synthesis of instructions and creative writing, 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.