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Duration: 3 years Location: Department of Architecture and Industrial Design Coordinator: prof. Arch. Alessandra Cirafici PhD School: Polytechnic and Basic Sciences
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The Phd of National Interest in Design for Made in Italy trains researchers capable of combining identity, innovation and sustainability, integrating multidisciplinary knowledge in key sectors of the Italian production system (furniture, agri-food, fashion, automation). The course responds to the challenges of digital and ecological transitions, enhancing the role of design as a driver of innovation for SMEs and as a bridge between research, territories and businesses.
The Phd
The PhD programme of national interest in ‘Design for Made in Italy: identity, innovation and sustainability’ is in line with the objectives outlined by the European scenario (UN-SDGs, NGEU, Green Deal), the PNR and the PNRR 21/27 and responds to the current demand for advanced training in the scientific sectors of Made in Italy, an area in which it is necessary to integrate complex knowledge and formulate multidisciplinary and multisectoral research topics.
The cultural and productive areas representative of this sector, understood as the economic and social engine of the Italian system, are strongly characterised by an ecosystem of small and medium-sized enterprises that need to strengthen the supply chain through areas of research that are essential to support competitiveness and drive economic and social impacts. The typical areas of Made in Italy (defined by the 4 As: furniture, agri-food, clothing-fashion, automation) represent the main aspects of material and immaterial culture, and inextricably combine creativity, manufacturing know-how and technological innovation. These aspects are an expression of Italian identity, which emerges strongly from local, natural, cultural and social specificities, generating crossover dynamics with contiguous, not directly related economic sectors, such as tourism, cultural heritage and the creative industries.
The development of cross-sector strategies is key to exploring untapped economic growth potential, which will benefit from the connection between research, territories, stakeholders, businesses and human capital. In this context, design and creativity play a role as drivers of innovation, as Italy's ability to transfer research and knowledge into manufactured goods fully expresses the paradigm of open innovation.
The prevalence of SMEs that shape the Italian design-driven landscape of production and services determines the need to facilitate the exchange of knowledge and skills, promoting the widespread implementation of innovation dynamics. in this sense, demand from the production system stimulates new methods and approaches to research, creating an environment conducive to the continuous exchange of updates inspired by new challenges, in particular the digital and green transitions. The renewed attitude towards cooperation and interaction between supply and demand, developed within a framework of reciprocity and circularity, will facilitate listening to innovation needs, promoting substantial progress in processes, products and services in relation to international strategic objectives.
What is a PhD of National Interest?
The recent reform of PhD programmes aims to align Italian doctoral training with European policies, promoting innovative PhD programmes through partnerships between different institutions and research infrastructures. Funded by the National Recovery and Resilience Plan, the reform aims to address the critical issues of higher education and respond to the needs of businesses, including the cultural sectors, by building advanced scientific and professional skills and enhancing human capital as a lever for change in the productive sectors.
Particular attention is given to Doctorates of National Interest, created through agreements between universities and research centres, which offer doctoral students access to a network of universities and research centres, infrastructure and laboratories throughout Italy, and a research budget twice that of local doctorates. Among the first to be accredited is the PhD programme in “Design for Made in Italy: identity, innovation and sustainability”, coordinated by the University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, which aims to respond to the demand for advanced training in the field of Design for Made in Italy through a multidisciplinary and multisectoral project.
The Doctorate of National Interest allows doctoral students to develop innovative and sustainable skills, engage in dialogue with businesses, institutions and local communities, promoting global competitiveness and the continuous acquisition of new knowledge and technologies. It also strengthens the connection between research and the cultural and productive fabric, enhancing the role of the Research Manager, who is capable of mediating between technological innovation, businesses and cultural institutions, and developing inclusive co-creative models, contributing to social change and ecological transition.
Learning objectives
With reference to international (UN SDGs), European (Europe 2020 Strategy, Green Deal) and national (PNR) strategic objectives, the strengthening of the connection between research and the productive fabric, and the definition of the emerging role of Research Manager (PNR), the relevance of the topics is reflected in the objectives of the course “Design for Made in Italy: Identity, Innovation and Sustainability”, which aims to:
- train expert researchers capable of configuring and implementing processes, products and product systems, innovative and sustainable services, dialoguing with businesses and territories, promoting their global competitiveness and the continuous acquisition of new knowledge and technologies: in line with international, European and national strategic objectives, the training of researchers capable of rethinking the scientific, cultural and technological system of Made in Italy appears necessary (in line with Ministerial Decree 351 Art. 7, adoption of an interdisciplinary, multidisciplinary and intersectoral approach according to the principles of horizontality of the PNRR);
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promoting the knowledge system in relation to Made in Italy production: the complexity of the contemporary world determines the continuous evolution of the knowledge system in design, understood as a medium between new demands and needs. Design-driven research is the driving force behind the acquisition of new knowledge to ensure open innovation processes, through a continuous process of representation, dissemination and updating of knowledge and the training of new researchers. (in accordance with Ministerial Decree 352 Art. 6, expand the disciplinary areas and research topics consistent with the needs of the country, as well as regional territories, to meet the innovation needs of businesses)
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expand the Made in Italy project: Design for Made in Italy extends from training to industry and the social sphere; as a mediator between technological and digital innovation and the business system and society, it develops co-creative models aimed at inclusiveness, playing a decisive role in connecting with social change and ecological transition (in line with Ministerial Decree 351 Art. 6 digital and ecological transition);
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strengthen the territorial identity of Made in Italy: the design of products linked to Made in Italy territories promotes research in the fields of training capable of communicating with local stakeholders, with a view to circularity and complementarity, in order to enhance widespread creativity, protect intellectual property, and support different cultural, social and ecological identities (in line with Ministerial Decree 351, Art. 8, adoption of a multidisciplinary approach geared towards public administrations in promoting the simplification of organisational models);
- to place Made in Italy within a continuous process of open innovation, through the support of green tech, digital and collaborative technologies (in line with Ministerial Decree 351, Art. 6, digital and ecological transition).
The planned curricula are “Design for inclusion”, 'Sustainable innovation of product, service and process systems for Made in Italy', “Made in Italy and technological and digital transition”, “Made in Italy: manufacturing and new economic and business models”, and “Cultural Heritage of Made in Italy” incorporate these objectives, expanding them and shaping an innovative vision of a strategic sector for our country.
Career opportunities
Thanks to the coordinated articulation of research objectives for Made in Italy Design, the doctoral programme will train researchers and experts in the role of Research Managers with specialisations in important application sectors, adopting an integrated and complex vision of the ecosystem of human-centred technologies and innovations. The aim is to train experts capable of addressing the challenges of digital and green transition with a systemic and multidisciplinary approach. Leading national and international economic observers report strong interest in the theme of “Made in Italy”; the demand for specialists in this field, capable of acting in a systemic manner and collaborating in research and development of innovations according to a circular and inclusive approach, is closely linked to the development of the relevant production sectors. The area of interest of Design, according to the various meanings identified, focuses on the production of theoretical, instrumental and design knowledge.
The application of digital methods and tools and intelligent systems, both for research into the various dimensions of products, services and communication, and for application in the various areas of Made in Italy, is implemented through the promotion of the Italian qualities of places and territories. The PhD in Design for Made in Italy aims to fill the gap in specialists with these skills, especially in relation to the labour market in Italy, starting with the production sectors that characterise the country's economy at an international level.
These activities are broken down into the following list of experts, which is necessarily non-exhaustive:
- expert researcher capable of configuring and implementing processes, products and product systems, innovative and sustainable services, liaising with Made in Italy companies and territories, promoting global competitiveness and the continuous acquisition of new knowledge and technologies;
- consultant-mediator for the promotion and development of the knowledge and communication system in relation to the productive landscapes of Made in Italy;
- designer-mediator between technological and digital innovation and the business system and society, through the development of co-creative models aimed at inclusiveness;
- designer-mediator between technological and digital innovation and the business system and society, through the development of co-creative models aimed at inclusiveness;
- designer of goods and services, particularly in the typical areas of Made in Italy, defined by the 4 As: furniture, agri-food, clothing-fashion, automation, which inextricably combine creativity, manufacturing know-how and technological innovations;
- designer-coordinator of the design of products linked to Made in Italy territories, capable of communicating with local stakeholders with a view to circularity and complementarity;
- consultant for the management and promotion of the Made in Italy identity from a multidisciplinary perspective aimed at public administrations in order to facilitate the simplification of organisational models;
- research manager for the continuous process of open innovation in Made in Italy, through the support of greentech, digital and collaborative technologies;
- research manager at universities and public or private, national and international research institutions, both on basic issues and on highly interdisciplinary issues related to Made in Italy;
- research manager in national and European research projects;
The planned curricula are ‘Design for inclusion’, ‘Sustainable Innovation of Product, Service and Process Systems for Made in Italy’, ‘Made in Italy and Technological and Digital Transition’, ‘Made in Italy: Manufacturing and New Economic and Business Models’, and ‘Cultural Heritage of Made in Italy’ incorporate these objectives, expanding them and shaping an innovative vision of a strategic sector for our country.
Self-assessment commission and steering committee
In order to monitor the progress of doctoral activities as a whole, assess the consistency of the activities carried out with the educational objectives, and improve the effectiveness, efficiency, and quality of the doctoral training process, also in relation to its employment opportunities and the integration of highly innovative professional paths, the Coordinator identifies, from among the members of each Teaching Board of the three active cycles, the members of the Self-Assessment Committee and the Steering Committee.
Since its inception, the Doctoral Programme of National Interest in Design for Made in Italy has established an Advisory Board of national experts (see minutes of the Board meeting of 5/12/2022), supported by the structural presence of qualified experts from the business world, who have financed the research projects and who, as supervisors or co-supervisors, ensure constant dialogue with the production system.
The new University Regulations, ref. 47803 of 6/03/2025 (rep. 191/2025), in Article 18, stipulate that in order to “give continuity and transparency to the consultation process, it shall also act as a Steering Committee” and indicate its composition. The Commission has therefore been expanded and is now composed as follows
Prof. Alessandra Avella ( presidente)
Prof. Lucia Gardossi ( membro componente)
Prof. Carola Morozzo di Bianzè ( membro componente)
Prof. Fernando Moreira da Silva Professor Emeritus in Design – Lisbon School of Architecture, Universidade de Lisboa (FA/ULisboa);( membro straniero)
dott.ssa Iolanda Iacono, Chief Custumer_ QuestIt s.r.l.(ex PhD)
dott.ssa Valeria Di Fratta, Funzionario per la Promozione e Comunicazione - Ministero della Cultura (ex PhD)
dott.ssa Letteria Spuria Dirigente II fascia Presidenza del Consiglio dei Ministri (ex PhD)
PhD students' opinions
Every year, Vanvitelli University conducts a survey to gather feedback from PhD students at the end of each academic year, with the aim of gathering information on the various aspects of the research training program and the services and opportunities that accompany it.
- For the I and II year, access to the evaluation questionnaire is via the University’s institutional credentials, and complete anonymity of responses is guaranteed - Go to the teaching evaluation questionnaire
- For the III year, the end-of-course evaluation questionnaire is managed by Alma Laurea and can be accessed once the PhD student has registered, prior to the final examination - Go to the questionnaire
Results
- For the I and II year: PhD Student Opinions (SISVALDIDAT system)
- For the III year: PhD students’ opinions (AlmaLaurea)
In addition, the AlmaLaurea inter-university consortium compiles annual data on behalf of the University regarding PhD graduates’ academic trajectories and employment status after obtaining their degree.
