For the second consecutive year, UNFOLD, the initiative curated by Domus Academy, brings together students from 12 prestigious international universities to explore the role of contemporary design. This project serves as an observatory on the evolving trajectories of the discipline, transforming design into a tool for critical reflection and change.
REAFFIRM DESIGN: Rethinking the Role of Design
The theme of UNFOLD 2025 is Reaffirm Design, an invitation to question the nature, impact, and responsibilities of design in today’s society. Moving beyond the traditional notion of design as a mere object or service, this edition focuses on the cultural, social, and political implications of the discipline, examining how it can drive tangible and sustainable transformations.
The research unfolds across three key perspectives:
→ Design of Resistance: Exploring design as an act of activism, creating solutions that challenge unjust systems and provide communities with tools for empowerment.
→ Design with Agency: Developing accessible and inclusive projects that restore autonomy to individuals and democratize access to resources.
→ Design for Reappropriation: Valuing collective memory through the revival of traditions, materials, and practices, integrating them into new contexts to strengthen identities and social connections.
A Global Network for the Future of Design
UNFOLD aims to create a space for dialogue between different cultures and perspectives on design, bringing together students from Europe, the Middle East, South America, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Through this exchange, the project offers a platform for emerging talent, giving voice to those who envision a future where design is not just about aesthetics but also ethics and impact.
Participating Universities in UNFOLD 2025
BAU College of Arts and Design – Barcellona
Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design – Gerusalemme
Birmingham City University – Birmingham
CCS College for Creative Studies – Detroit
EDINBA Escuela de Diseño del Instituto Nacional de Bellas Artes y Literatura – Città del Messico
Xiamen University, Institute of Creativity and Innovation – Zhangzhou
Nottingham Trent University – Nottingham
Coventry University School of Design and Media – Il Cairo
STUBA Slovak University of Technology – Bratislava
STRATE, Ecole de Design – Parigi e Lione
University of Campania – Luigi Vanvitelli