Design & green economy: Italy that wins

One design firm out of six in Europe speaks Italian. We have the highest number of employees and beat fierce competitors. What's more: Italy is third among the big countries in the world with a turnover of 3,8 billion euros. We needed the "Design econom" Report of the Symbola Association to know that such a creative sector of our economy has come a long way in Europe. To the detriment of other countries, which now take us as a model. Design has become a trademark of Made in Italy, connected to the great theme of sustainability and the green economy. Culture, art, tradition, knowledge: a mixture of ingredients as powerful as envied by neighboring countries. Since 2017, the leadership has been consolidated with impressive data. The number of businesses exceeded 30, with 50.226 employed workers. This despite Germany and the United Kingdom in the same period creating much better structural opportunities than Italy's. In our country, in fact, the vast majority of facilities have fewer than two employees. Abroad they were able to do a little better, but then they didn't go to the top of the standings. Meanwhile in Milan, the Triennale inaugurates a first part of iconic objects produced from the post-war period up to 1981. The president of Symbola, Ermete Realacci says that design is not only linked to aesthetics, but also to the ability to solve problems ranging from conception of new products to the identification of new markets, up to the search for new meanings. An intangible cultural infrastructure of Made in Italy well described and appreciated at the Milan Triennale, where the Report was presented.The innovative capacity found in our cities, by artisans and young talents, must be encouraged. The products establish themselves as a strategic element in the use of materials derived from the circular economy. For Realacci, Italian success on a continental level also means less use of materials and energy, recyclability, reusability. A fundamental step for an economy capable of facing the great challenge of climate change, he adds, and he is certainly not wrong. Why, then, not celebrate the sector with a permanent structure? The Minister for Cultural Heritage and Activities, Alberto Bonisoli, is at work. And if it keeps up, the museum will be completed by 2021. We are working for it to be inaugurated as soon as possible, he said and the designers hope. Bonisoli also said that our design “is a prevalent cultural trait of contemporary reality, because in it and of it he designs the forms of material and immaterial culture, using and transforming the imaginary, the symbolic, the knowledge, the fruitions ” . It is a strategic and transversal resource for the country. Certainly, but the numbers show that Lombardy, Emilia Romagna and Piedmont are the Regions with over 50% of the economic value and employees in the sector. Behind, Veneto, Lazio and Tuscany which, however, put together with the first three are giving prestige to Italy. Political power must take advantage of it. In 2017, 59 design professionals left the 7453 training institutes recognized by the MIUR. Grown in just one year by 9%, with more preparation and desire to establish itself on world markets. Therefore, the challenge of learning is also fine because in the area we have 17 Universities, 13 Academies of Fine Arts, 14 Legally Recognized Academies, 10 Institutes authorized to issue specialist qualifications, 5 Higher Institutes for Artistic Industries (ISIA). The design and the marked sensitivity of young people are driving an all-green competitiveness. We study to excel, show and not destroy resources, as many eco-sustainable artists also do. The Politecnico di Milano, for example, is in 3rd place in Europe and 6th in the QS World University Rankings by Subject for design. Italian synthesis between creativity, sustainable business.****