As part of the traditional event dedicated to promoting Italian architecture and design worldwide, now in its ninth edition, an event was held in Kutaisi on March 10, organized by the Italian Embassy in Georgia in collaboration with the Italian Trade Agency (ICE-ITA).
The event, hosted at the Kutaisi International University (KIU) and attended by prominent figures in architecture and design, experts, researchers, and students, was inaugurated by the Italian Ambassador, Massimiliano D’Antuono, and the University’s Rector, Giorgi Khubua.
“This year’s edition, titled ‘Inequalities. Design for a Better Life,’ linked to the theme of the 24th International Exhibition of the Triennale Milano, provides a perfect opportunity to reflect and debate on the role of design in reducing the impact of inequalities on individual well-being in everyday life,” explained Ambassador D’Antuono.
The highlight of the #IDD2025 celebrations in Georgia was the launch of the first undergraduate program in Design at the School of Architecture, Urban Planning, and Design at Kutaisi International University. The program, established in collaboration with the University of Naples Federico II, offers a dual-degree recognition. “This initiative, the result of collaboration between the Georgian university and the historic Neapolitan institution — one of the oldest public universities in the world — thanks to the dedication of Rector Matteo Lorito, will help strengthen ties and knowledge exchange between Italy and Georgia,” emphasized Ambassador D’Antuono.
The event continued with a speech by Carla Langella, Associate Professor of Design at the University of Naples Federico II, followed by the keynote lecture, “Conscious Design: Poetic Expressions and Suggestions of the Italian Project,” by renowned Italian architect and designer Matteo Vercelloni. The celebrations concluded with the launch of the second edition of the competition, “Italy Meets Georgia: A Fusion of Aesthetics and Innovation,” organized by the Istituto Marangoni in collaboration with the Italian Embassy. The contest offers scholarships to talented young Georgians to study Fashion and Design at Istituto Marangoni, one of Italy’s top educational institutions in the field.
