The event “RE-DESIGNING: Policies, Spaces and Values” was held at the OECD headquarters in Paris. Organised by the Permanent Representation of Italy, it marked the tenth Italian Design Day in the World, an initiative promoted throughout Italy’s diplomatic and consular network by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture.
The event brought together institutional representatives, OECD experts, companies and leading figures from Italian design, aiming to highlight design as a strategic lever for sustainability, innovation and competitiveness, areas central to the OECD’s work in which Italy enjoys internationally recognised expertise.
In his opening remarks, Ambassador Luca Sabbatucci, Permanent Representative of Italy to the International Organisations in Paris, emphasised that design is a distinctive feature of the Italian System, combining productive excellence, design culture, and international reach.
The debate, moderated by Elena Dell’Orso of AD Italia, featured contributions from Laura Maeran, Coordinator of International Exhibitions at Triennale Milano, Domenico Bonaventura Cerqua, Head of Riflessi’s Milan showroom and Matteo Martini, European Sales Manager at Dedar, who shared experiences and best practices on the role of design in creating sustainable, durable and high-value products.
Lucia Cusmano and Oriana Romano, from the OECD Centre for Entrepreneurship, SMEs, Regions and Cities, highlighted design’s contribution to circular economy policies and SME development, underlining its role in reducing environmental impact throughout the entire product life cycle.
The discussion confirmed that Italian design excels in combining artisanal know-how, industrial innovation and aesthetic quality, positioning itself as a competitive driver in global markets. The importance of product durability and life-cycle extension was also emphasised as key elements for a sustainable transition, alongside the role of Italian Trade Agency in promoting Italian design internationally.