Research and analysis of teaching contents on Design and EDI in the Italian system of Design Education

Abstract

The study examines how the principles of Equity, Inclusion and Diversity (EDI) are integrated into the curricula of Italian universities, with a particular focus on Architecture and Design courses. It is part of the European project EDIDesK and was done alongside other European universities to compare how these issues are integrated in different countries. Using both qualitative and quantitative methods, the research involved reviewing syllabi and conducting semi-structured interviews with university lecturers. The goal is to provide a current view of how widely EDI issues are recognised and taught in design education in Italy. The findings show an increased interest in EDI but also highlight a significant variation in how these topics are addressed across different regions, teaching methods, and subjects. Inclusion is often seen as a technical issue, yet critical viewpoints and a deeper understanding of how to make inclusion a part of project development are often missing. Despite these challenges, the need to enhance EDI in educational curricula, starting from the early years, is clear. This preparation is vital for new generations of designers to tackle today’s social challenges with more awareness and responsibility.