The Vision of Andrea Branzi in Education
Discover how Andrea Branzi’s radical vision shaped Domus Academy into a global model of design education, blending research, experimentation, and international influence today for designers.
How a Radical Vision Shaped the First Italian Postgraduate School of Design
Domus Academy was founded in1982 as the first international postgraduate school for design and fashion. At the heart of its birth stands Andrea Branzi—architect, theorist, co-founder, and its first Academic Director—whose intellectual leadership shaped the school’s identity, methodology, and global reputation.
From Radical Design to a New School Model
Branzi emerged as a leading figure of Italy’s architettura radicale. After working with the groups Archizoom and Superstudio, and collaborating with movements such as Alchimia and Memphis, he developed an approach that went beyond product aesthetics, focusing instead on the relationship between objects, people, and environments
In the early 1970s, his involvement in Global Tools—a network of experimental design laboratories—proved decisive. The experience established the principles of laboratory-based education and collective creativity that Branzi would later bring to Domus Academy
The idea of establishing a new design school originated with Maria Grazia Mazzocchi, Alessandro Mendini and Alessandro Guerriero. Critic Pierre Restany subsequently recommended Branzi as the first director, recognising his pivotal role in contemporary Italian design thought.
In a series of meetings that included Ettore Sottsass, Ezio Manzini, Mario Bellini and others, Branzi helped define what would become the school’s cultural and pedagogical DNA. He introduced two radical principles:
- Faculty should guide, not teach.
- Students should be treated as collaborators, not as traditional pupils.
These ideas formed the foundation of an innovative postgraduate model centred on research, experimentation, and shared project work
From the outset Domus Academy was conceived as a cultural project, not merely an educational institution. It inherited the experimental legacy of Global Tools and the radical movements that preceded it. As the first director, Branzi channelled this heritage into a school capable of exploring post-industrial scenarios, emerging technologies, and new social challenges.
Branzi believed that Domus Academy should function as a research laboratory, where teaching existed as a vehicle for investigation. As Antonio Petrillo recalled, the goal was “not only to train young people, but to conduct research together”, considering students as collaborators in a shared professional studio
Branzi played a central role in shaping Domus Academy’s methodology, which positioned design as a tool for questioning and understanding complexity rather than merely solving problems. This approach evolved into the concept of “design primario”, a human-centred vision developed with Ettore Sottsass and Clinio Trini Castelli, promoting design as an existential and cultural act
Under his direction the school embraced:
- interdisciplinary laboratories
- applied research with industry
- a strong international outlook
- and continuous methodological innovation
These principles remain the core of Domus Academy today.
Beyond his directorship, Branzi served as cultural director and vice-president of the school. He was also a celebrated designer, author, and theorist, whose work is held in major international institutions. He continued teaching until 2009 and contributed significantly to Italian and global design culture, receiving honours including three Compassi d’Oro and a Laurea Honoris Causa in Design from Sapienza University of Rome
His influence lives on in Domus Academy’s ongoing commitment to:
- design as cultural research
- collaboration between students, faculty, and industry
- and the exploration of future social and technological scenarios
Domus Academy’s unique identity—international, research-driven, and culturally pioneering—owes much to Andrea Branzi’s radical thinking. His vision transformed the idea of a design school into a living laboratory, setting a benchmark for contemporary design education worldwide.
FAQ – Frequent questions
1. Who is Andrea Branzi?
Andrea Branzi was an Italian architect, designer, and theorist known for his role in the Radical Design movement and for co-founding Archizoom Associati.
2. What are the most famous works by Andrea Branzi?
His most noted works include No-Stop City, the Animali Domestici furniture series, and various experimental design collections exploring nature, technology, and everyday life.
3. Which books did Andrea Branzi write?
Branzi wrote several key design texts such as The Hot House, Weak and Diffuse Modernity, and Introduction to Italian Design.
4. What does Domus Academy offer in terms of design?
Domus Academy offers programmes in areas like Product Design, Interior & Living Design, Urban Vision, Interaction Design, Fashion Design, and Service Design.