Design experiences after SUPSI:

Paul Abbot

He attended the Bachelor in Interior Architecture in 2015-2018. You have developed a particular attention for spaces; images of her are published by numerous magazines internationally.

She calls herself Interior and travel photographer. To what extent were your studies in Interior Architecture important in preparing you for your profession?

«My current profession, which is above all that of interior photographer, has greatly benefited from the skills acquired during my studies at SUPSI. In particular, I would like to underline the fact that I have learned a rigorous working method that is indispensable in the construction process that precedes and guides the creation of a photograph, where meticulous attention to detail represents the essential condition to do a good job . Added to this are the solicitations received regarding the acquisition of an aesthetic taste, or even the habit of researching and developing a design methodology, which generates the ability to identify the best observation point or to create the most suitable atmosphere with respect to the context, environment or product around which you are working».

What does it mean today to acquire a perception of space and how does it become part of our daily life?

«The experience of the environment and of time in the landscape and in architecture are the basis of my effort to bring the philosophy of design research into dialogue with the perception of space, giving them a sense of harmony and harmony. Hence the maturation of my idea of ​​the photographic representation of contemporary architectural structures or interior environments, to highlight the importance of the perception of space as an experience, both in the world of photography and in the architectural approach in the design and construction phases. With this in mind, I was able to create a space visualization project on behalf of the Lugano Region presented precisely on the occasion of the 2023 Furniture Fair». 

Ramona Banfi

In 2015-2016 she attended the Master in Interaction Design and after some experiences in design agencies, she specialized in the field of creating digital services for the public administration, a subject that she also teaches in universities.

How do you judge the experience of the Master in Interaction Design and which elements learned during your studies have proved to be valuable in the work you subsequently undertaken?

«The experience was very positive. The courses related to the design process have been very valuable for my professional growth. Understanding that during the creation of a digital product or service there are clear methodological steps to follow and iterate to create an artifact based on the real needs of the end user, was a solid foundation for facing the first challenges in the digital working world contemporary.

In addition to a solid methodological foundation, the presence of professionals active in the sector in the various courses I attended during the Master was fundamental. The courses were taught almost exclusively by professionals who were regularly confronted with the challenges presented during the projects. During the courses various case studies were also shown which allowed for a greater understanding of the subject matter».

Among the activities carried out, you are a professor at the University of Lucerne where you teach a course on the design of digital services for the public administration: what is it about?

«During one of my professional experiences abroad, I was lucky enough to work for a design agency focused on creating digital services for the public administration. The experience was dazzling: the contribution that a designer can give in such a context is of great importance and has a tangible and concrete impact on the users' lives. Covid has accelerated the digitization of services in the public sector and this has revealed, or accentuated, a huge lack of qualified professionals who can manage this transformation.

In the course I teach in Lucerne, I place particular emphasis on design issues related to the public sector as opposed to the private sector and I try to encourage future generations to take an interest in this topic. The digital world is constantly evolving and changing: sharing my experiences as a teacher and being able to contribute as a designer to improving digital processes in the world we live in is a challenge that fascinates me day by day».

Matthias Dellamora

He attended the Bachelor in Visual Communication in 2017-2020 and currently works in Zurich at the Raffinerie studio.

In your opinion, what are the positive elements and what are the limits of the course in Visual Communication?

«From the course in Visual Communication at SUPSI, I appreciated the practice-oriented work and study. I find that there is a need for a concrete approach to the problems faced by a designer in the graphic field today. The times of the professional reality are fast and the needs of the customers are multidisciplinary: a graphic project today most often develops into different visual products that require various skills to be realised. Often and willingly today the designer has to deal with several disciplines at the same time, and where the skills are lacking it is essential to have a network of people ready to collaborate to respond to needs.

I think that SUPSI has allowed me to get closer to this reality and at the same time to be able to explore topics and notions that reflect my strengths. Among the most enriching moments I spent at SUPSI, I keep an excellent memory of the workshops: I appreciated being able to develop a project in a very short period of time which ended with the presentation of the result to the group. Solutions iterated rapidly within the same project, sharing of work with others and the absence of an evaluation translated into a note are three of the elements with which I would have liked to become more familiar».

What job prospects have been opened up to you thanks to the training you have achieved?

«During my studies I was able to get in touch with professional realities that allowed me to approach the world of work. In my case, as a student I had the opportunity to visit the graphics studio I currently work for. This experience was the stimulus that prompted me to apply and to move to Zurich later. Here I was then able to deepen my knowledge by undertaking an advanced training course in the Creative Coding field, which is part of the continuity of the teachings acquired at SUPSI».

At SUPSI, a dynamic and interdisciplinary environment

ll Construction environment and design department of SUPSI aims to combine - in training, research and service provision - the technical dimension and that of design.

Thanks to the support of its disciplinary units, it ensures a contribution to the sustainable management and enhancement of the natural and built heritage of its reference territory, made up of the Alpine Cantons of the Confederation and Northern Italy, also scientifically supporting the cantonal administration. All its training activities are characterized by the added value deriving from operating in a context in which the professionalizing aspect is associated with that of academic scientific rigor.

At the Environment, Construction and Design Department it is possible to attend training courses for obtaining the SUPSI Bachelor of Arts in Architecture, Interior Architecture, Visual Communication, Conservation and the SUPSI Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering, as well as the Master of Arts in Conservation and Restoration, the Master of Arts in Interaction Design and the Master of Science in Engineering – Civil Engineering profile.

The Bachelor's degree courses of the Department are intended to train professional profiles with a generalist approach from which it is possible, at a later stage, to develop specialist skills by attending Masters or continuing education courses. The training pays particular attention to the learning experience and is based on the integration of scientific knowledge and professional practice, alternating theoretical teaching, design activities, exercises, ateliers and practical case studies.

The Environment, Construction and Design Department articulates its activity along four main guidelines: basic training, continuous training, applied research and services. The Department carries out its mandate by respecting clear guiding values, such as: scientific nature, interdisciplinarity, attention to individuality and relationships, accessibility to training, equal opportunities and autonomy. It also acts in line with the founding values ​​of SUPSI: concreteness, originality, multidisciplinarity, partnership, internationality, territoriality and innovation.

The Department's strategy seeks to maintain a balance between the various areas of expertise: training on the one hand and research and services on the other. Furthermore, combining technical activities – architecture, civil engineering – on the one hand and those of design on the other, represents a further challenge for the Department.

One of the main objectives of the Department is to encourage the development of transversal and complementary skills to respond to the demands of an increasingly complex reality.

In the training field, the accent is placed on consolidating the quality of the Bachelor training and enhancing the professional character.

The Department constantly develops a culture of shared and coherent quality in training and teaching, through the teaching qualifications and teaching skills of the teaching staff and by promoting an adequate and flexible pedagogical training.

The Department then recognizes a central role in continuous training in maintaining contact with students of basic training and transferring the results of applied research to the private economy.

The field of research, in particular development in emerging sectors such as environmental challenges and energy transition, represents the other pillar of SUPSI. Combining the knowledge and acquisition of skills present in different units is one of our main objectives. The constant strengthening of collaborations with other academic institutions at national and international level remains a priority objective for the Department.