The National Museum in Muscat, in collaboration with the Embassy of the Italian Republic to the Sultanate of Oman, recently organized the eighth edition of 'Italian Design Day'. The event featured a discussion on the future of design with the theme 'Manufacturing Value: Inclusiveness, Innovation, and Sustainability'. The aim was to enhance Omani-Italian cooperation and promote design while internationalizing a key industrial sector for Italian exports.
Distinguished guests at the event included Professor Alba Cappellieri, Ambassador of Design to the Sultanate of Oman and Department Head of Design at the Polytechnic University of Milan, Dr. Mona Ismail, Dean of the Scientific College of Design, Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Amri, Head of Sales at Onsor Technology, and Hazar Al Zadjali, Founder and CEO of Muscat Boutique. Over 100 guests, including fashion and design entrepreneurs, enthusiasts, and members of the Omani and Italian community, attended the event.
The panel discussion focused on the strategic role of design in bridging the past and the future, connecting artisan traditions with innovative progress. It also highlighted how both Oman and Italy maintain international identities while preserving their roots and traditions.
Pierluigi D’Elia, the Ambassador of the Italian Republic accredited to the Sultanate of Oman, emphasized the significance of the Italian Design Day event. He stated that the event not only celebrates the excellence of Italian design but also serves as a platform to strengthen the collaboration between Italy and Oman in the design sector. This collaboration aims to foster exchanges, promote synergies, and create business opportunities that will benefit both countries' creative industries and economies.
Professor Alba Cappellieri further highlighted the global importance of the Italian Design Day. She emphasized that the event allows for the dissemination and enhancement of the strategic role of Italian design as a catalyst for innovation. Italian design also serves as an interpreter of contemporary ideas rooted in tradition. Professor Cappellieri emphasized the importance of considering the past, not only in terms of materials and manufacturing, but also in terms of shapes and inspirations, as a means to shape the future.
Expressing her delight to be in Muscat, Professor Cappellieri acknowledged the valuable historical manufactures and deep-rooted artisan culture present in Oman. She also emphasized that Italian design can serve as a carrier of value, facilitating cultural exchange and fostering connections between different cultures and manufacturing traditions.
It is worth mentioning that Professor Alba Cappellieri delivered a lecture on the future of design, innovation, and sustainability to design students at the Scientific College of Design in Muscat on the morning of Monday, March 5, 2024.
