Design for Heritage Activation: the “I Tesori della Comunità” educational project

This paper presents I Tesori della Comunità, a research and educational project developed through the collaboration between the University of Genoa and the San Patrignano Community, with the designer Vito Nesta acting as artistic director. The initiative explores the potential of de-sign as a tool for activating cultural heritage through participatory and socially engaged practices. The project involved third-year students of Product and Communication Design in an immersive workshop conducted within the San Patrignano facilities. Working in collaborative groups and in-teracting with the community’s wallpaper production laboratories and tutors, students developed concept proposals for new capsule wallpaper collections inspired by the material and intangible heritage embedded in the community’s productive environment. Through a research-by-design approach, the workshop fostered an exchange of knowledge between academic education, pro-fessional design practice and community-based craftsmanship. The experience highlights how decorative design can operate as a medium for heritage reinterpretation while promoting social inclusion and innovative educational practices.