Italian Design Day 2026 dazzled Malaysia with a celebration of creativity, innovation, and Italian elegance, as part of a global initiative promoted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture and the Italian Trade Agency. Now in its 10th edition worldwide, the event continues to shine as a premier platform for showcasing the artistry, sophistication, and visionary spirit of Italian design, while fostering dialogue with international creative communities. This year, the celebration took place at the Residence of the Ambassador of Italy in Malaysia, with the support of Italcham (the Italian Chamber of Commerce) and carried the theme “RE-DESIGN. Regenerating spaces, objects, ideas, relationships.” The evening welcomed around 100 distinguished guests, including leaders from industry, academia, and the diplomatic corps, all immersed in the world of Italian design excellence.
In his address, Ambassador Raffaele Langella highlighted the enduring global significance of the initiative and its strong presence in Malaysia. He emphasized that the theme of regeneration offers “an important opportunity to reflect on the role of design and architecture in improving everyday living spaces and the well-being of communities, combining together technological progress, manufacturing and creativity. Italian design continues to balance technological innovation, sustainability, and inclusion”. Ambassador further noted that Italian design’s global prestige reflects a standard of quality that inspires creative industries worldwide, particularly through its ability to integrate both physical and digital design guided by circular economy principles.
Ambassador Langella also highlighted the strong bilateral ties between Italy and Malaysia, particularly in the cultural and creative sectors, citing the Malaysia Italy Design Institute (MIDI) at Universiti Kuala Lumpur as a key example of collaboration. Established in 2018, UniKL-MIDI represents a strategic platform where Italian design tradition meets Malaysian technical expertise, enabling the transfer of the “Made in Italy” model into local industry and education.
A highlight of the evening was a seminar on design, featuring invited speakers Professor Giacomo Bertolazzi, Head of the European Institute of Design (IED) in Milan; Mr. Fabrizio Rigolio, founder and creative director of Rizoma srl; and Professor Mohd. Razif Idris of the UniKL-MIDI. The speakers engaged guests in a dynamic exchange on design innovation, education, and industry practices, offering diverse perspectives on shaping sustainable and future-oriented design solutions.
Mr. Fabrizio Rigolio, founder and chief executive officer of Rizoma srl—a premium Italian brand known for high-end aftermarket motorcycle accessories and bike parts with elegant, minimalist designs, superior quality materials like aluminum, and functional innovation—said: “I have always believed that design is a dialogue between emotion and function. Design is not just what we create—it’s how we challenge the ordinary,” he continued. “To design is to rethink, to reshape, to rewrite the rules with intention and beauty. Because true style isn’t followed. It’s reinvented.”
Professor Giacomo Bertolazzi, Head of the design school at Istituto Europeo di Design (IED) Milan, said: “Design today goes beyond creating objects—it’s about shaping experiences and responding to real human needs. Designers are entrepreneurs of their own talent, transforming ideas into solutions that enhance everyday life. True innovation thrives only when grounded in a strong culture of design.”
Professor Mohd. Razif Idris said: “Design is more than aesthetics; it is a bridge between culture, innovation, and community. By integrating Italian expertise with Malaysian creativity, we can inspire new generations of designers to create solutions that are not only beautiful but meaningful and sustainable.”
As part of the Italian Design Day 2026 programme, Ambassador Langella led a delegation comprising Professor Bertolazzi and Mr. Rigolio on a visit to UniKL-MIDI ahead of the evening’s celebration. The delegation was warmly welcomed by UniKL president Assoc. Prof. Ir. Dr. Azman Senin and UniKL-MIDI Dean Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mohd Zaid Abu Yazid, who hosted the delegation for a campus tour that highlighted UniKL-MIDI’s role as Malaysia’s leading Higher Technical and Vocational Education and Training (HTVET) institution, renowned for its strong emphasis on industry-driven education, innovation, and technical excellence. During the visit, the delegation engaged in a fruitful exchange with UniKL-MIDI representatives. Discussions focused on further strengthening Malaysia–Italy cooperation in the design sector, particularly in the areas of education, research, and industry partnerships. The visit underscored a shared commitment to nurturing future-ready talent and advancing innovation through the continued integration of Italian design expertise with Malaysia’s dynamic technical capabilities.
Italian companies representing a wid e range of design sectors also took part in this year’s event through curated displays of their state-of-the-art products at the venue. Participating brands included Bialetti, Illy, and Smeg (kitchen and industrial design); Boggi, Damiani, and Giorgio Visconti (jewellery and fashion); Dainese and Givi (motorcycle gear); iXoost (sound design); and Minotti (interior design). The exhibition was further enriched by the presence of Malaysian batik artisan Kapten Batik, who delighted guests with a live batik demonstration celebrating the seamless union of Italian design elegance and Malaysian craftsmanship, creating a vibrant and captivating dialogue between two rich creative traditions.
PRESS COVERAGE ON THE IDD2026 EVENT:
BERNAMA, 01.04.2026, “Italian Design Day 2026 shocases innovation sustainability and synergy”
BERNAMA, 01.04.2026, “Italy Eyes Stronger Collaboration with Malaysia in Design, Innovation”
