The engagement of visitors in faber’s houses and studios. Empirical design research and experimental actions in Lombardy

Lombardy is characterised by industriousness and creativity, a crucial aspect of the region’s identity that drifts from eminent artists, designers, and architects from the late XIX century to the beginning of the XXI century. This context is the action field of D.E.SY. (Designing Enhancement Strategies and Exhibit SYstems for the Italian House Museums and Studios), a research project carried out by the authors that aimed to improve and investigate theories, methodologies and design solutions in order to foster enhancement strategies for house-museums and studios of artists (faber): eminent creative personalities connoted by a tangible output and whose studios and houses are influenced by their “creative action”. The three meaningful examples of experimental actions developed within the research are: Genius Loci; Atelier as living nature; and The art and its inhabitants: artistic imaginaries between houses and exhibitions. In conclusion, the paper argues the interdisciplinarity between design and art through an empirical approach and three experimental actions focused on the enhancement of both tangible and intangible values of artists (faber) and their workplaces.