Reverse Metadesign: Pedagogy and Learning Tools for Teaching The Fashion Collection Design Process Online

The present article discusses the experience of redesigning the pedagogy and learning tools of a pillar course at the School of Design of Politecnico di Milano, the Metadesign studio course. Metadesign is a design methodology that leads to the concept definition of a new product or service through a research process that synthesizes design goals, technological and productive constraints, market context, and consumption trends for a consumers’ group of reference. It represents a unique methodological approach characterizing a design education as it provides a consolidated research practice able to support the design process. The course structure foresees the reconstruction in phases and the development of all the contextual elements—product, space, service, communication artifact, etc.—that come into relation with the to-be-designed object and influence its characteristics. This process enables creating the "abacus" of components to use in a design activity. Considering the ever-increasing need to reshape the whole education system because of the paradigmatic change pushed by digital transformation and the urgency for on-distance courses posed by the COVID-19 emergency, the article presents a renewed "reversed" course structure. It highlights strengths and opportunities for further improvements representing a solid base for innovating a fashion design education.