Beyond the borders. Connections of the Design System beyond its borders as an agent of social and cultural innovation

The systemic nature underlying Design at Politecnico di Milano does not merely configure its internal structure (from the initial establish- ment of the Consortium, followed by the Department and the Faculty, later renamed School), but from the outset, it has led those involved in its development to explore how to interact with the actors, places, and practices that have long been part of the broader and well-established Milanese Design System, eventually expanding the scope to national and international scales. In the history of design teaching and research at Politecnico di Milano, this outward openness has generated exper- iments and solutions that have historical significance and can be cat- egorized into three analytical areas. The first pertains to opening the campus to the city and taking projects to the places and events of De- sign, presenting reflections and results, and raising awareness of the Politecnico Design System; the second focuses on building relation- ships, weaving networks of collaboration and multidisciplinary work, disseminating knowledge; the third, rooted in design and prototyping, creates positive impacts in the local context. The paragraphs will explore these three dimensions, highlighting the qualities and uniqueness of some of the numerous episodes of research, teaching, and projects that have transcended not only physical barriers but also ideological boundaries of university spaces, extending beyond the confines of academic settings and deeply engaging with the city and contemporary society at multiple levels.