Milano International Design Studio 2025: Minds

MInDS / Milano International Design Studio is an intensive international design workshop that combines education, research, and experimental methodology. It takes place between the third and fourth semesters of the ACI-BEI Master’s program. Over two weeks, seven visiting professors lead distinct classes, each exploring a critical theme and challenging students and tutors to rethink the role and forms of contemporary architectural design. The workshop investigates architecture beyond a single scale or predetermined typology, embracing interdisciplinary approaches to respond to complex and evolving urban and social contexts. Design is treated as a tool for knowledge production, experimentation, and critical inquiry, fostering creativity and methodological rigor. This volume presents the outcomes developed by the tutors at the conclusion of MInDS 2025, documenting innovative design strategies, pedagogical methods, and the integration of research and practice. It demonstrates how the workshop advances architectural knowledge, engages with contemporary design challenges, and contributes to the development of both educational and professional practices. By presenting a systematic exploration of design processes and critical thinking, this work provides valuable insights for students, educators, and professionals interested in contemporary architecture, experimental pedagogy, and interdisciplinary design research.