SENAI Design Future. From Know-How to Know-Why to Innovate Brazilian Design Culture

The research activity of the Design System of Politecnico di Milano, focused on the analysis and the codification of the implicit Italian know-how in design, allows mapping the “Made in Italy” phenomenon identifying its actors, processes and channels. This ongoing research represents the reference to develop tools for codifying other territorial systems (nationally and internationally) and creating “ad hoc” strategic actions for developing innovation processes in specific territorial contexts. Among the internalization projects, SENAI Design Futures is an initiative of international cooperation that aims to promote the innovation of the Brazilian indus- try in furniture, footwear and leather goods, fashion and textile as main industrial sectors pulling ahead the Brazilian economy as since many years have undertaken a design oriented process for high added value products. The main interlocutor is SENAI, an organism takingpart of the Brazilian Industrial Association and in charge of activity of professional continuing education and con- sultancies to support the entrepreneurial development in Brazil. The project aims to promote a “value economy”, through a strategic and cross-sectorial design vision, to establish a virtuous relation between knowledge, productive and commercial systems. The paper will explain in detail the approach and educational model and its results in terms of dissemina- tion of a new innovation culture inside SENAI, looking at a new organizational structure, and outside SENAI. considering its potential national and international col- laborative network.