Italian Design: Tradition, Innovation and Global Impact

​NABA London invites you to Italian Design: Tradition, Innovation and Global Impact, a special panel discussion bringing together distinguished voices from across the creative industries.

​Italian design has long been recognised for its craftsmanship, cultural identity and ability to unite beauty with function. Yet its continued global influence also depends on experimentation, education, new technologies and its capacity to respond to a changing world.

​Through perspectives spanning design, fashion, culinary heritage, storytelling and creative education, the discussion will explore how Italian design traditions are preserved and reinterpreted, how innovation is reshaping creative practice, and how culture, heritage and craftsmanship continue to shape Italy's enduring influence on global visual culture.

​The event also offers an opportunity to discover NABA London, the first international campus of NABA, Nuova Accademia di Belle Arti. Founded in Milan in 1980, NABA is recognised as the leading Italian Academy of Fine Arts and is ranked among the world's top institutions for Art and Design in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026.

​Opening at Here East in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park this October, NABA London will offer BA (Hons) degrees in Design, Fashion Design and Fashion Marketing Management.

​Following the panel discussion, guests are invited to continue the conversation over an Italian aperitivo.

​Meet the Panel

​Janine Catalano
Culture Sector Consultant and Culinary Curator

​Sennait Ghebreab
Fashion Sustainability Specialist and Contributor to Vogue Italia

​Diego Mattiolo
School Director and Head of Education, NABA London