Summarize and humanize this content to 2000 words in 6 paragraphs in EnglishThe path to becoming a skilled professional is rarely straightforward—especially for those pursuing design. Between theory and practice, it is often curiosity that shapes the most meaningful growth. In design, this curiosity bridges personal passions, technical skills, and, crucially, an empathetic dimension of the work—one that thrives on dialogue, exchange, and the continuous questioning needed to explore, understand, and ultimately create. DesignMind emerges within this space, offering an alternative to conventional education.Its approach recalls the spirit of Ancient Greece, where the bond between students and philosopher-mentors was central to personal and intellectual development. Here, learning is not just about acquiring skills, but about cultivating a mindset—one rooted in inquiry, self-discovery, and the shared pursuit of knowledge.Founded by architect Lorenzo Palmeri in 2023, DesignMind is a design school that places personal attitude and project culture at the core of its educational approach. Its debut initiative, This Land is Your Land, was an immersive summer school in Castellania Coppi, in the Tortona Hills. The school offers an alternative to traditional design education through a multidisciplinary team of mentors—designers, journalists, photographers, storytellers, and counselors. The program goes beyond technical training, addressing often-overlooked topics like failure, the value of mistakes, imitation, money, and the search for a personal creative path.And in the spirit of questioning reality, we sat down with the leading mind behind the initiative to learn more. Here is what Lorenzo Palmeri told us.Specifically regarding the city of Milan, there are several educational opportunities. How and why was the DesignMind project created?Lorenzo Palmeri:“Milano is a global center for design, with fantastic and important educational opportunities. In such a landscape, DesignMind was created to offer a complementary path—not in opposition to existing institutions, but as a way to provide a dynamic, interdisciplinary learning experience that is almost tailor-made. The idea behind the project is that design education can help in the search for and construction of one’s own method, developing a way of thinking that encourages students to explore themselves and the connections between design, science, psychology, art, and why not, sustainability.DesignMind takes students out of conventional classrooms and into real-world contexts, as has happened in Castellania Coppi and will happen next summer with Costa Arente in the hills of Verona. In these settings, they can engage with nature, industry professionals, and innovative thinkers. DesignMind is a nomadic and experiential school, where learning happens through direct interaction with companies, hands-on experimentation, and deep reflection on the role of design and designers today and in the future.”From the students’ perspective, what results can they expect from an educational path like yours? And what are your goals?Lorenzo Palmeri:“Students who participate in DesignMind undergo a transformative experience, rather than just a course. Beyond developing technical skills, they acquire a way of thinking about design that integrates critical abilities, emotional intelligence, and a strong capacity to manage complexity.A fundamental aspect of our approach is the integration of psychology and coaching. We work on essential, yet often overlooked, topics in a designer’s journey, such as the value of error and failure as necessary steps in the creative process.Overcoming the fear of asking for compensation and understanding the true worth of one’s work. Defining a personal design path, finding one’s own direction beyond market expectations. Among our most ambitious goals is helping students become designers who can build their own future in an authentic and personal way.”DesignMind stands out for its unconventional student-teacher dynamic. What profiles and criteria guide your instructor selection?Lorenzo Palmeri:“We involve professionals and designers who have strong expertise and the willingness and ability to share their own design journey, approaching students with openness. Our mentors are individuals who embody curiosity, interdisciplinarity, and the ability to create a tangible impact. They come from various fields—design, art, psychology, business strategy, science, and music—united by a strong design-oriented mindset.Our instructors act as guides and catalysts, pushing students to break free from conventional frameworks. We look for people who can inspire, professionals who are actively engaged in their fields and who bring cutting-edge knowledge into our context.Additionally, we collaborate with coaches specialized in personal and professional growth, ensuring that students develop technical skills and also emotional and strategic tools to define their human and professional identity.”What can we expect from DesignMind in the future? What are its possible evolutions, while maintaining the spirit that currently defines it?Lorenzo Palmeri:“The future of DesignMind is based on expanding its scope while maintaining its essence: fluidity, experimentation and intellectual provocation. We are exploring new formats, but at its core, we will continue to offer an intimate experience, with intentionally small numbers, allowing for close interaction with each student. This smaller scale enables us to provide a deep and personalized level of mentoring, which is impossible to achieve in large-scale.Though DesignMind will evolve over time, one thing will remain unchanged, it is a movement. A way of thinking about design, rooted in experimentation, connection and conscious creation.”
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