Author: Dominik Puente

Getting to understand Milan from a non-tourist perspective was what made me fall in love with the city. Coming to this trip I was scared I wouldn’t make the most out of it, but after these past 4 weeks I truly believe this experience has forever changed my whole practice as a designer.

Usually when people visit a new city they go to touristic areas, they learn some of the history, and go to the most attractive places. Although we did begin our journey by exploring iconic places like the Duomo, we got to dig deeper into the history and roots of Milan to understand the role of design in the city. I experienced a place that’s embedded in the design culture, every aspect of Milan from the architecture to a chair outside a coffee shop feels so intentional and connected to the artistic side of the city.

It’s hard to choose which moments during this trip were my favorite, but below there’s some that have impacted me the most.

First, the Duomo on our second day in Milan. I think starting with this was perfect. It was our second day in Milan after a very exhausting flight and coming out of that train station and seeing it right in front of me impacted me so much. I had seen it before in pictures, but seeing it there in front of me left me in a state of awe. It finally hit me that I was in Milan about to start my so long waited study abroad. Every detail, every corner was so beautiful I could not stop staring at it every time I walked by the plaza even on my last day in this city.

Visiting studios and seeing the work that goes behind what is usually displayed to the public was also a very interesting thing to learn about. On May 20 and 21, we went to two of my favorite places in Milan: Fondanzione Achille Castiglioni and Artemide. I learned about the research and time that goes behind each product. Seeing how playful and fun design can be in Castiglioni and at the same time the amount of research and tests it takes to put a new product in the market in Artemide, we’re two perspectives I had never seen in person. They both taught me how essential is every step of the design process. I loved it so much I would love to work developing the first stages of a new product in a factory environment.

The Triennale di Milano was without a doubt the most impactful visit during this trip. Seeing the recent works of designers, the current conversation, and the research behind this big works was life changing. Seeing works like El Tendedero by Monica Mayer made me think of home back in Mexico. It is an exhibition/mural that has been replicated in almost every school by the students as a way to express their concerns, feelings, and calling out sexist behaviors from any person involved in the school, from students to professors. Seeing a part of home that is so common and part of the education culture in a big stage like the Triennale felt so surreal. Other works were equally as impactful but that one was the one that stayed with me the most.

For my last impactful moment of this past month I chose my weekend trip to Barcelona. We visited lots of Gaudi’s work, truly amazing. The Sagrada Familia was a dream seeing it in real life, and although we couldn’t get tickets to go inside, we did get to go inside Casa Batlló. I remember learning about his works and this specific house my first semester of college during an architecture course, but being inside this house felt like being in a new world. Seeing the details, the finishes on the walls, the curved doors and windows, the use of tiles, everything working together towards this new concept of art and architecture was so beautiful. It felt like I was underwater for 2 hours. The tour taught us more about the history of the building, and it ended with an immersive experience that showcased all of Gaudi’s work. It was an amazing way to end my trip here in Europe.

I will forever be grateful for this experience. A year ago the idea of ever existing in another continent felt impossible and now it’s time to go back. I learned so much and I can’t wait to go home and tell my family all about it. This will definitely be the trip I won’t stop talking about for the next years. I’ll make sure everyone gets tired of hearing me talk about how studying abroad changed my whole perspective not just in the design field but in my life in general :)

This week was really eventful. Staring off with La Scala, where we finally got to wear the outfits we had spent the entire week looking for. It was my first time experiencing an opera, and afterwards we saw the Duomo at night. Although the event itself wasn’t about design, it taught me a lot about the local culture. It was also an opportunity to reflect on the architecture and interior design and how this can influence our social interactions.

On Tuesday, Fondazione Achille Castiglioni was very inspiring. It showed how design can be fun, playful, and full of personality. It reminded me that research comes in very different shapes and forms and being there allowed me to think of my designs as a way to break through the seriousness of the world.

Lastly, my favorite thing this week was going to Artemide, especially when we went to the factory area. I loved seeing the full process of taking an idea and bringing it to life. We often forget how much time and effort it takes to complete this process, and we just admire the finish product, when the art of making is also a product of itself. Seeing how many different people, machines, and processes work together towards a common goal was so inspiring and meaningful that now I want to find a job there.

This was our first full week in Milan, and it’s already been one of my favorite weeks ever. The Italian classes were really helpful. I’ve slowly started to understand more and more, also I began ordering and trying to have conversations in Italian which has definitely added to the immersive atmosphere of the trip. 

This week, I also spent a lot of time on my sketchbook and began paying extra attention to chairs. I think I’ve developed a new obsession. I’ve become more aware of my surroundings and started appreciating the little details. I began recognizing some chairs and noticed them being used in a different context.

Over the weekend, we went to France. Although it was still very close to the border, hearing people speak French and navigating around a new country created a whole new experience.

I can’t wait to keep going to more studios and museums. This experimental, hands on way of learning has taught me a lot more and a lot faster than any full semester before.

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Pictures of Monaco inside the Castle for a tour!

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A blue chair as a symbol and part of the culture for Nice! Really interesting to see in person how much significance a chair had in a city’s traditions.

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Lots of chairs. This is how my camera roll looks like now.

Coming here I knew it was gonna be a completely new experience, but I wasn’t expecting it to be this different. I began my journey at 6 am in Austin to head to New York City before going to Milan. I was so excited, even though it didn’t go perfectly as I planned. I left my jacket back in Austin’s airport but it turned out to be an excuse to buy a new hoodie for my little New York City adventure since I’ve never been there before. After, the plane to Milan was more than 8 hours long. I could not keep track of time since I had never been on a plane for that long either. I could not sleep the entire flight, I think the combination of excitement and nerves were too much, so I stayed awake watching movies. Finally, I arrived in Italy and was greeted by Emma holding a sign for us. I met a couple other girls, and we took the train together, which was another first for me. Those were my first glimpses of Milan. The building colors, the nature, graffiti, and the whole atmosphere was truly beautiful. Everything was so different from the US and at the same time it felt a little familiar to Mexico. I then arrived at Milano Centrale, which had a vibe that almost reminded me of Harry Potter, to take an uber to our hotel. During our ride I got to observe the city with closer attention to the details: the way plants hang out of almost every balcony, the size of the streets, the small shops and boutiques, and the beautiful architecture that characterizes this city. Everything Milan feels both big and small. I feel like I can take a train and navigate the entire city in 15 minutes, or take a 30 minute walk and be in a completely different neighborhood. I’ve already walked  more here in three days than what I walked in  a week back in Austin. Another highlight of this small week was seeing the Duomo for the first time. As we walked out of the train station, we saw it get taller and taller, it truly took my breath away. I also tried real Italian food, and I think it now has ruined all the possible pizzas, pastas, and gelatos I can find in the US. There is so much I’ve learned in these few days, but I can’t wait to keep learning more about this city, understanding its history and the impacts it had, discover its beauty and observe the beautiful mix between tradition and innovation. 

Some of food I had this weekend!

 

Roof of the Duomo and Galleria at night!