Introduction
What’s new, the methodology, and the approach behind an extraordinary experience.
Hear the story from Pasquale Volpe, Director of Design in Town.
Design in Town
14th EDITION
School program
Design in Town
14th EDITION
School program
School Program
The program is designed for groups of students from the same school.
Individual participation is not possible.
In the tradition of the Grand Tour, Italy becomes a place to discover design, style and the art of living well. Two weeks in Puglia can be a life-changing experience, helping students gain a clearer understanding of their future path in design and creativity.
Italy has a long tradition of hosting summer programs for universities and schools from around the world. DIT welcomes international secondary schools for 14-day residential programs entirely in English or Italian, designed for students aged 14 to 19.
From April to September 2027, schools can take part in a two-week program with tailor-made content.
During the experience, students discover a region rich in history and sensory inspiration while exploring their own talents and aspirations. They work alongside faculty members whose teaching methods may be very different from those they are used to. Away from home, learning and discovery become more immediate and engaging.
Groups of 40 to 60 students can choose 4 main disciplines from the 8 offered by the DIT Summer Camp: Architecture, Fashion, Design, Photography, Graphic Design & Communication, Video, Creative Writing and Illustration.
Schools can also choose one of 4 additional workshops designed for students discovering Italy’s cultural heritage for the first time: Italian Art History, Italian Design History, Italian Language and Italian Cuisine.
The program includes a full-day cultural trip to one of three major art cities in Central and Southern Italy: Rome, Naples or Lecce.
Are you a school based outside Italy looking for an educational experience that combines community life, creative projects and time to have fun?
Write to us at info@designintown.org
Our small community in Puglia
Troia has 6,400 inhabitants and breathtaking views from the foothills of the Daunian Sub-Apennines. The quality of life in this peaceful town is something its residents love to share with visitors. It is primarily an agricultural community with a rich cultural heritage. There is a sense of safety and belonging, like being welcomed into a large family. The town is home to numerous artistic treasures that make it one of the most fascinating medieval towns in Southern Italy.
Among them is the magnificent cathedral, founded in 1093 and considered one of the finest examples of Apulian Romanesque architecture, and San Domenico, a fully restored former convent with classrooms and dormitories, where many of Design in Town’s activities take place.
One of the best things about Troia is that you can do everything on foot. In fact, walking is the best way to discover this magical place.San Domenico has already been home to DIT for several editions.
Participation Requirements
Only groups of students aged 14 to 19 from the same school may participate.
Design in Town is not a holiday, but an intensive educational experience working in the classroom with professionals.
It is not a program for everyone. Students need to be highly motivated and fully understand what to expect from the experience.
Groups
Minimum 40 students, maximum 60 students.
Deadline
Until all available weeks are booked.
A Tailor-Made Program
Each School Program is designed together with the school through a series of online meetings between the Design in Town team and the school’s teachers, to get to know the group of students, their interests and their specific educational needs.
Starting from this discussion, the four disciplines are selected together, the project themes and how they will be developed are defined, and the final outputs that students will be asked to create and present are established, along with the language of the program.
The dates are also agreed with the school, selecting the two weeks between April and September 2027 that best suit the group’s needs.
Once the educational program has been designed, the organisational details are defined together as well: the Italian city of arrival and departure, from which round-trip bus transfers to Troia will be organised, and the destination for the cultural visit on the middle Sunday, choosing between Rome, Naples or Lecce.
For each group, Design in Town can host one or two accompanying teachers.The final fee, ranging from €2,300 to €2,500 per student, is determined according to the agreed program, the services included and the total number of participants.
How It Works
Participants work on real-world projects with a practical purpose, side by side with professionals, immersed in intense, fast-paced days. Over the course of one week, each student explores two disciplines, works with two faculty members and completes two different projects. Creative Writing and Illustration are the only exceptions, with two projects developed within the same discipline.
There are just three days to complete each project. The day starts with breakfast at 8:00 am, and work gets underway at 9:00 am. At 1:00 pm, everyone breaks for lunch, then work resumes at 2:30 pm and continues until 7:00 pm. After that, it’s time for dinner and an evening together. But when the project requires it, students get back to work after dinner to meet deadlines and be ready for the final exhibition.
Life at Design in Town follows a few simple rules: be there for every part of the day, deliver projects on time, take care of shared spaces and contribute to life as a group.
Wednesdays and Saturdays are when projects come to an end. In the late afternoon, students finish their work and set up an exhibition in the town’s main square. After dinner, from 10:00 pm, they present what they have created to the public, sharing their projects with visitors and passers-by. At midnight, the exhibition is taken down and everyone returns to the convent for the night.
The following day, it all starts again: a new discipline, a new faculty member and a new project.
Sunday is different. It is dedicated to a day trip to one of the three great art cities of Central and Southern Italy: Rome, Naples or Lecce.
These will be 14 intense days. Design in Town is not a program for everyone. Understanding exactly what to expect is essential to making an informed choice about whether this is the right experience for you.
Extra Activities
Students share everything. They learn to help one another, collaborate, organise themselves and work on projects together. But what would a summer in Puglia be without discovering its culture and traditions, feeling the breeze and the warmth of the sun, and enjoying the simple pleasure of doing nothing with friends?
There will be plenty of opportunities to spend time together, surrounded by nature.
Important Information
Throughout the program, every student wears the uniform provided on arrival (T-shirt and backpack). Other T-shirts may not be worn.
Students should bring their own trousers, shorts or skirts, which must be black. Please note: not dark grey, not dark blue, but black. We also recommend bringing a plain black sweatshirt for cooler evenings, with no printed or embroidered graphics or branding.
Students must bring their own bed sheets, pillowcases, towels and bathrobe.
To take part fully in the educational activities, students are advised to bring a laptop and a camera. Those who do not have one or both of these can still participate, but should inform the organisers in advance.