Professor Francesco Zurlo is a Full Professor of Product Design and Strategic Design; since 2022, he has been the Dean of the School of Design at Politecnico di Milano. His research interests focus on strategic, systemic, and creative research-through-design, considering the sustainable impact of business innovations and human flourishing. Professor Zurlo is the Director of the Design + Strategies research group (Department of Design at Politecnico di Milano) and a member of the Scientific Committee of the Observatory of Design Thinking for Business of Politecnico di Milano and of ADI (Italian Design Association) Index, the selection of the most innovative Italian products and services, competing to win the prestigious national award “Compasso d’Oro.” He is the Director of the Executive Master in Design Strategy and System Innovation (held in China for local professionals) and, as scientific co-director, he manages the Master in Strategic Design and the Master in Furniture Design of POLI.design, a Politecnico di Milano consortium.

BIG SEE Perspectives Nominations

2026: Thomas David Short