Napoli. Capitale Italiana della Cultura del Design

Italian design history has often been framed through the lens of the Northern industrial triangle, with Milan as its central node. However, this dominant narrative tends to overlook the significant contributions of other cities in shaping alternative theoretical trajectories and relationships between design and society. This paper foregrounds the role of Naples as a cultural laboratory, examining key figures such as Roberto Mango, Filippo Alison, Riccardo Dalisi, Renato De Fusco, and Vanni Pasca. Interpreting the city not as a production district but as a crucible of ideas, pedagogies, and critical practices, the essay proposes a reconfiguration of Italian design geography. It emphasizes the specificity of the Neapolitan context as a generative space for rethinking the cultural, social, and epistemological foundations of design.