Dario Miticocchio to Speak at the 2026 IDC & Education Symposium

NewSchool of Architecture & Design is thrilled to announce that our esteemed faculty member, Dario Miticocchio, will be a featured speaker at the 2026 IDC & Education Symposium. Hosted by the Industrial Designers Society of America (IDSA), this premier event will take place in Pasadena, CA, from August 18th to August 21st, 2026.  

Rethinking the Social Impact of Design

Dario will lead a provocative and timely discussion during the Professional and Education Symposium, challenging the current trajectory of the design industry. His session will dive deep into the following theme:

As Design grows and stretches to encompass more and more activities and disciplines, the social impact of Design becomes more and more confused, and often overlooked. The world needs another wave of Radical Design; the current idea of good design being ‘invisible’ is sneaky and dangerous.

During his presentation, Dario will explore how iconic designs of the past fueled lively cultural discourse—often by being polarizing or provocative. In contrast, today’s design discipline frequently pushes towards flatness and compliance, leading to social results that are not always positive. When designers rely on a “don’t make me think” mentality, automatisms win, causing awareness and mindfulness to decline. Dario will challenge attendees to rethink this approach and ask whether it is time to correct the course and bring radical mindfulness back to the forefront.

About Dario Miticocchio

Originally trained as an architect, Dario refers to himself as a “Design Nomad,” continuously exploring new facets of the discipline. With a vibrant career that includes collaborating with masters like Makio Hasuike and Stefano Giovannoni, Dario brings decades of expertise in delivering iconic and award-winning designs across architecture, products, and user experiences. At NewSchool, his restless curiosity helps foster a stimulating academic environment as he continues to shape our cutting-edge design programs.  

Join the Conversation in Pasadena

We encourage all our students, alumni, and design enthusiasts to attend the 2026 IDC & Education Symposium to support Dario and engage in these vital conversations shaping the future of our field.

For more information about the symposium, the full agenda, and registration details, please visit the official IDC website.

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Watch Dario’s Past Presentation on Innovation and Design

This panel video showcases Dario’s extensive background and design philosophy, offering excellent background context before you attend his upcoming session.

Innovation by Design: Panel Presentation by Dario Miticocchio

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Open in Innovation by Design: Panel Presentation by Dario Miticocchio