companies, engineering hubs and, in this case, fashion. On the Saturday, the students entered the Armani Silos at DESIGN in MILAN Via Bergognone 40 with a sense of trepidation, or perhaps incredulity; however, this did not endure long. We were treated Their historical product gallery is a collection of some of the to a voyage through the mind of Giorgio Armani with what most famous designers of the 20th Century, including names seemed like an endless chain of colour-filled concrete rooms such as Philippe Stark, Michael all burgeoning with timeless classics, Graves and Richard Sapper. In this and a guide that filled the mind. inspirational space, Dr Alberto By the time we emerged, we were Alessi’s PA gave a truly exceptional overflowing with both visual and design-business presentation that intellectual possibilities, leaving no any graduate student would have space for more. We had walked around offered their right arm to be able some 4,500 square meters and seen to share. We then headed off to the approximately 1,000 outfits categorized Alessi museum in a private wing that by seasons and collections, images of houses a vast and interesting range 2,000 garments and accessories, and of models and prototypes created numerous sketches, fashion show and by famous designers and architects, backstage videos, images taken from offering a valuable snapshot into the Emporio Armani Magazine and the history of 20th Century Italian design. The aim of the iconic advertising photos. Alessi museum, opened in the spring of 1998, is to conserve and showcase all the objects, designs, images and materials of As if this were not enough, the students transversed the all types that document the company’s history and research. terraces of Milan cathedral, enjoyed a tour of La Scala scenery The museum has never before been opened to students workshops, toured an expo dedicated to Leonardo Da Vinci, below post-graduate level, so we were very proud to have been tried to interpret an exhibition of Italian Futurism at the Museo allowed to enjoy this experience. del Novecento (as well as enjoying Carefully-worded questions were works by Picasso, Braque, Klee, posed and duly answered with Kandinsky and Modigliani), enjoyed a candid responses. This was a day that Christmas market and tucked into will live on in the memory for many more pasta and family-made pizza years. than was healthy! Finally, I should like to take this opportunity to thank not The third day of the trip was spent at only Ms Thorne, Mrs Dewar and Mr the Ferrari factory in Maranello - see McMahon, who accompanied us Ben Smith's report, on the previous on this trip, but especially Mr Brown page, for details of what proved to be who has supported me fully since the a trip highlight. conception of these trips. Next year on our 20th Century voyage we will again Characteristic of design study trips is the desire to generate step back in history, this time to circa 1900 Imperial Vienna as a feeling of total absorption in the chosen period of study we study the work of the Vienesse Secession and the Wiener generated by a constant barrage of experiences… be they Werkstätte. museums (Decorative Arts and Fine Art), restaurants, design - Mr McGough, Head of Design Technology.