Designing for Transformation: From India to Italy
We are proud to share that The Design Village has officially made history as the first Indian design school to open a dedicated overseas campus in Europe.
The launch of TDV EU has captured the attention of major global and national media houses, from The Wire and News18 to The Tribune and The Week. This widespread coverage reflects the significance of this "act of love" and our commitment to a truly internationalized design education.
Design doesn’t happen in a vacuum. It’s a global conversation that we’re lucky to lead from here. ✨
Over the course of our journey, these are the hands we’ve shaken and the minds we’ve collaborated with, names we’re proud to be associated with, ensuring our students have the world at their fingertips.
A quick look at the folks who trust us to build, break, and reinvent.
We don’t just work for these brands; we work with them to solve real-world design challenges. These aren't just logos. They're relationships built over years of real work.
Some days, you pause and look back.
Not with nostalgia, but with a quiet acknowledgment of how far the ground has shifted beneath your feet.
This wasn’t built in a straight line. There were loud debates, feedback, ideologies that clashed. People who poured themselves in, and people who pushed back hard. And somehow, through all of it, something real emerged.
That’s the nature of building with collective energy - it’s messy. It rarely feels like progress when you’re inside of it. But zoom out, and the picture becomes clear: in the students who found themselves here, in projects that keep surprising us, in the encouragement of the thinkers of our times, in a culture that doesn’t need to announce itself to be felt.
TDV is what it is because many hands built it, many voices shaped it, and many people refused - quietly, stubbornly - to let it become ordinary.
With friction and lightness.
Here’s to everyone who showed up, argued, contributed, questioned, and stayed.
"The real dreams happen with people. Institutions are very important, but it’s the people that make institutions. So it’s very important that we all share this wonderful sense of belonging to a much bigger family."
For Andrea Anastasio (Director, Italian Cultural Centre), the launch of TDV EU is a celebration of human connection. Beyond the architecture and the curriculum, this campus is a space where dreams are shared and a global family is formed.
At The Design Village, we believe that design is a tool for building relationships. As we expand into Italy, we aren't just opening doors, we are widening our circle, inviting everyone to be part of a community that values heart as much as craft.
"I feel very grateful that your school chose our little town, and in particular, this beautiful village. I hope that this will be a wonderful relationship between us and you."
For Andrea Giganti (Mayor of Borgo Priolo), the arrival of The Design Village is a moment of mutual excitement and gratitude. As we settle into our new home at Villa Castello di Torrazzetta, we are not just building a campus, we are becoming part of a community.
At TDV EU, we believe that the best design education happens when students are deeply connected to their environment. We are honored to start this "wonderful relationship" with the people and heritage of Borgo Priolo, merging Indian creativity with the soul of this historic Italian town.
11 April 2026 marked the opening of TDV Europe at Villa-Castello di Torrazzetta, Italy.
Across courtyards, shared tables, and reflective interiors, educators, designers, and cultural practitioners came together to imagine a new ecosystem for design education — rooted in dialogue, heritage, coexistence, and transformation.
More than the opening of a campus, it marked the beginning of a shared cultural and creative village.
"I feel the weight of its legacy (Fondazione Don Niso Dallavalle, @fondazionemontedilombardia ) and heritage in training tomorrow's young leaders...the alliance with TDV is an important renewal of this long-standing commitment."
For Sergio Di Nola (President, Fondazione Don Niso), the partnership between The Design Village and the foundation is more than a collaboration, it is a continuation of a profound mission. By bridging the heritage of Villa Castello di Torrazzetta with the fresh vision of TDV, we are creating a unique sanctuary for the leaders of tomorrow.
At TDV EU, we are proud to uphold this legacy, ensuring that the roots of the past provide the strength for our students to design a global future.
"Opening a campus in Italy, has been an act of love...This is mutual transformation. The only type of internationalization worth building."
For Mridu Sahai Patnaik (Co-founder and CEO, The Design Village), this milestone is far more than a strategic expansion. It is a deeply intentional "act of love", a commitment to a journey where culture, design, and education flow in both directions.
At TDV EU, we aren't just "transporting" an institution; we are engaging in a shared evolution with our global partners. This is the future of design education: one built on mutual respect, deep connection, and the power of collective growth.
"Europe transformed me, teaching me to value culture and clarity, and now, my mission is to ensure our students from India experience this same magic, multiplying the impact that Europe has given me."
For our founder, Sourabh Gupta, the launch of TDV EU is more than an expansion; it is the fulfillment of a lifelong mission to bridge worlds. By establishing a permanent home for design in Italy, he is ensuring the next generation of indian designers gets provided with the same transformative and global perspective that shaped his own career.
