A collaborative project by IED students for the Lea Garofalo Garden in Milan
At the intersection of urban art, design education, and civic engagement, a new public artwork now lives in the heart of Milan. In the community garden dedicated to Lea Garofalo, a powerful new basketball court installation has been created by students from the IED – Istituto Europeo di Design, where I have the honor of coordinating the Graphic Design course.
What began as a class project has become a landmark of inclusion and expression, nestled between Corso Como and the multicultural Via Paolo Sarpi.
A Garden with a Story
The Lea Garofalo Garden is not just a green space — it's a symbol of justice, memory, and community. Born from a grassroots initiative in 2010 and named after Lea Garofalo, a whistleblower against the ‘Ndrangheta, the garden has grown into a place of gathering, reflection, and rehabilitation. Today, it also becomes a canvas.
WILDMI: Escaping the Urban Jungle
The visual identity of the court, titled WILDMI – A Escape from the Urban Jungle, was created by Mariano Del Grosso, a talented student in our Graphic Design program. His concept treats the park as a sanctuary — a place where nature reclaims space and city life can be momentarily paused.
The court design features bold geometric patterns, rich natural tones, and strong visual contrasts that define each area of the playground, making it not only functional but also immersive. The mural extends beyond the floor to surrounding walls and structures, expanding the narrative into the space around it.
Design Beyond Screens
This project was made possible through a collaboration with Francesca Cassani, a designer, IED alumna, basketball player, and founder of Nine in the Paint — a social-impact initiative that transforms sports courts into art installations around Italy. Together with assistant teacher Daniele Colombo, we guided our students through every phase: from ideation to real-world implementation.
As Daniele beautifully put it:
"Our students had fun painting the court, but most importantly, they realized that design goes beyond screens and software — it can live in cities, reshape public space, and build new relationships."
Education as Impact
As educators, we often talk about design thinking, sustainability, and social engagement — but projects like this allow students to experience those values firsthand. What was once a school assignment became a transformative public intervention. It’s proof that when creativity meets purpose, design can be a tool for change.
I’m proud of what our students achieved. With projects like WILDMI, we’re not just teaching design — we’re helping future designers leave their mark on the world.
Design Beyond Screens
This project was made possible through a collaboration with Francesca Cassani, a designer, IED alumna, basketball player, and founder of Nine in the Paint — a social-impact initiative that transforms sports courts into art installations around Italy. Together with assistant teacher Daniele Colombo, we guided our students through every phase: from ideation to real-world implementation.
As Daniele beautifully put it:
"Our students had fun painting the court, but most importantly, they realized that design goes beyond screens and software — it can live in cities, reshape public space, and build new relationships."
Education as Impact
As educators, we often talk about design thinking, sustainability, and social engagement — but projects like this allow students to experience those values firsthand. What was once a school assignment became a transformative public intervention. It’s proof that when creativity meets purpose, design can be a tool for change.
I’m proud of what our students achieved. With projects like WILDMI, we’re not just teaching design — we’re helping future designers leave their mark on the world.
