AIDEA

AIDEA: Artificial Intelligence for a New Design Education Approach

General Information

  • Participating Countries: Italy, Slovenia, Netherlands, Austria, The Republic of North Macedonia, Ireland 
  • Duration: 01/12/2025 – 31/08/2028
  • Project Reference: KA220-HED-37208374
  • Key Action: Cooperation partnerships in higher education (KA220-HED)

Coordinator: Accademia Italiana Moda e Design (Italy)

Partners:

  • CIAPE - CENTRO ITALIANO PER L'APPRENDIMENTO PERMANENTE (Italy)
  • STEP Institut, zavod za psihologijo dela in podjetnistvo (Slovenia)
  • Wittenborg University of Applied Sciences (Netherlands)
  • Know Center Research GmbH (Austria)
  • Ss. CYRIL AND METHODIUS UNIVERSITY IN SKOPJE (The Republic of North Macedonia)
  • Faculty of Design, An independent higher education institution (Slovenia)
  • Technological University of the Shannon: Midlands Midwest (Ireland) 
Objectives

AIDEA aims at increasing the quality of European Design Education and its alignment with the market needs by innovating training curricula, strengthening design schools and academies by incorporating the 3 different meanings of “Intelligence”: The Intelligence of the hand, Artificial Intelligence and Social Intelligence. It will do so enabling teachers to empower students to harness the transformative potential of AI in design while fostering critical thinking, creativity, and ethical awareness. 

Implementation

To achieve these objectives, the project will implement the following activities:

  • Participatory research activities
  • The definition of the Manifesto for Collective AI Design and the creation of a Handbook of teaching tools and methodologies
  • Train The trainers' activities (international and local ones)
  • Piloting sessions with design students and companies to ideate and prototype AI-driven solutions to real-world design challenges
  • A specific dissemination and up-scaling strategy including a pre-incubation programme and showcase of prototypes and other dissemination events 
Results

The expected results and outcomes of the AIDEA project include:

  • Participatory analysis document including the list of the existing strategies and AI tools already implemented into the educational sector and the mapping of companies and agencies already using AI
  • Manifesto for Collective AI Design
  • Handbook of teaching tools and methodologies on the cross-sectorial application of AI and new technologies on art and design
  • A pre-incubation programme, Travelling Exhibitions and related catalogue (compendium with pilot projects) and Knowledge Transfer Days

Wittenborg University of Applied Sciences plays a role in the AIDEA project by leading Work Package 5: Communication, Dissemination, and Upscaling, leveraging its expertise to draft the communication strategy and coordinate the Pre-Incubation Programme that supports students in turning their AI-driven prototypes into viable business solutions. Wittenborg contributes to the research and content creation for the "Manifesto for Collective AI Design" and the "Handbook of Teaching Tools," ensuring that entrepreneurial and ethical AI perspectives are integrated into the curriculum. Additionally, Wittenborg actively participates in mapping AI trends and executing piloting sessions, bridging the gap between academic theory and real-world market needs.

Would you like to collaborate, or do you have any questions?

Contact our Research Centre by sending an email to researchcentre@wittenborg.eu


Disclaimer
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.