Interview with students involved in the creation of the Visitor Center in Palermo
Alessandro Gallo, Andrea Mercier, Irene Pivato, and Laura Spricigo are participating in the Design Thinking – Upskill 4.0 learning experience for Innovation project, promoted by the Department of Management – Venice School of Management at Ca' Foscari University of Venice with Upskill 4.0.
The workshop leads to the realization of the three-year thesis work from real challenges set by Made in Italy companies, following the methodology of Design Thinking.
The real challenge here is to imagine and outline a future Visitor Center that will enhance Sicily's entrepreneurial and artisanal realities through an immersive tour to be offered to national and international tourists, promoting the more traditional places of making through technology.
Upskill 4.0 will work to implement the Visitor Center with eight Sicilian companies located in the provinces of Palermo, Enna and Syracuse and will be helped in the implementation work by the very four thesis students: we interviewed them to find out why they chose to carry out an experimental thesis with Upskill 4.0.
Andrea, why did you decide to participate in the Design Thinking - Upskill 4.0 learning experience for Innovation project?
I want to have a smooth transition into the working world, and this lab seemed like a good way to do that. Doing a thesis like this for me is a bit of a challenge, it forces me to get away from books and research, maybe even expose myself a bit more. I've noticed in my studies that when I work in a group, so I get to compare myself with others, I learn more, in the sense that what I discover and study, I remember much better.
Laura, were you already familiar with Design Thinking?
Yes, it is a methodology that is not new to me, but certainly in these months what was simple theory has become practical. We were just in Sicily in Palermo for the kick-off of the project, met with some entrepreneurs, visited a few companies on and around Palermo. It took us weeks to define and organize the interviews with the entrepreneurs. With my classmates we revised them, also with the help of Elena Masi, Selena Brocca and Alice Rizzetto, until the very last.
Irene, how did the company visits to Sicily go and what did you learn?
With this project I wanted to expand my network of contacts and knowledge. Working with Upskill 4.0 project managers is challenging, but I didn't want to do a linear thesis, I wanted some more challenging and to end my journey in a compelling way!
Going to Sicily was very interesting. I knew the island only as a tourist, while in February I was there as a professional. Dialoguing with entrepreneurs, discovering aspects of the great Sicilian manufacturing tradition, planning new development strategies for products like puppets, is a real challenge where I can apply what I have studied so far.
Is Alexander an experience you would recommend?
I think we have been very lucky because our group is very close-knit. We see each other several times a week, also because by taking some courses together just in these months, it is easy for us to find each other in Venice.
The research phase, the one before the interview phase, was very intense, but doing it together made it less tiring. I always feel that we advance together, it is not taken for granted. The expectation on us is high, we are asked to create a digital experience for historical realities. Entrepreneurs have confidence in us and our capabilities, and the continuous support with project managers Elena Masi and Sofia Mizzan from Upskill 4.0, leads us to constantly improve.
