Moderator: Allegra Baistrocchi

Presenters: Franco Bevione and Fabrizio Mina

Join the Consulate of Italy for a dynamic conversation exploring how Italy’s centuries-old design heritage fuels its cutting-edge contributions to industrial design, artificial intelligence, and the metaverse.

Moderated by Allegra Baistrocchi, Consul of Italy in Detroit, the discussion will spotlight how Italy’s deep-rooted artisanal excellence is not a relic of the past but a living legacy—one that continues to inspire new generations of creators and innovators. This is a rare opportunity to witness how the timeless principles of Italian craftsmanship are being reinterpreted through today’s most transformative technologies.

“Italian Drive: Design Futures Powered by Innovation and Imagination” will showcase two global trailblazers in Italian design: Franco Bevione, CEO USA of Wedoo, and Fabrizio Mina, CEO USA of Italdesign. From advanced prototyping and immersive digital environments to sustainable mobility and AI-generated design, Italy is showing the world how tradition and innovation can work hand in hand. 

Both Wedoo and Italdesign have their U.S. headquarters in Metro Detroit, a global capital of creativity, mobility and manufacturing. Here, Italian creativity meets American ingenuity, creating a fertile ground for cross-cultural collaboration. These partnerships not only bridge geographic borders but also unite diverse perspectives, proving that innovation flourishes when heritage and forward-thinking ideas are brought together.

Whether you're a product designer, technologist, or creative visionary, discover how Italy’s design DNA connects past and future, bridging generations to shape a future that is as innovative as it is enduring. After all, the future—in many ways—is Italian.