Author: Alessandro Arnold

OPEN AANT presents “Awake” by Christian Brogna and Claudia Zanella

Posted on by Alessandro Arnold

On Tuesday 9 December, AANT hosted a new event in the OPEN AANT series with the presentation of the book Awake, written by neurosurgeon Christian Brogna together with writer and actress Claudia Zanella. The event was an invitation to reflect on human potential in relation to machines and new technologies.

Awake offers a journey into the human brain and along the subtle line that defines human identity. Christian Brogna, an expert in awake surgery, describes operations on patients undergoing particularly complex brain tumor surgery while awake. By weaving together clinical cases with an autobiographical narrative, the book reveals the potential unleashed by human connections that go beyond the achievements of new technologies.

The event, moderated by AANT’s Scientific Director and Head of Internationalization, Prof. Gianna Angelini, was a unique opportunity for students of the three-year academic courses: a moment of direct dialogue with an author who explores the value of imagination and the role of thought from a scientific perspective.

About the guest: Christian Brogna is an internationally renowned neurosurgeon known for his expertise in complex brain surgery and for his practice of “awake surgery,” operations during which the patient remains awake, speaking, playing music, drawing—an experience at the crossroads of science, art and identity. Awake recounts not only his clinical experiences, but also seeks to convey what makes each brain and each life unique: memory, emotion, creativity, history.

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Presented at AANT: the Tales from Neurocene project

Posted on by Alessandro Arnold

On Wednesday, 3 December 2025, the Aula Magna of AANT in Rome hosted the presentation of Tales from Neurocene, an innovative experimental animated film project conceived by director Luigi Maria Perotti and inspired by the theories of Prof. Marco Gori of the University of Siena.
The event, organized as part of the activities of the new research HUB geniaLAB dedicated to artificial intelligence, was moderated by Prof. Gianna Angelini, scientific director and head of internationalization at AANT.
At the heart of the meeting was the screening of “The Final Chapter”, a short film of about 10 minutes that serves as a prologue to the narrative universe of Tales from Neurocene. This brief film – a teaser created entirely with artificial intelligence tools – immerses the viewer in a futuristic, post-apocalyptic world governed by a centralized AI called “N”, tasked with re-educating humanity so that it “does not repeat the same mistakes” made in the past.
The idea of the Neurocene – the name given to this scenario – stems from the desire to imagine what might happen if, in the coming years, we fail to find a different approach to the potential of AI. The short film presented at AANT is therefore a creative provocation intended to prompt reflection on the future of artificial intelligence and on the ethical and environmental implications of its development.
During the presentation, Perotti and Gori explained how Tales from Neurocene was born from a meeting at the University of Siena, where Prof. Gori and his team (SAILab) are working on an approach to AI that is less energy-intensive and more decentralized than current models. In particular, they highlighted the problem of the high resource consumption of today’s AI systems: each individual query to an AI model can require the same amount of energy as charging a smartphone, and it is estimated that within five years the energy and water consumption of AI could match that of a country like Japan. These figures aroused considerable interest among students, opening a debate on the urgent need to rethink intelligent technologies in a sustainable way.

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Meet the Expert: Alessandra Reggiani and Federica Giuliani present “Because The Light – Light, Shadow and Harmony”

Posted on by Alessandro Arnold
Three-year course

On 27 November AANT hosted “Because The Light – Light, Shadow and Harmony”, a new event in the Meet the Expert series dedicated to contemporary approaches to lighting design and the role of light in architecture. The session featured a dialogue between Prof. Alessandra Reggiani, AANT lecturer and lighting designer, and Dr. Federica Giuliani, researcher at the University of Tuscia and specialist in natural light.

The conversation explored how light shapes perception, supports emotional wellbeing and defines the atmosphere of architectural spaces. Through an in-depth reflection on the relationship between light and shadow, the speakers highlighted how a well-designed lighting strategy can enhance spatial quality and transform environments into meaningful experiences.
The event offered students from our Academic Bachelor Programmes an opportunity to deepen their understanding of lighting as a key element in contemporary architectural practice.

About the speakers:
Alessandra Reggiani, architect and lighting designer, has extensive experience in the illumination of cultural heritage sites and is the author of numerous publications on lighting culture.
Federica Giuliani, architect, develops international research projects focused on promoting awareness and innovation in natural lighting.

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AI and Academic Pathways:
AANT Guest on LA7’s Coffee Tech

Posted on by Alessandro Arnold

On Saturday, 29 November, AANT’s Scientific Director and Head of Internationalization, Prof. Gianna Angelini, was a guest on the TV show Coffee Tech on LA7. The central themes of the episode were AI, robotics and, more generally, how technological innovation is influencing and will continue to influence everyday life in the future.

In the studio with journalist and TV host Ivo Mej, alongside Prof. Angelini, were: historian and essayist, as well as Director of the Vittoriale degli Italiani, Giordano Bruno Guerri; journalist and science communicator Emilio Cozzi; actress Antonella Attili; and comic actor and radio host Vittorio Pettinato.

During the episode, images of AANT were shown, with a particular focus on the Farms and the events organized within our academic programmes. Prof. Angelini presented the courses of the Academy in Rome, highlighting the continuous upskilling of the teaching staff in AI and new technologies, which have always been at the core of our curricula. At the same time, she stressed how critical thinking, developed through the theoretical subjects offered in all AANT academic pathways, is essential for the conscious use of the tools of the future.

Here the link for the streaming. 

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From Mimesis to Machine:
AANT at the Swiss Institute’s AI conference

Posted on by Alessandro Arnold
Events
Three-year course

Today, Thursday 27 November, the conference “From Mimesis to Machine: AI and the Evolution of Artistic Creation” is being held at the Swiss Institute in Rome, as part of the Innovation series and in collaboration with HEAD – Genève.

The event, held entirely in English, brings together designers, historians and educators for a day of talks and workshops, with the aim of exploring how artificial intelligence is redefining our relationship with images, tradition and knowledge. It also reflects on how academic art education is responding to these changes in a critical and creative way.

Representing AANT is the Scientific Director and Head of Internationalization, Prof. Gianna Angelini, who will speak about the Academy and describe how AI is now deeply integrated into AANT’s teaching across all study programs (Three-year Bachelor’s Degrees, Specialist Two-year Programs and Master’s) at AANT in Rome, during the panel: “Teaching Creativity in the Age of Algorithms.”

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Game and Virtual Design: AANT Launches the New Academic Year’s Mobility Programme

Posted on by Alessandro Arnold
Erasmus+
Events
International

From 24 to 28 November 2025, AANT’s Game and Virtual Design coordinators, Simone Mari and Ennio Pirolo, will be in Stuttgart to take part in the International Week at Hochschule der Medien, officially inaugurating the mobility activities of the new academic year.
 The collaboration between AANT and the German university is now well established and, in addition to the usual short-term mobility opportunities for students and staff, this year also introduces long-term mobility options specifically dedicated to students.

The working week includes seminars, workshops, and interactive activities designed to provide participants with tools and strategies to develop innovative international collaborations. The programme will address several key topics, including:

  • promoting resilience to better recognise and manage stress related to university life; 
  • exploring the world of videogames from technical, creative, and cultural perspectives, through lectures held by experts from the gaming sector; 
  • presentations by HdM partner universities illustrating international study opportunities available to interested students. 

Internationalisation is a crucial element of AANT’s educational and research activities. The International Relations Office, led by the Head Prof. Gianna Angelini, supports and develops partnerships with foreign universities, promoting student and staff mobility and fostering genuine intercultural learning.

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OPEN AANT: Domitilla Dardi presents
EDIT Napoli

Posted on by Alessandro Arnold
Events
Three-year course

On Tuesday, 18 November, AANT hosted a presentation of EDIT Napoli, led by Domitilla Dardi. Students from the bachelor’s programmes had the opportunity to learn about the origins of this important editorial design fair, founded in June 2019.

Now in its 7th edition, EDIT Napoli was created to fill a gap in the landscape of design fairs. On one side are independent designers who are too small to take part in large international events such as the Salone del Mobile; on the other, companies that produce high-quality objects but struggle to establish a dialogue with buyers, designers, and industry professionals.
 Dardi’s project addresses this very need: to create a platform capable of connecting niche creative realities with architects, interior designers, retailers, and sector operators, while promoting an authentic, responsible, and research-driven approach to design.

About the guest: Domitilla Dardi is a design historian and curator. Since 2010 she has been the design curator at MAXXI – the National Museum of 21st-Century Arts in Rome, and in 2022 she was appointed Senior Curator. She has been a visiting professor at several Italian and international universities, collaborates with specialized magazines, and is the author of numerous monographs and essays on design culture.

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AANT launches the new First-Level Master in Interior Design –
Retail & Hospitality

Posted on by Alessandro Arnold
Design
Master

The Accademia delle Arti e Nuove Tecnologie (AANT) expands its postgraduate educational offering with the launch, starting from the 2025/2026 academic year, of the new First-Level Master in Interior Design – Retail & Hospitality. This program addresses the current and growing educational demand driven by major transformations in the field of interior design, both nationally and internationally, particularly within the retail and hospitality sectors. Increasing digitalization, the evolution of consumer behaviors, and the focus on user experience are redefining the way retail spaces and hospitality interiors are designed, requiring professionals with highly specialized skills.

The defining feature of the new Interior Design – Retail & Hospitality Master is its multidisciplinary approach: the curriculum integrates competencies in interior design, branding and business management, environmental sustainability, and emerging technologies. Students will explore a broad range of topics—from Sociology of Cultural Processes to Light Design, from Brand Design to inclusive design strategies—gaining a comprehensive and innovative perspective on retail and hospitality design. This multidisciplinary structure characterizes AANT’s approach to the retail and hospitality sectors, aiming to train designers capable of combining creative project development with strategic business thinking, while remaining attentive to global trends and new market demands.

The Master adopts a learning methodology that is strongly oriented toward practice and project work. Classroom lectures and design studios are complemented by case studies and workshops with established professionals, offering students a truly experiential learning environment. Each participant will also take part in a curricular internship with companies or design studios in the sector, allowing them to engage directly with the professional world and apply the skills acquired during the course.

The value of the Master is enhanced by a high-profile faculty: AANT’s instructors are professionals recognized in their respective fields, joined by guest lecturers and renowned experts during workshops and seminars. The scientific direction of the program is entrusted to architect Sante Simone—a lecturer and designer with extensive academic and professional experience—ensuring both the quality and the strategic vision of the educational pathway.

The program will take place in Rome, starting in November 2025, with a total duration of 16 months, including a professional internship. The Master’s Diploma (worth 60 ECTS credits) will be awarded following the presentation of a final project.

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AANT at the Salone dello Studente 2025:
where passion meets future skills

Posted on by Alessandro Arnold
Events
Three-year course

Once again this year, AANT took part in the Salone dello Studente at the Fiera di Roma, bringing its new creative concept:
 “Love is the only thing that matters. Yes, but you need skills.”

At the fair, we wanted to express this message not only through words, but also through:

  • dedicated materials designed by our creatives
  • customized gadgets and bags, conceived as small storytelling objects
  • visuals and setups that transformed our stand into a narrative space

At the Salone dello Studente, we met hundreds of young people eager to discover their talent. Thanks to the contributions of our tutors and students, we were able to share with them the spirit and energy of our creative community.

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Libero Bizzarri Award: creative intelligence and new forms of storytelling

Posted on by Alessandro Arnold
Events
geniaLAB

From 13 to 16 November, the 32nd edition of the Libero Bizzarri Award was held at the Museo del Mare Hall in San Benedetto del Tronto. This year, the central theme of the event—organized by the Libero Bizzarri Foundation in collaboration with the Marche Region and the Directorate-General for Cinema and Audiovisual of the MIC—was creative intelligence and new forms of storytelling. Through debates, talks, and screenings, the festival explored a highly topical thread: the role and influence of artificial intelligence in the world of cinema.

Among the scheduled events, one was particularly significant for AANT. On Friday the 14th, at the Academy’s headquarters in Rome, sociologist Derrick De Kerckhove—member of AANT’s Scientific Committee and its geniaLAB HUB—and Gianna Angelini, Scientific Director and Head of Internationalization at the Academy in Rome, took the stage. The meeting, titled “Connective Intelligence: the Impact of Media on Humans and Society,” also included the screening of the episode “McLuhan’s Electronic Village”, which examines the thinking of the renowned scholar through technological applications used in the fields of mass media and telecommunications.

The screening of Libero Bizzarri’s documentary provided the catalyst for an intense and multifaceted dialogue between Gianna Angelini and Derrick De Kerckhove. Prof. Angelini recalled how McLuhan redefined the categories through which we interpret modern communication, paving the way for a new sensitivity toward the media environment. Yet it fell to the next generation—De Kerckhove’s—to confront the emergence of the digital revolution, a territory McLuhan had only glimpsed and theorized.

During the conversation, Angelini described De Kerckhove as McLuhan’s “methodological and intellectual heir,” a scholar capable of expanding insights that are now more relevant than ever in the age of artificial intelligence and algorithmic pervasiveness. Revisiting McLuhan’s famous dictum “the medium is the message,” De Kerckhove underlined how it is not content that transforms us, but the medium itself—which reshapes perception, social bonds, and cognitive structures. From this premise arises his research on neuroculture, the discipline that investigates cognitive changes generated by new media environments.

The screening of Bizzarri’s documentary also brought back the voice and face of a strikingly contemporary McLuhan, capable of foreseeing the trajectory of technological transformations decades in advance. The recovered images, shown once again to the public, confirmed how essential his thought remains today for understanding not only the media but the very structure of contemporary experience.

The festival concluded on Sunday with the awards ceremony for the ITALIADOC and Opera Prima competitions—the latter dedicated to filmmakers under 35—along with the Andrea Pazienza Award for inventive use of images and graphics, the Libero Bizzarri Award for Best Documentary, and the Under 35 Audience Award.

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