Tangible Academy 2025 driven by AI, leadership and creativity

At the December retreat, we unveiled the Tangible Academy 2025, a programme designed to foster a common language and strengthen strategic skills, addressing the present clearly and looking to our future.

The core of the programme revolves around two pillars established last year: a common language, which promotes a shared mindset for thinking and acting as Tangiblers, and the Tangible Role approach, which provides technical and strategic skills to enhance current roles while exploring new perspectives.

Our training sessions take place during Internal Days Academy, essential moments designed for both face-to-face and remote participants. Each session is an opportunity to consolidate existing knowledge, explore new horizons and prepare for future challenges.

The Pillars of the Academy 2025

This year, we want to continue studying and applying tools and methods that integrate artificial intelligence, enable the creation of dynamic prototypes using synthetic data, and train our leadership skills through immersive learning that combines theory with practical experience.
These themes will form the basis of a structured journey that will guide us over the coming months:

• Tangible Role: AI upskilling
  Artificial Intelligence is not just a tool but an ally to be integrated into our daily processes to make them more effective and innovative.
• Tangible Mindset: Management Skills
  Growth also means learning to lead. Acquiring management skills enables us to manage projects with greater expertise and support teams in critical moments.
• Tangible Mindset: Creative Thinking
  Creativity is an essential resource for solving complex problems and finding new solutions. Developing our creative thinking means embracing complexity with curiosity and openness.

Data Analysis and Machine Learning with Fabio Celli

In the age of data, knowing how to interpret and use it is an invaluable asset. In a dedicated session, we will explore the key skills required for data analysis and machine learning.

Led by Fabio Celli, Lead Data Scientist at Gruppo Maggioli, we will tackle a design challenge using open-source datasets and machine learning models to identify problems, uncover opportunities and propose concrete solutions. We will also explore prompt engineering to generate synthetic datasets - essential tools for creating realistic, dynamic prototypes while respecting customer privacy and security.

Sentient Design with Josh Clark and Veronika Kindred

As design evolves, so does the way we design. Six years ago, Josh Clark, an internationally renowned designer and founder of Big Medium, joined us to discuss the future of our discipline. From the seeds planted then, Josh has developed Sentient Design, a framework for envisioning and co-designing new interfaces integrated with invisible agents and ever-changing functions.

In two workshop sessions on 20 and 21 February, we will explore how AI can become a new design material. We'll learn about the Sentient Triangle model, an approach to creating adaptive interfaces (dynamic and bespoke UIs) that respond to user needs in real-time. Theoretical discussions will be complemented by practical experiments where we will design personalised, intelligent UIs and approach challenges with an innovative mindset.

This collaboration with Josh builds on his 2019 session "Designing for What's Next" and is enriched by Veronika Kindred's vision, offering fresh insights into the future of design.

"Shed65" with Alessandro Cravera

Leadership takes practice, dialogue and awareness. Last year, we trained for complexity by "seriously playing" episodes of the thriller T"he Cage", led by Alessandro Cravera of the Newton Group. This year, we're moving on to the second level of serious play with Shed65.

On 27 and 28 March, we'll take part in an immersive experience designed to tackle the complexity of business with concrete management tools. Through realistic scenarios and engaging activities, we will train critical skills such as teamwork, strategic thinking and leadership, addressing decisions and dynamics that reflect real-world contexts.

"Decostruzioni" with Lorenza Ghinelli and Silvia Bottani

In a fast-paced world, stopping and unlearning is an act of courage and creativity. "Decostruzioni" is a programme designed to unlock creative potential by breaking down established patterns and habits.

Led by Lorenza Ghinelli and Silvia Bottani, experienced writers and trainers, we'll spend a day away from the hustle and bustle, using exercises and experiments to deconstruct and reconstruct our perspectives. Looking at materials afresh, deconstructing to reconstruct and finding unexpected solutions is the essence of the programme. Deconstructing doesn't mean destroying; it means paving the way for more authentic and daring creativity.

Supporting readings

To support the journey, we've confirmed two required readings for everyone on Tangible. We encourage the wider community to explore these texts as well, not just as technical references but as opportunities to reflect on our role in an evolving digital ecosystem:

• The guide to digital citizenship rights: Understanding the public administration tools available to citizens.
• A deep dive into the Digital Services Act: Highlighting the impact of regulation on the way we live and work.

Our human capital

The Tangible Academy is an investment in people and their growth. Individual growth means team growth: every skill acquired, every perspective explored and every solution shared makes us stronger, more independent and more creative.

Measuring our human capital means measuring the value we create together:

• Skills acquired and applied.
• The ability to solve complex problems with innovative solutions.
• Individual autonomy and leadership in sharing knowledge and driving change.

Preparing together ensures that we are ready to build the future with awareness, creativity and responsibility.