Maurizio Vrenna

Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Design

mvrenna@kean.edu

+86 (577) 5587 0712

 

Maurizio Vrenna is an Assistant Professor in Industrial Design at Wenzhou-Kean University. He holds a Ph.D. in Management, Production, and Design from Politecnico di Torino (Italy) and has been studying at Tsinghua University and Tongji University (China). During his career as a design scholar, practitioner, and inventor, Maurizio developed innovative products and services, working for clients such as Ferrari, Ducati, and Juventus. He performs advisory services for Climate-KIC, Europe’s largest public-private innovation partnership on climate change. His research interests are sustainable design, product-service system design, and intangible cultural heritage. He is a member of AAIIC – Association of Italian Academics in China and IDA – Italian Design Association and has been a judge for well-known international design prizes, for instance, the Kapok Design Awards China. In 2021, his latest project, the Algae Grower, was selected as one of the 150 best innovations to feature in the Global Grad Show, a Dubai-based platform for promoting design innovation.

 

Courses

09/2017 – 03/2021

Ph.D. Program in Management, Production and Design at Politecnico di Torino, Turin – Italy

09/2019 – 02/2020

Senior Research Scholar at Tsinghua University, Beijing – China

02/2015 – 01/2016

Master of Arts in Design & Innovation at Tongji University, Shanghai – China

09/2013 – 02/2016

Master of Science in Ecodesign at Politecnico di Torino, Turin – Italy

09/2009 – 02/2013

Bachelor of Architecture in Industrial Design at Politecnico di Torino, Turin – Italy

08/2011 – 06/2012

LLP/Erasmus at Kungliga Tekniska Högskolan, Stockholm – Sweden

  

Publications

 Vrenna, M., & Cui, M. (2023). Zeya Paper Reborn: Designing Modern Chinese Lamps Using Traditional Bamboo Paper in Wenzhou, China [Unpublished manuscript]. Wenzhou-Kean University.

Liu, X., & Vrenna, M. (2021). 基于可持续性的系统设计研究 [Study on systemic design based on sustainability]. Zhuangshi, 2021(12), 25-33.

Rizzuti, E., & Vrenna, M. (2021). Расширение возможностей Танграма в нейтрально-воображаемой игровой площадке, которая способствует этапам развития детей [Expanding the possibilities of tangram in a neutral-imaginary playground to promote the stages of children’s development]. Science Prospects, 8(143), 74-78.

Vrenna, M., Peruccio, P. P., Liu, X., Zhong, F., & Sun, Y. (2021). Microalgae as future superfoods: Fostering adoption through practice-based design research. Sustainability, 13(5), 2848. doi:10.3390/su13052848.

Vrenna, M. (2021). Design and microalgae. A self-produced system to grow Spirulina for food use. (Unpublished doctoral dissertation, Politecnico di Torino, Italy).

Peruccio, P. P., & Vrenna, M. (2021). Circular economy in rural areas. In L. Topliceanu (Ed.), Circular economy in rural areas comparative study among participant countries (comparative study among regions from Italy, Spain, Greece and Romania). Bacau, Romania: University of Bacau.

Peruccio, P. P., Menzardi, P., & Vrenna, M. (2020). Designing for territorial revitalization. A diffused art exhibition to foster northwest Italian inner areas. In J. Sánchez Merina (Ed.), Eurau Alicante. Retroactive research in architecture (pp. 190☆197). Alicante, Spain: Universidad de Alicante.

Peruccio, P. P., & Vrenna, M. (2019). Design and microalgae. Sustainable systems for cities. Agathón, 2019(6), 218-227. doi:10.19229/2464-9309/6212019

Peruccio, P. P., Menzardi, P., & Vrenna, M. (2019). Transdisciplinary knowledge: A systemic approach to design education. In N. A. G. Z. Börekçi, D. Ö. Koçyıldırım, F. Korkut, & D. Jones (Eds.), Proceedings of DRS Learn X Design 2019: Insider Knowledge (pp. 17-23). Ankara, Turkey: METU Department of Industrial Design. doi:10.21606/learnxdesign.2019.13064

Vrenna, M., Crétier, M., & Landén, S. N. (2019). Participative urban air quality monitoring using open source devices. Agathón, 2019(5), 167☆174. doi:10.19229/2464-9309/5192019

Peruccio, P. P., Vrenna, M., Menzardi, P., & Savina, A. (2018). From ‘The limits to growth’ to systemic design: Envisioning a sustainable future. In Z. Linghao, L. Yanyan, X. Dongjuan, M. Gong, & S. Di (Eds.), Cumulus Conference Proceedings Wuxi 2018 – Diffused Transition and Design Opportunities (pp. 751-759). Wuxi, China: Huguang Elegant Print Co.

Savina, A., Peruccio, P. P., Vrenna, M., & Menzardi, P. (2018). The impact of food production on public health: Systemic strategies for a diffused and transversal prevention plan. In S. Barbero (Ed.), Proceedings of Relating Systems Thinking and Design (RSD7) 2018 Symposium (pp. 315-330). Turin, Italy: Systemic Design Association.

Menzardi, P., Peruccio, P. P., & Vrenna, M. (2018). Design strategies for enhancing territorial legacy. The case study of a diffused art exhibition to revitalize specific territories in Piedmont region – Italy. In J. Sánchez Merina (Ed.), EURAU18 Alicante: Retroactive Research: Congress Proceedings (pp. 446-451). Alicante, Spain: Universidad de Alicante. Escuela Politécnica Superior. doi:10.14198/EURAU18alicante

 

Patents

Vrenna, M., & Chen, Y. (2023). 金色黎明 [Golden Dawn] (Chinese Patent No. ZL 2022 3 0671845.9). China State Intellectual Property Office. http://epub.cnipa.gov.cn/cred/CN307832787S

Vrenna, M., & Wu, J. (2023). 银杏 [Gingko] (Chinese Patent No. ZL 2022 3 0672176.7). China State Intellectual Property Office. http://epub.cnipa.gov.cn/cred/CN307832790S

Vrenna, M., & Xu, X. (2023). 村庄的回忆 [Memories of the Village] (Chinese Patent No. ZL 2022 3 0671862.2). China State Intellectual Property Office. http://epub.cnipa.gov.cn/cred/CN307832788S

Vrenna, M, & Zhu, Y (2023). 洁净湖 [Pristine Lake] (Chinese Patent No. ZL 2022 3 0672179.0). China State Intellectual Property Office. http://epub.cnipa.gov.cn/cred/CN307929356S

Vrenna, M., & Zhao, C. (2023). 湖光山色 [A Beautiful Scenery] (Chinese Patent No. ZL 2022 3 0671868.X). China State Intellectual Property Office. http://epub.cnipa.gov.cn/cred/CN307832789S

 

Lectures and Workshops

Turin – Italy, Politecnico di Torino, 17 January 2023, Future Pokers II: Designing Futures through Cards (Workshop).

Turin – Italy, Politecnico di Torino, 1 December 2022, Future Foods(?) A Pioneering and Multidisciplinary Design Approach (Lecture).

Beijing – China, Beijing Institute of Fashion Technology, 20 November 2022, Toward Sustainability. Practice-Based Design Approaches (Lecture).

Wenzhou – China, Wenzhou-Kean University, 26 October 2022, Inclusive Design – ABC Seminar Series (Lecture).

Wenzhou – China, Wenzhou-Kean University, 20 October 2022, Future Pokers: Designing Futures through Cards (Workshop).

Zhoushan – China, Zhoushan Tianjiabing High School, 27 January 2022, Studying Industrial Design (Lecture).

Bern – Switzerland, La Palestra per Interpreti, 6 July 2021, Cambiamento climatico e città del futuro (Workshop).

Bern – Switzerland, La Palestra per Interpreti, 6 July 2021, 2050 Scenari futuri (Workshop).

Wenzhou – China, Josiny, 2 July 2021, Western fashion. Past, present, and future trends (Lecture).

Turin – Italy, Politecnico di Torino, 11 February 2021, Circular economy in rural areas (Lecture).

Turin – Italy, CIM4.0 Competence Industry Manufacturing 4.0, 7 November 2020, An open-source system to produce microalgae (Lecture).

Beijing – China, Beijing Institute of Fashion Technology, 16-18 November 2019, Design reseach and methodology (Workshop).

Beijing – China, Tsinghua University, 3 November 2019, Food for the future (Workshop).

Beijing – China, Beijing Institute of Fashion Technology, 10 October 2019, Bio art and design (Lecture).

Beijing – China, Tsinghua University, 17 September 2019, Design and microalgae in urban contexts, WeSalon: Design ispired by Nature (Lecture).

Turin – Italy, Politecnico di Torino, 15 May 2019, Design and environmental, social and economic sustainability, Green Talks EcòPOLI – Economics (Lecture).

 

Keynote Speaker

Beijing – China, Beijing Forestry University, 17 December 2022, Design for Rural Revitalization. Enabling a Hidden Potential, “Convergence and Co-creation” The 2nd International Academic Forum on Green and Sustainable Design 2022.

Hangzhou – China, China Academy of Art, 27 November 2022, Sustainability. The Power of Design, New Force: Youth Forum of Design School 2022.

Rui’An – China, Lin Qingyun House, 21 November 2022, Research, creative design, and intellectual property: Cooperation opportunities with Wenzhou-Kean University, 2022 Wenzhou International Fashion Cultural Industries Expo.

Wenzhou – China, Wenzhou-Kean University, 19 November 2022, Sustainable Design. From Products to Service-Systems, “Sharing the Same Boat – Landscape Wenzhou” Green Development Forum.

Wenzhou – China, Wenzhou Museum, 6 November 2022, West meets East, The Old Hand At Art – West meets East (Issue VIII).

Wenzhou – China, New 2nd Generation City Science and Technology Park, 19 May 2022, Shoes for the real world, Major’s Cup Shoes and Producer Service Industry: Innovation and Development Action Plan.

Wenzhou – China, Wenzhou-Kean University Creative City Research Center, 6 May 2022, Designing together, Design City Seminar.

Wenzhou – China, Wenzhou-Kean University, 1 December 2021, An Italian designer in Wenzhou, Sixth Plenary Session of the 19th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China.

Beijing – China, Beijing Forestry University, 26 Novembe’r 2021, A systemic approach to design, “Symbiosis Leading” The First International Academic Forum on Green and Sustainable Design 2021.

Beijing – China, Zhongguancun Yonghe Hangxing Science Park, 23 September 2021, Future foods. Toward new production and consumption habits, 2021 “Science Creates and Shares, Shared Vision of the Future” International Science Fiction Forum Project.

Shunde – China, Guangdong Tanzhou International Exhibition Centre, 25 October 2019, Industrial design today: Innovation and interdisciplinarity, Guangdong Industrial Design World Expo 2019 ☆ DWE Design Innovation Forum.

Beijing – China, Beijing Institute of Fashion Technology, 13 October 2019, Design and microalgae, Advanced International Academic Forum of 2019 “Science, Culture and Fashion” Festival.

 

Curatorship

Wenzhou – China, Longxi Art Museum, 15-23 October 2022, Zeya Paper Reborn.

Shenzhen – China, Sea World Culture and Arts Center, 20-30 April 2018, From micro to macro. Italian designers in South China, 2018 Shenzhen Design Week.