The Design Village (TDV), a Delhi NCR-based design school known for its industry-oriented programs and emphasis on social impact, is set to open its first international campus in Italy. This makes TDV the first Indian design institute to establish a dedicated overseas campus in Europe.

The satellite campus will be located in Villa - Castello di Torrazzetta, a centuries-old heritage estate once home to Italian nobility and later a monastery, wedding venue, and hotel.

Situated in Borgo Priolo, 50 km north of Milan, the castle will be restored and transformed into classrooms, labs, and creative spaces under a €1.5–2 million investment spread across five years.

“By immersing Indian students in Italy’s design-rich ecosystem, we want to reimagine the role of design beyond aesthetics—anchoring it to community, sustainability, and social impact,” said TDV co-founder Mridu Sahai.

From 2025, up to 50 students will spend a semester in Italy through a fully funded creative residency. By 2028, TDV also plans to launch a two-year master’s program split between its Italy and Noida campuses.

The Italian campus will expose students to global design experiences such as the Milan Furniture Fair and Venice Biennale, while also exploring local traditions like ceramics, food design, and agro-tourism. “This is not just about education — it’s about rejuvenating a town that is losing its youth and bringing design-led social innovation to its heart,” Ms. Sahai added.

TDV, which currently has nearly 340 students in Noida, already integrates social impact into its design ethos—developing Braille-engraved fabrics, adaptive school uniforms, menstrual health innovations, and livelihood projects with refugee communities. The institute hopes the Italy campus will expand this ethos internationally, creating a living bridge between Indian and European approaches to design.