Faculty of Arts and Design(FAD) within West University of Timisoara (UVT) challenges the international audience to a profound reconnection through the sense of touch. The experimental project "The Unseen Grid" was presented between April 14-19 at Milan based, the ground zero of innovation within the prestigious Milan Design Week 2026.
An alternative to contemporary "visual noise"
The installation proposes a philosophy of “slowing down.” In an age where we consume images at a dizzying speed, “The Unseen Grid” invited visitors to discover information gradually. The messages conveyed through the experimental project “The Unseen Grid” are not delivered instantly, but are revealed only through active interaction, proximity and movement. The project transforms graphic design from a passive product into an exploratory experience, using experimental typographic layers that force the viewer to become a curious participant.
Timișoara, deciphered by touch
The central element of the installation goes beyond the boundaries of the visual: a tactile map of the city of Timisoara, made using 3D printing technology. This allowed visitors to “read” the urban texture of the city on the Bega through volumes, contrasts and materials. “By temporarily suspending visual dominance, we invited the public to explore the city in an almost intimate way. The map is not just a tool for orientation, but a bridge to urban ecologies invisible in our daily navigation,” declare the project’s authors.
Academic innovation and social impact
"The Unseen Grid" is not just an aesthetic piece, but an interdisciplinary study at the intersection of Graphic Design, UX (User Experience) and Sensory ResearchThe project emphasizes the role of design as a vehicle for social inclusion and urban accessibility.
Creative team:
- Authors: Assist. university Dr. Cezara Carla Pădurean & Asst. university Dr. Claudia Feti.
- Technical team (3D Printing): Assistant professor Alin Grangure and students Buhai Alexandru & Ana-Maria Dragoman.
UVT on the global design map
By participating in Base Milano, the Faculty of Arts and Design in Timisoara confirms its status as a pole of excellence in creative research. Participation in Milano Design Week 2026 demonstrates the capacity of the Romanian academic environment to generate relevant international dialogues about the future of human interaction and universal design.
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Event Details:
- Location: Base Milano (Via Bergognone, 34, Milan)
- Event: Milan Design Week 2026 / fuorisalone
