Pet Design in Milan for High School Students 🐾🎨

Course Description: Pet Design in Milan for High School Students 🐾🎨

Pet Design Summer Program 🐾🎨

Designed for creative students curious about design, animals, veterinary and the fast-growing pet industry. Hosted in Milan in partnership with The HAD – Human Animal Design®, Italy's leading studio in Pet Design, this two-week program introduces an entirely new discipline: designing products, spaces and services for the well-being of pets. Combining design, ethology and zoo-anthropology, students learn to design not for humans alone, but for the animals who share our world — culminating in their own multiexperiential concept for the pet industry.

📍 Location: Milan — the global capital of design

👥 Ages: 15–18

🗓️ Summer 2027 (2 weeks) — Intake 1: Day Program 5–16 July | Residential Program 4–17 July

🗣️ Language of Instruction: English

Milan is the global capital of design and home to The HAD – Human Animal Design®, the studio that pioneered Pet Design as a discipline. Students work at the meeting point of two of Italy's great strengths — world-class design culture and a deep respect for animal welfare — in a city that hosts Salone del Mobile, Milan Design Week and the ADI Design Museum.

🌟 Why Choose Our Camp

✔️ Study With the Pioneers of Pet Design – In partnership with The HAD – Human Animal Design®, Italy's leading studio in the discipline.

✔️ A Genuinely New Field – Combine design, ethology and zoo-anthropology to design for animals, not just humans.

✔️ Real Industry Access – Company visits to Arcaplanet and MyPet Clinic, plus the ADI Museum.

✔️ Full Immersion – Residential students stay in a university residence, connect with peers from around the world, and live design 24/7.

🚀 Program Highlights

• ✅ 60 hours of lessons & design labs.

• ✅ Full academic journey: foundations of pet design → ethology & zoo-anthropology → a multiexperiential design capstone.

• ✅ Project materials & software included.

• ✅ Company visits to Arcaplanet and MyPet Clinic.

• ✅ Visit to the ADI Museum.

• ✅ Weekend excursion to Lake Como.*

• ✅ Choice of Day Program or Residential Program.

📋 What's Included

• All lessons & design labs (60 hours).

• Project materials & software.

• Accommodation in Milan.*

• Full board (3 meals/day).*

• Excursions & cultural visits.*

• Certificate of completion.

• 24/7 staff supervision.

• Liability & Accident Insurance.

*These services are only available to students enrolled in the Residential Program. Airport transfers are available as a paid add-on (see Additional Services below).

🌍 Cultural Excursion (Residential program)

• 🐾 Company Visits – Arcaplanet and MyPet Clinic.

• 🏛️ ADI Museum – Explore Italy's design heritage.

• 🌊 Lake Como – A special weekend excursion.

Memorable experiences beyond the classroom: gelato afternoons, Milan sightseeing, and visits to Italian design brands.

🎯 Model & Approach

The program blends design theory + animal science + a real capstone project:

• Foundations – the fundamentals of pet design as an emerging discipline.

• Animal-Centred Thinking – relational ethology, zoo-anthropology, and the perception, physiology and behavioural needs of dogs and cats.

• Applied Design – apply design thinking to real case studies from the pet industry.

• Final Project – design a multiexperiential solution of your own: a product, space or service for the pet industry.

🏗️ Structure of the Program

01 – Design, Ethology & Zoo-Anthropology Move beyond an anthropocentric approach and study the foundations of relational ethology and zoo-anthropology.

02 – Animal Perception, Physiology & Needs Explore the perception, physiology and behavioural needs of dogs and cats, and apply design thinking to real case studies.

03 – Human-Animal Design Studio & Project Design your own multiexperiential solution — a product, space or service for the pet industry — in the Human-Animal Design studio.

🗓️ A Typical Day

This sample schedule shows what a weekday looks like for students on the programme. Times may vary slightly depending on activities or excursions.

Residential Program

🕖 Morning

• 07:00 – Wake up

• 08:00 – 09:00 – Breakfast

• 10:00 – 12:30 – Morning classes

🍽️ Midday

• 12:30 – 13:30 – Lunch

📚 Afternoon

• 13:30 – 16:30 – Afternoon labs

🧘 Early Evening

• 17:00 – 19:00 – Excursions / free time

• 17:30 – 19:00 – Welcome session (arrival day only)

🍝 Evening

• 19:00 – 20:00 – Dinner

• 20:00 – 22:30 – Supervised night activities

🌙 Night

• 23:00 – Lights out

Day Program (Monday–Friday): Morning classes 10:00–12:30, Lunch 12:30–13:30, Afternoon labs 13:30–16:30.

✈️ Special Days – Intake 1, 2027

• Arrival Day: 4 July

• Excursion Day: 11 July

• Check-out Day: 17 July

This balanced schedule combines structured learning, social time, and rest to ensure students stay engaged, energised, and well supported throughout their stay.

💡 Reasons to Participate

🐾 Explore a genuinely new discipline — Pet Design — with the studio that pioneered it.

🎨 Learn how to design ethically for animals, not just humans.

🏛️ Visit real pet-industry companies and the ADI Museum.

🌍 Make international friends with the same passion.

💫 Leave with your own multiexperiential concept for the pet industry.

🏨 Accommodation Options (Residential Program)

📍 University Residence, Milan

• Single rooms with private en-suite bathroom.

• Common study areas, gym & social spaces.

• 24/7 supervision with staff.

• Safe, international community environment.

✈️ Travel & Access

Closest airports: Milan Malpensa (MXP), Orio al Serio (BGY) & Milan Linate (LIN). Airport transfers are available on request as a paid add-on (see Additional Services).

➕ Additional Services

To make your child's experience as smooth and flexible as possible, we offer the following optional services:

✈️ Milan Airport Shuttle — one-way / return:

• Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP): €150 / €300

• Orio al Serio Airport (BGY): €150 / €300

• Milan Linate Airport (LIN): €75 / €150

Reservations accepted up to 2 weeks before the arrival date. Transfers are shared with other Sportech Academy students.

*�️ Extra Night: €150

🎓 Certification

• Certificate awarded upon course completion.

🔥 Don't just study design — design for every species. Join the Sportech Academy Pet Design Summer Program in Milan.