Mauro Del Santo, one of the Fab Lab Coaches at the Officina – New Jobs Workshop, was interviewed by Francesca Meini on his experience as a teacher in the digital manufacturing lab amongst the digital devices.

The most common phrase he hears from participants at the end of the week is: “Is really already over?” And Mauro’s advice to the young men and women who wish to work as digital craftsmen is “Be concrete!”

Who is Mauro Del Santo?

Mauro Del Santo is a professor and designer specialized in product design and materials technology. Since he opened his own studio in Rome in 2013, he has developed furniture, products, and illumination and stand products for leading design companies. His most important clients include IED, Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation, Municipality of Rome, Israeli Ministry of Defense, Selex, Sistema Compositi, UNHCR, Danish Refugee Council, ENI and Hertz.

His projects have received international recognitions, including the ADI Index, selection for the Red Dot Design Award, and nominated three times as a Maker of Merit in 2014 and 2015. He has developed and coordinated events for the Rome IED University and Promisedesign exhibitions.

Since 2005, Mario has taught design, prototyping and materials technology at IED Rome, Sapienza Univeristy of Rome and the University of Nairobi.

The Officina – New Jobs Workshop is a project conceived by the Fondazione Mondo Digitale and Google to promote digital skills and implement professional training and orientation activities for 10,000 young men and women currently looking for a job. The initiative has been organised with the patronage of the Italian Ministry of Labour and Social Policy and the collaboration of the Ministry of Education, University and Research, the Regione Lazio and Roma Capitale.