AXD – Advanced eXperience Design is an interdepartmental laboratory of the Politecnico di Milano dedicated to the research, experimentation, and prototyping of next‑generation interactive systems and experiences, with a human‑centered and design‑driven approach.
The laboratory studies and develops innovation at the intersection of Design, Engineering, Artificial Intelligence, and behavioral sciences, with the goal of drastically reducing the time between conceiving an idea and being able to validate it experimentally.
Research focuses on the development of advanced Human–Machine Interfaces (HMI) and interactive systems in which people, products, and environments communicate naturally, multimodally, and adaptively.
Activities
The laboratory’s activities are based on a Research Through Design approach, structured into iterative cycles of research, design, simulation, and experimental validation. The lab integrates qualitative and quantitative methods, including biometric measurement and cognitive‑emotional analysis, to develop scientifically validated and industrially transferable frameworks.
A structural dimension of the research concerns inclusivity and accessibility. AXD develops adaptive interaction models oriented toward neurodiversity and cognitive and sensory variability, conceiving AI as a tool for technological equity and experience sustainability.
AXD operates within an extended network of national and international scientific and industrial collaborations, contributing to the production of publishable, replicable knowledge oriented toward technology transfer and the development of evolved product–service ecosystems.
Equipment
- Static driving simulator with three rows of seats, interior lighting system, and internal interactive screens
- 78” display
- 21:9, 17” and 15” touchscreens
- Two 8‑channel EEG devices
- Two fixed eye-tracking bars
- One mobile eye tracker
- Two GSR sets
- Haptic feedback actuator systems
- 5:1 audio system with subwoofer and mixer
- Lighting control unit with mixer
- Hydraulic system for driving‑experience adaptation
Services provided
The laboratory’s activities focus on the development and testing of:
- Next‑generation Human–Machine Interfaces (HMI)
- Proactive multimodal frameworks (synchronous integration of voice, visual, and physical channels)
- Conversational & AI‑driven interaction
- XR/AR and immersive environments for simulation and validation
- Edge‑AI applied to consumer devices with cost, power, and energy‑efficiency constraints
- Biometrics and cognitive‑emotional experience evaluation
- Sustainability and circularity in New Product Development (NPD)
- Inclusion and design for neurodiversity
Access procedures and costs
Access procedures and costs are defined based on specific needs.
Laboratory users include:
- structured staff, research fellows, PhD candidates, and thesis students internal to the university
- external users who intend to use the infrastructures under the conditions defined in the regulations
Before accessing the resources, each user must:
- indicate the research fund to which the incurred costs will be charged, with prior authorization from the fund manager (for internal users)
- sign an appropriate contract (research agreement, commissioned testing, or another form provided by the University) for all external users
Management Committee
The Management Committee is composed of one representative for each Department involved. The activities of the Management Committee are coordinated by one member (the coordinator).
Venanzio Arquilla (DESIGN)
venanzio.arquilla@polimi.it
Ph. +39.02.2399.5919
Alessandro Campi (DEIB)
alessandro.campi@polimi.it
Ph. +39.02.2399.3644
Giandomenico Caruso (DMEC)
giandomenico.caruso@polimi.it
Ph. +39.02.2399.8094
Lucio Lamberti (coordinator - DIG)
lucio.lamberti@polimi.it
Ph. +39.02.2399.4076