H-FARM College talents take center stage in Wally’s innovation challenge

Wally, a global leader in innovation in yachting and part of the Ferretti Group, launched “wallybeacon” a challenge involving students from six international universities: H-FARM College, Arsutoria School, Bocconi, IED, International University of Monaco and Poli Design.

The SAVA project, created by four H-FARM College students — Asia Paganessi, Valentina Panontin, Sofia Rossoni, and Aurora Zottarel — won first prize in the “Living Solutions” category. Additionally, another team from H-FARM College (Filippo Dainese, Riccardo Lovisetto, and Alberto Pupulin) secured third place in the “Smart Service and Experiences” category with the WALLY INFINITY project.

The challenge launched by Wally focused on developing ideas in one of three main areas: personal goods, innovative living, or smart services and experiences. Over 80 students participated, divided into more than 20 teams. Participants received support and mentoring from Wally and MAIZE, a strategic design company part of the Jakala group. The final event took place on November 18 and 19 on H-FARM Campus, where teams publicly presented their ideas to a panel of experts.

The SAVA project stood out for its innovative approach to managing sensitive spaces, its strong connection to the luxury world through the concept of “free space,” and the scalability of its model.

As the winning students shared:
“This experience was so much more than just a competition for us. It pushed us out of our comfort zone, allowing us to explore fields we were less familiar with and to develop an innovative project. We learned how crucial mindset is when tackling challenges, a mindset we’ve cultivated thanks to H-FARM’s educational approach. Thinking back to a few years ago, we probably wouldn’t have had the courage to participate in such an ambitious challenge. Collaborating with people from diverse backgrounds broadened our perspective on design and innovation, showing us how vital interdisciplinary dialogue is in finding creative and valuable solutions.”

The WALLY INFINITY project distinguished itself by reflecting Wally’s bold spirit and dedication to client well-being, harmoniously blending the physical and digital worlds through tangible experiences.

Challenges like this provide H-FARM College students with the perfect opportunity to engage with real-world business cases, applying the theoretical knowledge gained in class. wallybeacon demonstrated how such initiatives offer a promising platform to support young innovators.