In each edition, the Porto Design Biennale showcases a guest country, building a diverse schedule for each one focused on design, while also presenting a variety of its cultural expressions. Italy's presence at the first edition of the Porto Design Biennale is an expression of the country's great theoretical and design ability to overcome crises, interpret the social and cultural changes underway and come up with major conceptual and technological innovations. Italy's response to change nowadays is still based on responses born of its solid human structure, which underpins all of the country's projects and resources.

Territorio Italia offers up three exhibitions and a number of parallel events that manage to interconnect design, culture and territory, considered here as the country's geographical, economic, social and cultural fabric. The programme opens with the inauguration on 19 September, the exhibition entitled Frontiere – Contemporary Design Expressions. This will be followed by Riccardo Dalisi – The Perfect imperfection and Abitare Italia – Icons of Italian Design, opening on 27 and 28 September, respectively. The Territorio Italia conference on 25 October will allow for a reflection on the country's solid and prestigious design culture.

Italy's territory, in this context, becomes a critical and interactive backdrop, revealing its weaknesses and conditions of delicate and brooding geography. From the folds of this fragility and the cultural wealth resulting from its openness to the world, the Italian territory reacts, creates and continues to look to the future, without forgetting the cultural and material heritage of its past.