Ning Meng

Ning, originally from northern China, worked as a designer before joining the PSSD program to strengthen his foundation and tackle complex, real-life challenges through service design. During his time at Politecnico di Milano, he completed a double degree in Product Service System Design and Management Engineering.

A pivotal moment following his graduation was a serious health emergency, during which the support of a close friend revealed a powerful partnership—leading them to co-found 2518 Design Studio in Milan. Starting with small, humorous design objects inspired by the local metro system, the studio has grown to handle branding, events, product design, and exhibitions, notably helping Chinese brands navigate the Italian market. Ning credits PSSD’s focus on leadership, systems thinking, and co-design with shaping how he manages teams and solves client problems today.

His advice to current students is to start networking early, find a unique position in the market, and—for those looking to stay in Italy—learn the language and get a driving license as soon as possible.