MASTERPIECES: CREATIVITY AND DESIGN MASTERPIECES

Creativity is a complex process that combines intuition and rationality, playing a crucial role in innovation across artistic, technological, and scientific fields. Design thinking and innovative educational methodologies, such as problem-based learning, promote divergent thinking and problem-solving skills. Among these strategies, the capolavoro project emerges as a teaching tool aimed at developing students’ professional skills and self-awareness. This study, conducted in a secondary school with a sample of 156 students, examined the impact of the capolavoro on career orientation and professional growth, with particular attention to students with Special Educational Needs. A structured questionnaire revealed mixed perceptions: only 15% of students acknowledged a significant impact on their future choices, while 60% considered internships and university guidance more influential. Additionally, 75% perceived the capolavoro as an academic experience rather than a concrete career-oriented opportunity. The findings highlight the need to integrate the capolavoro with practical experiences and collaborations with the labor market, improving feedback systems to enhance its effectiveness. This study suggests an interdisciplinary approach to strengthening the capolavoro’s role, making it a more impactful component of students’ educational pathways.