Maria Milano is an architect and curator. She has been an Associate Professor and coordinator of the Interior Design department at ESAD since 1996 and a Visiting Professor at the Politecnico di Milano, in the Laboratorio degli Interni 3 UC, in 2020, 2021 and 2022. She has curated several international architecture and design exhibitions and seminars, including the exhibition Siza Design. A Procura do Sentido do Tempo (2015), the Portuguese participation in the XXI Milan Triennale, with the exhibition Objects after Objects (co-production ESAD/DGArtes, 2016), and the curatorship of the Italian participation in the 1st edition of the Porto Design Biennale (2019).

She is the author of several publications on architecture and design, including: Paolo Deganello. The Reasons for my Radical Project (QuidNovi, 2010), Pádua Ramos. From Mannerism to Pop Culture (esad—idea, 2020). She curated several editorial collections, including “A Casa de Quem Faz as Casas” (esad—idea/Cardume Editores, 2016); “Arquitectos Portugueses” (QuidNovi, 2011 and 2013). She was the producer and author of a series of 13 documentaries A Casa de Quem Faz as Casas, broadcast by TVI24 (2016-2017). She was awarded the title of Cavaliere della Repubblica Italiana, with the Order of the "Star of Italy" (2023), by the President of the Italian Republic. She is the author of several projects and rehabilitations of historic buildings, including the rehabilitation of the old Caixa Geral in Matosinhos and the Market Incubator in the old Matosinhos Market.