Salone del Mobile 2024 revealed itself as one of the greatest design tradeshows of the year so far, as expected, and it is still a reference for all interior design lovers and professionals around the world. This annual event is renowned for setting trends, inspiring creativity, and bringing together […]
The enchanting world of furniture for kids took center stage at Salone del Mobile 2024, a prestigious international furniture fair held in Milan. Amidst the grandeur of contemporary design and innovation, the spotlight shone brightly on a brand that redefines comfort and style for the little ones. Let’s have […]
Italy is pretty much everywhere when it comes to having an influence on the work of many of the most important Contemporary Designers we know today. Italian or not these four personalities have known Italian design close by heart, and have put it into practise. And today we’re showing you four good examples!
Karim Rashid is considered one of the most creative contemporary designers of his generation. Over 3000 designs in production, over 300 awards and working in over 40 countries show that Karim is a legend of design.
His award-winning designs include luxury goods for Christofle, Veuve Clicquot, and Alessi, democratic products for Umbra, Bobble, and 3M, furniture for Bonaldo and Vondom, lighting for Artemide and Fontana Arte, high tech products for Asus and Samsung, surface design for Marburg and Abet Laminati, brand identity for Citibank and Sony Ericsson and packaging for Method, Paris Baguette, Kenzo and Hugo Boss.
Karim’s work is featured in 20 permanent collections and he exhibits in several art galleries worldwide. Karim is a recurrent winner of the Red Dot award, Chicago Athenaeum Good Design award, I. D. Magazine Annual Design Review, IDSA Industrial Design Excellence award.
Patricia Urquiola (1961) was born in Oviedo (Spain) and currently lives in Milan. She studied architecture at the Polytechnic of Madrid where she graduated in 1989. Between 1990 and 1996 she worked for the development office of new products of “De Padova” and signed with Vico Magistretti the products: “Flower”, “Loom sofa”, “Chaise” and “Chaise Longue”.
In 2001 she opened her own studio in Milan, focused on product design and architecture. Since her long career started Patricia won many design awards, such as Antares-Flos, Artelano, Boffi, Cappellini, Cassina, Kartell. In addition to attending events, conferences and lectures she has been an active collaborator for brands such as B&B, Bosa, De Vecchi, Fasem, Kartell, Liv’it, MDF Italy, Molteni & C., Moroso and Tronconi.
Her products were selected for the 2001 Design Exhibition in Italy and for the Annual International Design Catalog of 1999 and 2001. She is one of many contemporary designers who currently conducts her professional career at her own craftsmanship studio in Milan in the fields of design, exhibitions, art direction and architecture.
Emiliano Salci and Britt Moran invested in the fields of Design, Art and Fashion, and founded Dimore Studio in 2003. Since then, these duo of contemporary designers designed and carried out every project with their own unique signature style: pieces created by historical design master artisans merged with domestic materials and other modified objects to forge a singular atmosphere.
Their research is focused on details which make every new creation exquisite and sophisticated. Dimore Studio interprets memories and creates dreams, crossing the boundaries between art and design, fashion and architecture. In Milan, both Dimore Gallery and Dimore Studio are obligatory stops for design aficionados, regardless if it’s during Milan Design Week or any other time of the year.
The duo of brothers Fernando (b. 1961) and Humberto (b. 1953), are, undoubtfully, prodigies of contemporary design. They were born in Brotas and started working together in 1983 in São Paulo, Brazil, where they still live and work at Studio Campana.
Despite being two of the best contemporary designers in the world, their lives weren’t always in that path. Humberto studied to be a lawyer but decided that his true passion was sculpting. Fernando decided to study architecture but soon wanted to work with his brother and create innovative and groundbreaking furniture design.
The world started to notice their true talent in 1991 when they developed the “Favela Chair”, made from scraps found in a São Paulo shanty town. From there, they brought to life “Vermelha Chair”, “Cone Chair” and “Estrela Lamp”. In 1998 they became the first Brazilian artists to showcase their work at the renowned Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York, along with the German lightning design Ingo Maurer, in an exhibition called “Project 66”, curated by Paola Antonelli.
In that year they also started a partnership with the Italian brand Edra. Every year, the brothers launch new works of art and concepts in collaboration with international brands such as Alessi, Artecnica, Bernardaud, Baccarat, Corsi Design, Consentino, Nodus, Magis, Moleskine, Skitch, Plus Design, Venini, and Trousseau, among many others.