milanodesignweek

Seeking cheerfulness

28 April, 2023 / Leave a Comment

Milano Design Week, Fuorisalone & Brazil in Milan

Cheerfulness was the topic some of the installations explored for the Fuorisalone. But you could feel a lively atmosphere throughout the town during Milan Design Week.

In fact, the need for cheerfulness seems a necessity in current times. After the pandemic, the war, the energy crisis, and waste overgrowth, uncertainty is the new normal. Of course, this state of permacrisis brings a constant struggle. So we need beauty to elevate our moods and soothe our souls.
And in search of beauty, we visited the Milano Design Week with Thami, our little niece and staff member, and some friends.

Fuorisalone: Alcova

We enjoyed Alcova at “Ex-Macello”, where 90 designers, companies and institutions featured their projects, exploring a different and complementary direction of contemporary design practice.

Cheerfulness: Brazil in Milano

Then we went to Università Statale, where the INTERNI Design Re-evolution project took place. Among many other colourful or nature-inspired installations, there was a whole corner featuring Brazilian designers. “The space is meant to be a celebration of the harmony between nature and architecture, combining natural and technological elements in a project that explores new design possibilities through Brazilian natural rocks.”

Also, we visited Rossana Orlandi. The gallery was full of amazing design objects and exquisite furniture elements. There, we entered a tiny multicoloured room which reflected a vibrant energy. Named “Everyday Paradise”, it was a source of bright colours featuring flowers, birds, and people’s portraits, a joy for the eyes.

Cheerfulness
“Everyday Paradise”: arts & crafts from Alagoas, Brazil

Here, we met the curator, Lili Tedde, who developed this project in collaboration with Lidewij Edelkoort. The project, Lili Tedde explained, promoted artists from the Alagoas region, Brazil, who made by hand all the arts & crafts by using different techniques: painting, sculpting, carving, and embroidery. Since Thami has Brazilian origins, they exchanged a little chat in Portuguese. But Thami didn’t expect it, and we saw her feet turning inwards with her cheeks reddened. By the way, the set-up was energising and mood-boosting!

Needless to say, sustainability slogans were everywhere! Most of them pointless. Did companies consider the impact of the enormous structures? Materials, transport? And what will they do after dismantling them?

Eventually, we appreciated “Everyday Paradise”, the message that tiny room promoted: positivity expressed through arts and crafts. Indeed, rooted in Brazilian culture, cheerfulness brings a positive attitude towards life. And that beautiful art collection was like a breath of fresh air. Beauty will save us!

The language of design

19 April, 2023 / Leave a Comment

Milano Design Week 23: between fashion and design

Milano Design Week offers the opportunity to reflect on the language of design, though we hope it won’t be another chance to spread more sustainability fluff. By the way, Milano seems to be involved in design more than fashion. In fact, the town is full of events, and the atmosphere is lively and engaging.

Design: clothing & objects

Clothes and objects we use daily make up a language – the language of design. Therefore, fashion reflects contemporary culture and tells our story. In other words, fashion is culture. And so is design, of course.
But while design kept a high-level positioning, fashion has lost its allure. From top brands to fast fashion, the industry identifies with a disposable culture or transient trends that lead to compulsive consumption. Now, the image of fashion is cheap, and the industry itself has undermined it. So, the mixture with design adds that patina of class, enhancing fashion portrayal.

However, the modern language of design is all about sustainability. But, we hear catchphrases which are empty claims. Their goal is marketing, selling more. And since the topic is popular, many people jump on the bandwagon in order to have the possibility to reach a wider audience.

Back to the core: the language of design

Now back to the core: the language of design.
What matters to us? Good design with an ethical approach. Certainly, people should be active thinkers and not just consumers. But designers must do their job. Creating original pieces, artisanal rather than standardised mass products. Good design means caring about the materials, workings, production chain, and people – understanding the impact on the planet. It means caring about the whole creative and productive process.

Sustainable design, recycling, and upcycling – as part of a circular economy, are designer’s work. So, do that!

In the end, the dialogue between fashion and design implies shared values. But the outcome of this reciprocal contamination must bring a tangible change, not empty slogans. The planet needs action!