What role does the Salone del Mobile play in the careers of designers?
Ph. Davide Colombino
We put this question to leading figures in the design world: the Italian designer Luca Nichetto, the British design duo Barber & Osgerby, the French designer Patrick Jouin and the young Danish designer Felicia Arvid
The Salone del Mobile.Milano is the leading international platform for and driver of the design industry. The trade fair, now in its 62th edition, brings together the shared heritage of companies, made up of creativity, know-how, innovation, vision and projection towards the future. The Salone is the catalyst that attracts international attention, evolving to become a meeting space active all year round, a reference point for professionals and design lovers.
The Salone is more than a showcase for the very latest in the design industry, it is also a crucial promotional launchpad for emerging talents, with their visions, experiments and insights, Designers who, in synergy with the companies, shape and define the trajectories of the industry. In this sense, SaloneSatellite has been a precious outpost for the careers of the young designers: the hub devoted to design by the under-35s, founded in 1998 by Marva Griffin Wilshire, marks its 25th anniversary this year, celebrated with a great exhibition curated by Beppe Finessi, being held at Triennale Milano from 16th to 28th April, where designers first encountered at the beginning of their carers will showcase their most recent projects, both released or not yet released. Taking part in the event is a common steppingstone in the paths of some of the most renowned contemporary designers. During the European legs of Road to Salone 2024, the tour offering a taste of what to expect at the edition running from 16th to 21st April, we asked the invited protagonists to share their points of view on the centrality of the Salone del Mobile in their professional fields. Road to Salone 2024 is a tour featuring meetings, along with digital insights for an open dialogue with the entire international design community: after Europe, it be the turn of the United States, where the road tour will touch down in Dallas, New York, Las Vegas and Chicago in January and February.
Venexia Collection, design Luca Nichetto, Ethimo
Luca Nichetto: “In many ways, the Salone del Mobile was a crucial experience.”
“The Salone is the first place I showcased my project,” said the Stockholm-based Italian designer. “I was fortunate enough to be able to present products at fairs right from the start, partnering with a leading company, Foscarini. I remember helping to set up the stand and making new friends who played a significant role in shaping my career, so in many ways it was a pivotal experience.” The turning point came in 2003, when as a young designer of 27, Nichetto presented his pendant lamp O Space. “It was the third lamp I had designed for Foscarini, and it garnered considerable attention for its innovative design,” I co-created it with a good friend and former classmate from university. The project helped us gain recognition and valuable feedback. Afterwards many more opportunities came up, including venturing into furniture design.” The relationships sparked by these encounters play a significant part in the success of a project. “Business relationships are evolving, with more managers involved in the decision-making process, shifting towards a more data-driven approach. In the past it was often based on the founder’s vision, but now it’s becoming more influenced by marketing perspectives. The relationship between the producer and the designer is more crucial than ever to achieving the desired result.”
Alpina, design Barber & Osgerby, Magis
Barber & Osgerby: “The Salone del Mobile stands as the principal event in our calendar”
"Our contact with this incredible fair began as students long ago in the late 1980s, when we were introduced to the captivating world of Italian design,” said the London-based designers Edward Barber and Jay Osgerby. “Back then, our only contact to this world was through magazines and books – being able to witness this alchemy first hand was inspirational, and totally unforgettable." Many years later the British design duo underscored the importance of this first encounter: “Over the years, the Salone has evolved into a vital gathering point for colleagues and friends in the industry. It has transcended its origins in furniture and evolved into a global cultural spectacle with far-reaching significance across many creative disciplines, not least art and fashion. It's now more than an event; it's a celebration of creativity, in fact of culture!".
Héra lounge, design by Patrick Jouin, Pedrali
Patrick Jouin: “It’s a question of feeling, of mutual respect, of ties that form spontaneously”
“SaloneSatellite was the starting point. In 1998, it was the first time that I had registered my own name for SaloneSatellite. It was at that point that I decided to show the pieces that I had just designed and immediately produced in my studio. It was the moment when I took the plunge, fully aware of the risk of criticism or indifference. But what happened what quite the opposite,” said the French designer Patrick Jouin, remembering his beginnings as a designer. “There was a crazy positive energy; the major magazines were there – Habitare, Interni, Domus – and all the journalists wanting to meet the youth full of innovation and novelty. They were not the only ones to give their support. The great names of the time, of all time – Mendini, Castiglioni, Branzi, Magistreti and many others – came to look and share their advice. It was marvellous, the start of a thrilling adventure”. Relationships are a crucial factor when it comes to good design: Behind every design company, there are people, families, personalities and skills. Naturally, your relationship with the company is personal and human. You can’t force these things, it’s a question of feeling, of mutual respect, of ties that form spontaneously.”
Klipper, design Felicia Arvid, Caimi Brevetti
Felicia Arvid: “Speaking the same language creates a good starting point for good design”
The Danish designer Felicia Arvid has come a long way fast since taking part in SaloneSatellite for the first time in 2018. The experience garnered her a Compasso d’Oro Award in 2022 for her acoustic wall panel Klipper for Caimi Brevetti. “Exhibiting at the Salone Satellite was like a gateway into the design world for me,” said the young designer born in 1994.“As a complete newcomer to the industry, this exhibition platform, dedicated to young designers under 35, at the Salone del Mobile presented a unique opportunity for me to show my work to an international audience of professionals and get the exposure all emerging designers need, along with having a chance to meet other exhibiting designers from around the globe. The experience kickstarted my career, from presenting the initial prototype of Klipper at Salone Satellite to then see the production-ready version at Caimi’s stand at the Salone del Mobile and then receiving the ADI Compasso d’Oro award for Klipper”. The award-winning sound-absorbing system was born of a meeting with Renato Caimi and his sons Giorgio and Franco at the Salone del Mobile. “I got a call from my neighbouring exhibitor, who said there were three men waiting for me, so I rushed back to meet them. They invited me to a meeting at their stand to introduce me to their company and talk about how a possible collaboration with them would work, as they could see possibilities in my design, and I was truly honoured and thrilled to be presented with such an opportunity”.
