17/04/2013

Guest Interview n°46: Philippe Malouin

We met Philippe Malouin, one of the most exciting young contemporary designers of today, during Salone del Mobile 2013 held last week.

Philippe was born in Canada but has studied in Paris and at Design Academy of Eindhoven, a school that has surely influenced his approach towards design. In fact, Philippe is more interested in un-orthodox production processes and exploration of different materials than in formal virtuosity. We had a pleasant chat with him on the occasion of his first solo show in Italy, properly titled ‘Simple’, held at Project B gallery in Milan.

Written by Rujana Rebernjak, interview by Monica Lombardi, video by Renzo O. Angelillo 
Share: Facebook,  Twitter  
11/04/2013

Tom Dixon’s MOST at Salone del Mobile 2013

Rough and smooth, traditional English tea with scones, cucumber sandwiches and strawberry jam, hip sportswear, young design brands, brass buckets, metal lamps, angular furniture and gemstones, science and technology, forward-thinking culture, dramatic surroundings, disruptive design and robotics. What do all these things have in common? Well, nothing more and nothing less than Tom Dixon, the grand master of British design, whose work has changed the way we perceive design and “the materials, technologies, production techniques and distribution systems” it uses.

Tom Dixon has charmed the design world during last year’s Salone del mobile with his project Most, held for the second year round at the Museum of Science and Technology in Milan. More than a project, Most is a platform for contemporary design that combines a distinctive mix of performances and events with young design brands and studios, interacting with almost all areas of creative production: from food to fashion, from art to product design, from technology to traditional crafts.

To prove the versatility of the event, we must mention this year’s most photographed and talked about feature: Tom Dixon’s collection for Adidas, comprising a collection of garments and accessories that “you can pack neatly in a bag for a week away”. Besides this enviable collaboration, Mr. Dixon is also presenting his new line of products, made primarily from metal – his signature material – and named “Rough and Smooth”, recalling the physical qualities of lamps, tables, tea sets and champagne buckets included in the collection.


Even though Tom Dixon is the main star of Most, it would be foolish visiting the Museum of Science and Technology only to see his latest creations, since this giant location is packed up with exciting new talents, great pieces of design and a positive vibe we hope might last even after the lights of this year’s Salone are turned (finally) off.

Rujana Rebernjak 
Share: Facebook,  Twitter  
02/04/2013

Sneak Peek into Salone del Mobile 2013

Sneak Peek into Salone del Mobile 2013

The craze about this year’s Salone has already started. We are being reminded of events, cocktails and presentations, shown products, ambients, locations, and, most of all, reminded of names, names and names that should present the hottest stuff in the design world this year. Well, we have to admit that we have resisted for quite a while before diving into the event lists of Salone del Mobile 2013, but, finally, have decided to cope with the flux of events and pick what might be the most interesting things to see this year.

This tour needs to start at Ventura Lambrate, a venue that has substituted Zona Tortona in being the most exquisite place where to learn about new and upcoming designers. This prestigious status is being confirmed with the presence of a few big names who have decided to present their work at Lambrate, like Established & Sons and Diesel. Besides rooted design names, we can also look forward to seeing some exciting projects coming from leading European design schools like Design Academy Eindhoven, Aalto University – School Of Arts, Design And Architecture, or Faculty of Design and Art – Free University of Bozen-Bolzano.

Another much expected event is surely Tom Dixon’s second edition of MOST, which will once again occupy Milan’s National Museum of Science and Technology. MOST will present Tom Dixon’s latest collection, a set of objects produced almost exclusively in metal, like solid brass champagne buckets and faceted furniture inspired by gemstones. Brera Design District, on the other hand, will explore traditional crafts and their relationship with the industry, particularly suitable theme for an area countersigned by small shops and big designer showrooms, like that of the Italian company Moroso designed by Patricia Urquiola.

A few other smaller exhibitions must not be skipped this year. The firs one is a show by Swiss-based studio Big-Game at Galleria 70. Titled “Everyday Objects”, the show will present a collection of their recent projects for brands like Alessi, Hay, Karimoku New Standard. Another young designer, Philippe Malouin, will show his work in a solo exhibition at Project B gallery, demonstrating his particular approach that relays on the simplicity of forms associated to a sophisticated design concept.

After taking a glance at the future of design with these two names, please don’t forget to get to know something about the past too, since Flos will be holding a show of the grand master of Italian lighting design, Gino Sarfatti. And if you still have the energy and the will to look at anything else after these shows, Triennale Design Museum and Spazio Rossana Orlandi are two ‘musts’ of every Salone, together with Inventario’s exhibition about books at Museo Poldi Pezzoli.

Every Salone del Mobile appears to be bigger, better and stronger than the one before, leading us to think that there is so much need for posh and spicy design today. Well, even though the sheer quantity of names and events will prevent anyone from remembering anything at all after a day it is all over, we still hope some designers might surprise us with their thoughtfulness, intelligence and wit.

Rujana Rebernjak

Share: Facebook,  Twitter