By Stop everything! From April 16 to 24, Milan hosts the Design Week: the event of all events, perhaps even more significant than Fashion Week, and certainly the most popular. With the right credentials, connections, and patience to wait in long queues, almost all exhibition spaces dedicated to the “Fuorisalone” are accessible.
In a frenzy of jostling among companies big and small, one wonders: where does all this hype that engulfs the Lombard capital each year come from? Why do we love design so much? What is it about design that captivates such a diverse audience, spanning generations, professions, and nationalities?
Let’s attempt to explain it through the identity of some objects that have made design history. Since neither a single newspaper page nor the entire alphabet would suffice, we’ll try with the first four: an ABC…D of Design, featuring some of the most iconic pieces in this fascinating world.
“A” for ARCO
The Arco Lamp, designed in 1962 by the brothers Castiglioni for Flos, is the queen of design icons—a project that elevates the practical need to optimize space into an object of harmonious and ethereal aesthetics.
Nothing is left to chance in Arco; everything is designed to be functional. The base material is marble, chosen not only for its aesthetic appeal but also for its specific weight, which balances the lamp with less bulk compared to, say, concrete. The adjustable arch comprises three components that slide into one another, allowing for various length adjustments. This design enables the lamp to illuminate different areas of the room without being tied to a fixed suspension lighting system. It also ensures complete navigability of the space and the object being lit (you can easily walk beneath the arch).
“B” for BOCCA
The most “cult” sofa of all time is the one produced by Gufram and created by the architects of Studio 65 in 1970. The Bocca sofa draws inspiration from a surrealist portrait of Hollywood actress Mae West by Dalí himself, in which various furniture elements come together to depict the star’s “Monroe-esque” face. Bocca epitomizes design as the ultimate synthesis of beauty and functionality and remains a staple of both glossy magazine covers and interior design projects today.
Imagine Bocca adorning the sets of world tours for stars like Beyoncé, Kylie Minogue, and Katy Perry, as well as photo shoots with icons such as Elsa Schiaparelli, Claudia Cardinale, and Heidi Klum. But Bocca is so stunning it “speaks for itself”: it is a photographic subject in its own right, sought after by the most prominent names, including Richard Avedon and David LaChapelle.
“C” for CICOGNINO
Design evokes emotions. One of the most romantic examples is “Cicognino”, a stork-shaped side table capable of melting even the hardest hearts. The recognizable Cicognino, designed by Franco Albini for Cassina in 1958, features refined, minimalist lines that blend effortlessly with other decor styles. It represents the designer’s creative endeavor to craft an ideal table model, adhering to criteria of functionality, aesthetics, and distinctiveness.
Its extreme minimalism and playful, memorable shape instantly lend a sense of comfort and familiarity to any interior.
“D” for D-70
The D-70 is a sofa bed designed by Osvaldo Borsani in 1954 and manufactured by the newly founded Tecno, an enterprise established by Osvaldo and his brother Fulgenzio to transition their family business from craftsmanship to industry.
The D-70 is a prime example of what it means for a designer to create an object that is simultaneously elegant in form, high-quality in materials, and industrially produced. Borsani’s brilliant concept leverages the sofa’s mechanism and architecture as striking visual elements, effectively condensing function and form as only great design minds can achieve.
Design Concepts
Arco, Bocca, Cicognino, and D-70 are just four items from the endless list of design objects that have made history. It is often mistakenly thought that design is merely synonymous with “industrial product,” but what can we infer from this very brief review? Despite being very different from each other, design objects share similar concepts: functionality that does not sacrifice aesthetics and vice versa, quality, influences from the craft world, recognizability, and certainly, serial production.
Ultimately, we love design because it tells us about a Beauty using an alphabet that we all understand, making our lives easier and, above all, much, much more pleasant.
The Alphabet of Design in 25 Icons (and a Few More)
During Fuorisalone, we invite you to “ABC… Design“, an exhibition of 25 of the most famous icons of Italian and international design. From April 16 to 24, at the Di Mano in Mano store in Milan, you can view, touch, and even purchase your favorite icon.
For all the info: click here!
