During Milan Design Week 2023 Superstudio Più will host the annual Superdesign Show event, which this year will focus on the theme "inspiration innovation imagination", with a visionary approach that questions the future of design, architecture, cities and design in general, in the light of new technologies such as artificial intelligence, augmented reality and humanoid robots.
Some spectacular and innovative installations will be presented showcasing a selection of international design products that reflect on the future of functions and services. The event also includes displays of sustainable electric products, electric car prototypes, innovative solutions for mobility and cutting-edge and green architectural interventions.
There will also be sessions dedicated to sustainability and culture, inclusiveness and sustainability of working and living environments. Istituto Marangoni, the School of Design, will show visitors its Metaverse tactile technologies, while Superstudio will present its Virtual Pavilion.
Superdesign Show, Superstudio's annual event for the Milan Design Week, stages some spectacular and demanding installations which, if on the one hand inform us about the novelties of a selected international production, on the other they anticipate questions and answers on the functions of the world that will come. Between these:
Today is already tomorrow: sustainable choices for the future
The world is changing rapidly and the need to adopt sustainable behaviors is increasingly evident. But how can we make conscious and responsible choices? Materially, with its research on eco-sustainable and recycled materials, proposes a solution that involves the circuit of the circular economy and the concept of wonder. This year's interactive installation is an example of how sustainability can be combined with innovation and beauty.
Holcim (Italy) shows another innovative solution for sustainable building: benches made with a combination of concrete and natural resin. This approach demonstrates that the construction industry can contribute to creating a more sustainable future.
Also Samsung joins the challenge of sustainability, presenting an area dedicated to sustainability in its smart home. The company shows how home appliances can be eco-friendly and smart at the same time.
Electric mobility is another crucial area for the sustainable future. Lexus has made e-mobility research its focus for 15 years. His new creation, “Shaped by Air” by architect Suchi Reddy, is inspired by the craftsmanship of the Lexus Electrified Sport coupé and is an example of how beauty can meet sustainability.
The culture of ecology must be promoted from childhood to prevent environmental disaster. Massimiliano Mandarini and Creative Italy Lab show how sustainability can be incorporated into all aspects of daily life, including working environments. GN Architects + Phononic Vibes present a futuristic acoustic solution, “SoundSpline”, which combines engineering and interior architecture.
Digital platforms and virtual experiences are becoming increasingly important to user experience. L'Istituto Marangoni • the School of Design takes us into the Metaverse with its tactile technology, while Superstudio invites us to explore its proposals for virtual experiences. PNA – Pietra Naturale Autentica shows us the immensity of the beauty of Italian marbles through the images projected on the LED walls of an emotional cube.
In summary, sustainability is the only way forward for a better future. This exhibition represents an opportunity to explore new sustainable solutions and to discover how beauty can be combined with sustainability. Today is already tomorrow, and we must act now to ensure a sustainable future for future generations.
Asian R-evolution
The Asian R-evolution is an increasingly evident phenomenon in the world of design and furnishings. While in the past it was mainly Western companies that dictated trends and exported their own style, today it is the nations of the East and the Far-East that make themselves heard with concrete and original proposals.
For years, Superstudio has been a meeting place between the world of Western and Asian design. Here, in fact, the products and solutions of companies and designers from all over the world are presented, creating a cultural and stylistic contamination that enriches the entire sector.
China, for example, is represented by Grade Design, which combines Chinese tradition with modernity through minimalism and soft lines of comfort. The Japanese GPJ×YUTAKA, on the other hand, offers a new lighting system with the innovative Onefabrica technology, while Kawashima Selkon Textiles reproposes traditional Japanese furnishing fabrics in an updated key.
It comes from Korea Seoul Design Foundation, which aims to intercept innovations and inspire creatives, while Thailand is represented by Slowhand Design Thailand by DITP, which showcases local materials and manufacturing and focuses on the reuse and lifecycle of industrial materials.
Finally, Japan makes itself felt with various proposals, including the refined lighting fixtures by quantum and the installation dedicated to VR technology by Forum8. Tokyo Creative Salon, on the other hand, promotes a still little-known design and fashion festival, while GPJ × YUTAKA presents the sculptural and curvilinear objects “Fabric Light Andon".
Asian R-evolution is an increasingly consolidated reality in the world of design and furnishings, which sees Asia as the protagonist of original and innovative solutions. Thanks to the cultural and stylistic contamination created in meeting places such as Superstudio, this phenomenon can only continue to grow and bring new ideas and perspectives to the sector.
Strange but beautiful
Creativity has no limits, especially in the world of design. Today, more than ever, we are faced with strange but beautiful objects, able to amaze and enchant, excite and make us dream.
- Unexpected Objects are tangible proof of this trend. Here surprise is the leitmotiv, innovation is the watchword and non-banality is the goal. Here designers and artists merge, giving life to unique and unrepeatable creations.
Ceramics, screens, porcelain, seating, acoustic walls, furnishing accessories, everything becomes possible when creativity is in power. And the materials become the starting point for experimenting, for investigating, for exploring new forms and new sensations.
Alcarol amazes us with Geomorphic, a series of furnishings that explores the processes involving matter through trompe-l'oeil that also involve touch. KARBONY he surprises us with his architectures in carbon filaments, which find a supporting element in the shadow of their own projection. Pelma presents the new type of polyurethane foam, totally sustainable and regenerating, the result of a circular production process.
But that's not all. Abet Laminati offers us the Re-make, Re-model, Re-imagine project, made up of 350 colored magnetic cubes with coating, while Laboratorio San Rocco enchants us with its vases decorated with slips.
Finally, method it gives us elegant environments with a style between classic and avant-garde, where tradition and innovation, nature, imagination and technology coexist.
In short, the Unexpected Objects are the perfect example of how creativity can go beyond the limits of the conventional, creating strange but beautiful objects that leave their mark and excite us.
Stars of today and tomorrow
In the world of design, today's stars are those who are revolutionizing the way we conceive and produce design objects. But the future is getting closer, and with it come emerging talents, ready to experiment, innovate and leave their mark.
The collective STARS OF TODAY, edited by Giulio Cappellini, presented ten new protagonists of contemporary design, including Leonardo Talarico, Elena Salmistraro, Francesca Lanzavecchia, Ilaria Marelli, Matteo Agati, Sergio Prieto, Daniel Nikolovski, Francesco Forcellini, Antonio Facco and Keiji Takeuchi. These emerging talents are already attracting the attention of the design world thanks to their creativity, originality and ability to combine tradition and experimentation.
But it's not just young people who amaze in the world of design. The section WOMEN&DESIGN presents the eclectic and multitasking designers of “Mirror – CreaTTive in the mirror“, told through the images of the young and sensitive photographer Angelica Cantu Rajnoldi. Furthermore, FoodDesignStories presents the installation “FLUID AESTHETICS“, which takes the visitor on a journey around the work of twenty independent designers who are dedicated to protecting water resources.
The future of design is in the hands of these emerging talents, ready to challenge conventions and imagine a better world through their work. Their creativity, combined with a passion for design and curiosity, is destined to carry on the tradition of Italian design and to leave an indelible mark on the history of global design.
Under the sign of art
The Superdesign Show is one of the most awaited events of the year for art and design enthusiasts. In this edition, interaction with art becomes a central element of the event, giving life to the theme of "Imagination".
Among the exhibited works, the gilded sculptures of the switches by TECNOLITE for Meljac, which thanks to the refined staging of the Milanese architect Dante Benini become real art objects. Similarly, the large surface area of steel plates of Nickel-chrome Lab it houses objects and furnishings in steel, alternating with sculptures and other artworks, demonstrating the great versatility of this material which continues to be the protagonist of today's industrial evolution.
The theme of breaking is addressed by Albert Gianfreda with “ITALIA”, a panel created in collaboration with the Testori House Museum andItalian Association of Ceramics Cities. This work contains a collection of ceramic artefacts from as many as 21 different traditions, fragmented and then reassembled, in a play of shapes and colors that narrates the great cultural variety of our country.
But there are also more playful works, such as the group of "cartoon rabbits" by the Japanese artist Aki Kuroda for Slide, or the large optical sculpture by Flavio Lucchini, which finds its ideal location at the FLA, Atelier, Museum.
In any case, art and design come together in a unique sensory experience, capable of arousing emotions and stimulating the imagination. The Superdesign Show thus confirms its position as a point of reference for enthusiasts of the sector, offering a unique opportunity to get in touch with the most innovative trends and artists of the moment.
Other horizons and talks
The Superdesign Show event is not limited only to the presentation of art and design objects, but also offers the opportunity to experiment, discuss and discuss the keywords Inspiration Innovation Imagination. Among the spaces dedicated to this, we find the unusual installation signed by Mirko Tattarini at the FLA, created by the students of ISIA Florence starting from the furnishings of Marvelous Designs. The project becomes a pretext for discussing the second life of objects, which can be just as important as their first life.
But not only. Superdesign Show also offers a series of meetings focused on the transformation of materials. In the Materially areaindeed, we are awaiting interventions and debates on how materials can be transformed and reused, creating new forms and new objects that respond to the needs of the contemporary world.
Furthermore, among the other events not to be missed, we find the talks, moments of discussion and dialogue between experts in the sector. Among these, we point out the one dedicated to the theme of sustainable design, in which the need to create objects and products that respect the environment and are able to last over time will be discussed.
In short, Superdesign Show does not limit itself to presenting design objects, but offers an all-round experience, which also extends to experimentation, discussion and comparison on important topics such as sustainability and the transformation of materials.
Superdesign Show info and times
SUPERSTUDIO PLUS
Via Tortona, 27
April 18-22, 11-21 / April 23, 11-18 (registration required)
For visits: free admission but with mandatory registration on the site
www.superdesignshow.com
