Italian design, iconic and eternal

There are many world-renowned Italian brands that offer the best that Italian design has to offer. Contemporary Italian design is connected, derives and develops in direct reference to the centenary artisan traditions and depending on the area, the objects are made of ceramic, porcelain, glass, marble, leather, wood, other various types of metal and the processing of fabrics. .

Design, what exactly does it mean? Design does not identify luxury, beauty, or modern style as it is often mistakenly indicated; it is an English term that means “project” and over time the definition of design has become the design of an object that aims to synthesize functionality and aesthetics, therefore a design object is an object that combines aesthetics and functionality.

From the 1960s onwards, design has been one of the greatest poles of cultural and economic attraction in Italy, having now become a unique and unmistakable style all over the world.

A brief history of Italian design

Historically, Italian design was born in the Renaissance, exactly in Florence and even after this period the aristocrats and the wealthy classes have maintained a strong interest in design and art and also fashion has always been popular in Italy and its roots may be traced back to 1500 and the unique and refined style of dress have become an inseparable part of the identity of the ruling class. And today Italian design in the field of fashion still takes many cues from the ateliers that existed during the Renaissance. And in past centuries throughout Italy there are great master craftsmen skilled in the processing of metals, ceramics, glass, leather and many other materials and who give life to splendid objects.

The birth of modern Italian design can be posed with the foundation of the Monza Biennale in 1930 and the Milan Triennale in 1933 and then stopped during the Second World War. And after the Second World War there is the explosion of Italian design, an entire destroyed country had to be rebuilt and new companies are born where designers and architects are called to rebuild houses and buildings destroyed by the war. Linked to the reconstruction, furniture companies are born that take up the centenary artisan techniques of the many Italian workshops of the past centuries, to which they have the new innovations by creating quality products inspired by new design, aesthetically unique and with excellent functional qualities.

Alongside the large companies, small craft shops are reborn, where artisans resume working with materials like their fathers and grandfathers.

The architects Gio Ponti and Alessandro Mendini are considered the founders of modern Italian design and in 1960 begins the golden period of Italian design which begins to be known even beyond national borders, thanks above all to the new means of communication, TV and cinema, and this golden age has never ended.

The characteristics of Italian design

Italian design is recognized by the attention to detail, the originality of the solutions, the unusual combinations and the refined taste of the creations and it includes very different production realities: fashion, home accessories, furnishings, goldsmithing, architecture, vehicles, just to mention the most famous fields of design product creation. But why has Italian design become an iconic brand in the world? For its characteristics that make it unique.

Let's find out its main features.

New materials

Alongside the classic materials, Italian design has introduced the use of alternative and eco-sustainable materials such as bamboo, linen fibers, rice milk-based fabrics, ecological polystyrene, transparent wood. A series of unique but efficient materials that obviously make the final product unique and original.

Use of craft techniques

This is one of the main characteristics of Italian design, its turning to tradition but combining everything with innovation; therefore a modern Italian design that has its roots in the past

The quality of the materials

Quality is the symbol of Italian design in the world; before producing an object there is the choice of the material to use. The products are always made with the best raw materials available in Italy and we also emphasize a good total quality of the product which increases its longevity.

The sectors of Italian design

Italian design is present in many industrial and production sectors that are very different from each other and can be classified into three main categories: products, environments and communication.

Product design is the largest category and includes many productions: the most famous are fashion, fashion accessories, ship and automobile manufacturing. The design of the environments includes all the planning and setting up of both internal and external spaces. And finally we have communication design, a type of contemporary design that aims to create, for example, brand design and food design works.