I’m a bit skeptical about calling this a ‘trend’ round-up – mainly because I am not particularly into the idea of trends… perhaps they are relevant in fashion-land, but in the design world, I guess I feel that classic styling and good design should stand the test of time, rather than popping it’s head up for one season before disappearing again!

But of course this trend thing keeps popping up in conversation since I returned home, so I have decided to round up a few common themes which seemed to stand out during the Milan fair… I don’t know if they’re really proper trends, but, you know, at least they make nice photo montages :)

This is by no means an exhaustive list… there were so many more common themes and ideas which deserve attention… but I’ll just share three today!

Tinted, coloured, overlapping glass

One theme that caught my eye again and again was the use of varying forms of tinted and coloured glass. I spotted examples at both the Salone Satellite exhibition at the main fair, and in the Zona Tortona district. I especially loved the overlapping effect used by Sweden’s Daniel Rybakken for his stunning wall-leaning Colour light, and by Out of Stock for their Hues table. Super beautiful.

Marble

It appeared to me that ceramics had taken a back seat this year (perhaps because the brilliant Jaime Hayon was sadly absent from the fair this year!?). In its place I noticed a surprising abundance of Carrara marble! How do these emerging designers afford such luxurious materials for their prototypes!? I have no idea… but it was really fabulous to see so many new designers adopting the use of the same precious, timeless material used by the old Italian masters such as Michelangelo so many moons ago!

Clockwise from top left – A3 lamp by Swedish Hallgeir Homstvedt, Fruits Basket by French designer Philippe Nigro, Incredible sculpted marble Ren table by London-based Ifeanyi Oganwu of Expand Design, Marcel Wanders for Baccarat crystal / marble vases, Candle Stands by French designer Didier Raimbault.

Grids, geometry and dominos!

Last but not least, I really loved the brave use of colourful geometric and grid-formation patterns by so many exhibitors… Grace Winteringham‘s Phase Bureau with geometric marquetry detailing was one of my absolute favourites, I predict big things for her UK-based studio, Patternity! In the new Ventura Lambrate area, Onno Schelling’s Domino Cupboard also caught my eye… and Thomas Pausz’ Dominos Table was just so much fun – particularly as the patterns and colours can be completely customised at the dinner table! (Possibly not suitable for kids under 3 yrs!?).

Clockwise from top left – Grace Winteringham‘s Phase Bureau, Onno Schelling’s Domino Cupboard, Thomas Pausz’ Dominos Table, Moroso’s Beth chair, designed by Philippe Bestenheider, is made entirely from recycled materials, including fibres derived from recycled PET bottles, and French designer Inga Sempe‘s gorgeous quilted Ruche sofas for Ligne Roset are so super cute – LOVE the brave yellow but they also come in white…

Goodness me. It’s been a brilliant but very crazy week in Milano… and although I have loved every single moment, the whole volcanic ash thing did put a bit of a dampner on things towards the end there… and so I am blaming Volcano-induced stress for the absence of an interview for your today (Shocking!).

BUT never fear, I do have something even more exciting to share – a super awesome project by Sydney designer/stylist Emma Elizabeth Coffey!

Emma Elizabeth is a Milan veteran – she attends the Salone del Mobile every year and knows this city like the back of her hand. (She also speaks Italian and wears a designer dress every single day, which I find endlessly impressive!)

This year EE has started a seriously BRILLIANT project called Design Vlog – a kind of Guerilla-style video blog documenting all the happenings here during design week! EE has been madly dashing about the city, microphone in hand, with local cameraman Mike Stone, and together they have pinned down some seriously super famous designers (Marcel Wanders, Tom Dixon… and many more!). It is an absolutely brilliant little project and really gives you a feeling for the electric mood in this city during design week!

Check out this hilarious little video featuring Marcel Wanders! And you can pop over to Vimeo and to see all the others… design blog GOLD!

The workshop

Ok so I can’t claim this is some kind of well-kept secret, because I did read about it in Lonely Planet and the *Wallpaper Milan guide… BUT the Achillie Castiglioni Studio Museum is just so super great I just couldn’t help but mention it here!

I joined a little tour through Castiglioni’s beautiful little 5 room space in the Triennale area on my last day in Milan… I actually didn’t know too much about Castiglioni until this visit, but came away with a new-found respect for this much-loved Italian designer – his simple but ingenius designs, and his brilliant sense of humour! The tour was an intimate group of around 7 people, and the absolute best part was that it was taken by Castiglioni’s daughter Giovanna! It was so great to hear first hand stories from her childhood, early memories of her father and visits to his now famous studio. Giovanna was so warm, generous and entertaining – chatting with her felt like gaining an insight into Achille’s own personality.

This one is definitely a must-do if you’re ever in Milan!

All details here.

Some of Castiglioni’s impressive catalogue of products

Many of Castiglioni’s famous designs are still in production today. Top – Danese Ovio, Bicchieri e Caraffa (1983), Lampadina lamp (1972 – Flos), Mezzadro stool (1957 – Zanotta). All product shots – Amendolagine-Barracchia.

I really loved this hidden courtyard tucked between beautiful old buildings in Zona Tortona. Once again so much greenery everywhere… beautiful.

GORGEOUS little greenhouse full of lush plants and a cute little installation of lettuce and edible plants, set up on a table with cutlery etc.

After launching last year, Diesel’s furniture and interiors range was one of the most popular exhibitions in the Superstudio area of Zona Tortona. I really loved their graphic printed furnishings fabrics.

Diesel’s stand took inspiration from a moon landing… great lighting and muted colours…

Finally! Highlights from Zona Tortona!

Zona Tortona is a super cool area kind of in the South West of Milan. For nine years now the Zona Tortona area has been hosting it’s own satellite design events in parallel with the main Salone del Mobile fair… originally this began as a way to offer alternative locations for emerging designers to showcase their work in Milan during the design week, but these days of course the area has become so popular that many big furniture companies and established designers have moved their design week events to the popular Tortona hub.

Zona Tortona is now the main congregation area in Milan for fair-goers… it stretches about a square kilometre along the narrow cobbled streets of the Porta Genova area, and dotted along the route are so many galleries, showrooms, shopfronts and basements full of design exhibitions and installations. The atmosphere around here is just buzzing… and the crowd is really varied – from design industry people to design enthusiasts, tourists and students. The streets are lined with cafes, food vendors and info points – and you can hire a red Zona Tortona bike to get around if you like!

I have just posted a gazillion pics from Zona Tortona over on my Flickr! Please pop over and check them out! (Sorry once again captions are coming!) x

Milan is full of incredibly cute smallish motor vehicles.

Installations at Dedon

Gorgeous pink blossom at Dedon in the courtyard

No expense spared at Swarovski

Veuve hosted an installation by the Campana brothers… although I was most excited by the vertical gardens!

Shiny shiny at Tom Dixon in the Superstudio. (Spot my legs!?)

Lush ivy and creepers EVERYWHERE. Man I wish it rained more in Melbourne. Crazy chandelier at Piet Boon

Cute tableware – ceramic tableware you can customise with buttons(!?) by emerging designers Ilil Informal Illusion, and the established Italian favourite Seletti.

Loved this installation called Velvetissement – Short Stories in Via Savona, where visitors were asked to leave a small personal possession behind and pin it on the wall…

Looking down on the Superstudio forecourt from above. LOVE this seating area… the carousel turned slowly as visitors reclined on oversized beanbags to rest their aching feet!

More from Piet Hein Eek – really love the timber basket/bowls… and of course the brilliant light installation!

Spazio Rosanna Orlandi retail store

Spazio Rosanna Orlandi retail store – beautiful vaulted ceilings and aged walls – the perfect backdrop for Maarten Baas’ Burnt Furniture range… I truly never realised how beautiful this collection was until seeing it here!

OMG so excited to see Christien Meinderstma‘s oversized knitted rug in the flesh after falling in love with her work so long ago!

In addition to all the Salone del Mobile official events, many Milan retailers and galleries collaborate with independent designers to host separate events around town as part of the Fuori Salone (literally translated ‘outside the showroom’? or something like that). These satellite events are so much fun to attend… (probably even more interesting than the main fair!) – and one showroom that was top of the list after many recommendations was the Spazio Rosanna Orlandi!

Spazio Rosanna Orlandi is like a magical little design wonderland, tucked away down a sidestreet, away from the busy design hubs where most design week events are concentrated. The Spazio (space) is a rabbit warren of separate exhibition rooms, each one leading on to the next, surrounding a beautiful green central courtyard. I am not sure what goes on here when it’s not design week, but when I visited, each room played host a different design exhibition / installation, with a brilliant mix of emerging designers and more established names such as Piet Hein Eek and Maarten Baas. As often seems to be the case during design week, the central courtyard also doubled as an eating/drinking area – this fair seems to be as much about eating, drinking and socialising as it is about design!

Alberto’s design for Threadless X Tate Modern “POP LIFE” contest.

Now I know not everyone is as excited by kooky new furniture as I am(!!), so whilst I am away I am trying to keep it interesting with a few other examples of Milanese design too!

I feel very lucky to have scored an interview with Milan-based illustrator/designer Alberto Antoniazzi, who works as a designer at MTV Italy… I really love his super-flat colourful illustrations and his sense of humour which is really evident in his cheerful work. I found myself chuckling out loud to a few of his entertaining answers below! (And couldn’t bring myself to correct a few of the minor translation hiccups… love them!)

Thanks so much to Alberto for his time and all the lovely pics…! You can see more of his work on his brilliant website, his Flickr and on his Behance profile :) (And you can make friends with him on Twitter too!).

- Tell us a little about your background – what did you study, and what path led you to your current role at MTV Italy?

I started a Bachelor’s Degree in Arts at Accademia di Belle Arti di Brera in Milano, but never finished it. Anyway I cannot say I haven’t studied. I’m still studying through reading, observing and first of all practicing. Then I honestly think that now more than ever anyone from anywhere in the world can truly study what he is really interested in, thanks to the Internet.

No path led me to my current role at MTV Italy, I just found myself there after sending my CV for a designer position I saw advertised on a jobs website. A good mix of art direction skills and web design knowledge opened my doors in a web 1.0 Italy when art directors don’t seem to know web properly and developers have the same good taste of a blind man :)

London, 2008

- In addition to your work for MTV, you have also worked on some brilliant freelance projects over the last few years. What have been one or two favourite projects?

Visualsport.com is a single project I’m really satisfied with.

I designed everything for this sports web service: identity, interface, icons, and the illustrations for all the football players.

- What does a typical day at work involve for you?

A typical day at work simply involves too many hours sitting in front of a screen which is very bad for our eyes and body. This is a big trouble.

- Where do you turn for creative inspiration – books, international magazines, the internet, your environment, travel, nature, family or friends… etc?

Everywhere is good for inspiration, I read several books and mags in the past, but now I’m more focused on the web.

Flickr is my favorite website and I often use fffflckr.com which is a crazy application who shows you favorites of your favorites creating an infinite cycle of interesting images.

Then of course I like to travel a lot with my friends.

Innovation, 2009

- Which other designers, artists or creative people are you most inspired by at the moment?

I really like illustrator and designer Peter Grundy and generally I’m attracted by all the British graphic design scene.

I also think Apple engineers and designers are doing a great work, for instance iPhone (and now iPad) interface and user experience is nothing but art.

Infographic illustration for Sekret Firmy magazine, Russia 2010.

- What are you most proud of professionally?

I can be proud of doing something I’m really interested in and not only having to go on chasing those damn numbers we call money.

T-shirt design for Iuter, Milano 2009

- What would be your dream project?

It would be nice to design a train or subway system identity, anyway a real dream project would be to own a cafè or a fast-food company.

- What are you looking forward to?

I’m looking forward to moving in my new flat in Milano this week (since I still live with my family, in a small town outside the city).

MILAN QUESTIONS

Illustration of Milano city for 2ndfriend.com

- Your favourite neighbourhood in Milan for shopping / strolling / people watching?

Navigli area is good for shopping. There’s a stroll market on Saturday and a lot of vintage shops around.

Then Via Monte Napoleone is very famous for high street fashion, but I’m not the right person for advise you shops there since I usually buy my clothes at H&M.

- Which is your favourite bookstore in Milan for design books / reference material?

Definitely HOEPLI. It is a very large multiple floor bookstore close to Piazza Duomo and it has the best books for every field: design, photography, fashion, arts, architecture, etc.

It is also the only place showing a great selection of international magazines, very difficult to find in Italy. My father took me there decades ago and I still go there to check new arrivals on their shelves.

- Where /what was the last great meal you ate in Milan?

I ate a very good pizza at La Pizza dal 1964 (The Pizza since 1964) It’s one of the oldest pizza in Milano and I use to go there since I was a child.

It’s a ruff thick pizza cooked with wood oven which is sold per weight with a crapload of calories in it.

Poster designs

- Where would we find you during Salone del Mobile?

Honestly I’m not a big fan of these design events, it’s often packed with snobish people who spend more time in promoting their stuff instead of thinking of better products.

So I cant tell you a particular event, anyway I think I’ll be there because I have a lot of friends involved and I just can’t say no to free drinks :)

Another great poster! – this one’s for the Burago Street Festival.

- Milan’s best kept secret?

Milano will be hosting the EXPO in 2015. Rumors says that the company that designed the MILANO EXPO 2015 official logo was paid 1,3 million euros for that.

Plus other rumors said they also hadn’t the rights to represent the Leonardo’s “Vitruvian Man” which means they had to pay an additional amount of money.

What we can certainly say is that it’s surely perfect example of horrible graphic design.

Perhaps my favourite piece at Salone Satellite – a super simple but beautiful light by young Swedish designer Daniel Rybakken constructed from a lightsource and 2 pieces of different coloured glass, placed freely leaning against a wall. So beautiful.

Daniel Rybakken exhibited with 2 other fantastic Swedish designers – beautiful understated work. The beautiful marble-based lamp in the top image is by Hallgeir Homstvedt, and Staffan Holm designed the elegant stacking stool – super lightweight and again beautiful in it’s simplicity. When stacked high the stools form a kind of ‘twist’.

Something tells me that UK designer Grace Winteringhams’ Phase Bureau inlaid marquetry cabinet will be all over the design magazines in the next couple of months! It’s so photogenic isn’t it?! Grace and fellow designer Anna Murray also have a really great pattern blog called Patternity. Well worth a visit.

Interesting pieces from cross-continental design collective OutofStock. (The OutofStock team were featured in Wallpaper Magazine’s graduate directory in 2009 as outstanding recent graduates.) The Boya lamp is inspired by nautical beacons and marine boys… the Hues set of nesting tables is inspired by coloured overlays in Venn diagrams…

Australian designer Darcy Clarke‘s lamps hang majestically in one of the Salone Satellite rest areas.

Very kooky but fun stuff from Denmark – the Hockerbank seat/ table is beautifully finished, by Yvonne Fehling & Jenni Piez, whose little design studio is called Kraud. Studio Cordula Kehrer are responsible for the super-cute Bow Bins - paper bins created from re-purposed plastic buckets using traditional basket weaving techniques. Remind me of Hella Jongerius for some reason…? Much cuter than your usual office wastepaper bin.

Lovely stuff by another Swedish designer – Lisa Hilland‘s collection My Granddaughter’s Cabinet was inspired by the idea of creating treasured heirloom pieces to hand down to the next generation. Love the ruched leather frills…

General installations / rest areas in the Salone Satellite area

The Young Serbian Designers stand had some lovely colourful work. Ana Kras‘ work was my favourite I think. Great colours and textures. Ana Kras was also extremely lovely and beautiful like some kind of Eastern European supermodel. :)

More Swedish design! Fulo is a co-operative of Swedish designers – the Oblique storage system is by Olof Nodernson and Ulf Nilsson Jevin, and can be built up in endless configurations from separate perspective-defying building blocks… the demonstration gathered a lot of interest from passers-by!

More Oblique storage system – from Fulo

‘This is a table which will surprise you’ reads the blurb on the Fulo website. :) Yep consider me surprised! Crazy table / desk with stretchy hidden compartments by Swedes Olof Nodernson and Ulf Nilsson Jevin… cute!

Singapore-based D-Lab created a very lovely and super simple collection of containers and accessories called Pre-Editions. Lovely soft timber, brushed metals and some kind of trademarked matt-finish plastic material called Delrin?

Kontour timber blind by Helena Karelson of Kingston University, London.

Some interesting pieces by a cute collective of German girls called Fresh from the Mint… top – Stooltypes_01-04 by Nico Reinhardt, bottom – the LUZet lamp by Anna Seibel can be hung like a pendant or rested on the floor…

Megan Morton’s brilliant shots from her coverage of last year’s Salone del Mobile… could I be more excited!??

I may have neglected to mention that I am off to Milan today! (Actually I hopped on a plane late last night, and all going well I am probably about halfway there by now!) I am so excited to be attending the Salone Internazionale del Mobile (Milan International Furniture Fair) for the very first time… it has always been a big dream to get there and this year is finally the year!

So for the next 10 days The Design Files will be all about Milan – with lots of news and pics from the Salone and the Zona Tortona satellite design events, an interview with a wonderful Milan-based illustrator/designer later in the week, and tomorrow I also have a super gorgeous Milanese apartment to share… stay tuned – I think it might get a little crazy around here! (There’ll also be the odd Melbourne post thrown in to keep everyone happy!).

I anticipate taking about 1000 photos a day (seriously!) – so I will also be posting images to Flickr so I don’t fill up all your inboxes! (Nothing there yet – but please pop over as the week progresses!)

Ciao Bellas! Wish me luck! x

New ‘Dress Up’ vases to be launched in Milan by my fave Japanese design studio – Nendo!

Last week I got a super sweet email from a reader living in the Netherlands by the name of Tip. I replied to her lovely note and asked if she had a blog of her own… she said not just yet, but that she is actually working on a book, and has a Tumblr page full of inspiration.

So to be totally honest I still don’t quite have my head around Tumblr… but OMG – Tip’s page is so chocka block of picture-perfect eclectic interior design gold you totally have to check it out. SO many beautifully decorated European apartments full of insanely gorgeous twentieth century furniture, kooky artworks and brilliant contemporary lighting. Tip’s site is truly a treasure trove of uniquely European interiors eye candy… you will be lost for hours.

I discovered these fabulous knitted pendant ‘Matt’ lamps by Berlin-based design studio Lott Llov on Tip’s site… how freaking awesome are they???

Llot Llov also make another similarly gorgeous style with a knitted ‘shade’… major swoon. Where can I get these in Melbourne…!? Melbourne retailers… are you listening??

Ray lights by Berlin design studio Llot Llov

Staple Design for New Balance Pigeon sneaker

Staple Design for New Balance Pigeon White sneaker

Staple Design Airwalk sneakers

If you’re around this weekend in Melbourne and have an interest in streetwear culture and/or designer SNEAKERS (aka runners), Buffet is probably right up your alley.

Buffet is an industry tradeshow, public expo and trade/retail marketplace with a focus on streetwear and urban style / culture, and will also incorporate discussion forums with some incredible local and international designers over the next three days. If you’re a retailer, streetwear industry hot shot or just a die-hard sneaker lover, chances are there’ll be something to tickle your fancy…

Speaking of industry hot shots… it doesn’t get much more impressive than NYC streetwear guru Jeffrey Staple – entrepreneur, clothing and product designer, founder of super cool New York design studio Staple Design, and owner of retail store Reed Space.

Staple Design have collaborated on some incredible projects in the last few years – designing sneakers for Nike, New Balance and Converse, and co-branding everything from Lomo cameras to a Kia car. But it was Staple’s ‘Pigeon’ design for the classic Nike Dunk sneaker in 2005 which really got tongues wagging, and propelled Jeff Staple to a new level of design super stardom. Taking inspiration from the manky birds that fill New York City, Staple designed this limited edition shoe in brave salmon/pink, white and grey tones. This unexpected new colourway was a runaway success – and it’s launch incited a now infamous ruckus in Manhattan – not to mention some pretty heavy-handed crowd control care of the NYPD. Jeepers. What is it about guys and sneakers?

Jeff Staple is currently in Melbourne, and will be leading a discussion forum tomorrow at The Factory in Melbourne’s CBD! For all info and bookings, visit the Buffet website. Meantime – have a little read about him in this interview below. He also writes a hugely popular design blog. OH and he is tweeting some hilarious things since he landed in Melbourne…! ie: “2 questions for u Melbourne: 1) Do ppl have jobs? Cuz theres lots of ppl chillin outside on a thurs. 2) Where do u hide the ugly people?“. Awww!! Nothing like an enthusiastic tourist. Keep the compliments coming and you’ll make many friends here buddy! :)

Tell me a little about your background – what path led you to what you are doing now?


Hmmm…it’s just a long series of accidents that led to me where I am today. There was no plan. No business proposal. I just had a passion for what I believed in and worked my ass off to maintain it. And some luck of course.

You run a creative agency, a clothing line and a retail store. Oh, and and you write an excellent blog! You must be pretty busy! How do you structure your time to juggle all these projects and still stay one step ahead of the pack?


I try to be super efficient with my communications. I try to have technology work to increase my productivity. But at the same time, I am not enslaved to technology. And most importantly, I have an incredible team. Without them it would be impossible.

Reed Space retail store

After famous collaborations with incredible brand such as Nike, New Balance, and Lomo cameras, you must get so many requests these days. How do you decide who to work with, and what do you look for in a client when starting a new creative collaboration?

It’s important that I have respect for the company… and that the respect is mutual. The synergy between Staple and Company X has to be there as well. It’s actually quite difficult to articulate. It’s 51% gut feeling. 49% actual reasoning.

Staple Design’s Lomo camera

Staple for Timberland

Your Pigeon design for Nike was insanely popular and set a new benchmark in limited edition streetwear – what is it with boys and sneakers!? Why do you think this particular launch was such an incredible success? Did the response surprise you?


Yes I definitely did.
 I chalk this up to simply the planets aligning. I often say if you put the same parties and elements together today, the results would not be the same. The series of events that led to the Pigeon release was really a stroke of insane occurrences. I agree with you, it was a benchmark in the era of sneaker culture. That event opened the floodgates. But to recreate it would be impossible today.

How is your business structured? – ie how many staff work with you at Staple Design, which tasks do you still handle personally, and which significant tasks do you outsource?

There are 18 people working at Staple and Reed Space. I touch almost every aspect of Staple Clothing, Staple Design and Reed Space. I think I have a good balance of touching projects and also letting my team take full accountability. I don’t over micromanage. But I am also not absent. It’s that combination of trust and guidance that I try to maintain.

What does a typical day at work involve for you? 


Wake up at 9am to hit the gym. Workout for an hour. Shower. Eat. In the office by 11. The typical workday is anything but typical. Because of all the things we do, I don’t know what’s going to hit me. I spend the next 8-9 hours letting issues wash over me like a wave in the ocean. I put out fires. Massage egos. Check balances and balance checks. Not much design happens unfortunately. A lot of emailing, chatting, calling, meeting and running around. Then 8pm-9pm comes and I go have a bite. Usually out. Usually with a close friend or work colleague. Then at 10pm I go home with my laptop and its right back to work. Typically till about 3am. The midnight hours are when design work gets done. Nothing to really bother me here so I can focus on creative things. It’s also usually at this time that I assign tasks to my team; sending them these late night emails that they take care of when they come in the next day.

What would be your dream creative project?


I’ve been so blessed that I can die now and be very content. There’s nothing more I dream of. In fact, I hate dreaming. Honestly.

Kia / Staple Design collaboration

What are you looking forward to?


Retirement. We’ll see how long I can do that for.

NYC Questions

Your favourite neighbourhood in NYC and why?


The Lower East Side. It’s the last neighborhood in NYC that actually feels somewhat like a “neighborhood”. It’s quiet, creative and laid back. I live here.. Staple Design Studio is here. And Reed Space is here. My whole life is with in 4 walking blocks.

What/where was the last great meal you ate in NYC?


Haha…I’m a food snob AND I live in Manhattan. Every night is a great meal. That’s how I reward myself. So tonight I went for BBQ at Georgia’s on Orchard Street. Yum!

Where would we find you on a typical Saturday morning?

Having brunch at Gemma in The Bowery Hotel. Say hello to Karim, the manager and tell him Jeff sent you.

New York’s best kept secret?

New York’s best secret? We’re not actually all that cool.

Queues and campouts for the New Balance / Staple sneakers!