L'Italo-Americano

L'Italo-Americano THURSDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2025 www.italoamericano.org 4 H o w c a n d e s i g n a n d architecture help address s o c i a l inequality? Can sustainable responses to climate change foster more inclusive com- munities? These were among the key questions explored during the Italian Design Day in the World, held on September 30 at the Ameri- can Institute of Archi- tects (AIA) in Los Ange- les. Established in 2017 by Italy's Ministry of Foreign Affairs with the support of the Ministry of Culture, Ital- ian Design Day is a coordi- nated, worldwide program t h a t e a c h y e a r m o b i l i z e s d e s i g n e r s , c u r a t o r s , a n d institutions to present Italy's design culture through talks, exhibitions, and site-specific initiatives. The Los Angeles event followed this format, convening a public conversa- tion, as we mentioned, at AIA LA on design as a driver of equity and sustainability. T h i s y e a r ' s e d i t i o n focused on the Salone del M o b i l e . M i l a n o , t h e world's leading design fair and a global showcase of creativity, craftsmanship, and innovation. "The Salone is a place where industry meets society," explained Marco Sabetta, the fair's g e n e r a l m a n a g e r , u n d e r - scoring how it serves as a catalyst for dialogue on how design can shape a fairer future. "We create a plat- f o r m w h e r e c o m p a n i e s , schools, institutions, and creative communities can e x c h a n g e i d e a s , a s p a c e where different perspectives are curated into a shared vision that helps steer the sector. The dialogue begins in Milan, but it continues all year long, around the world, g e n e r a t i n g b o t h c u l t u r a l growth and concrete oppor- tunities." Founded in 1961 to pro- m o t e I t a l i a n f u r n i t u r e e x p o r t s , t h e S a l o n e d e l Mobile has since grown into a benchmark for the global design industry and the key- s t o n e o f M i l a n D e s i g n Week, with a citywide pro- g r a m t h a t e x t e n d s w e l l beyond the fairgrounds. Its ecosystem includes Salone- Satellite, launched in 1998 by Marva Griffin to spot- light under-35 talent, link- ing schools, young studios, and companies in a pipeline from prototype to produc- tion. Marco Sabetta brings a market-savvy profile to the Salone's platform: born in Milan in 1958, he earned a degree in Economics and Commerce at Bocconi Uni- versity and began his career at the Fininvest Group, later holding senior posts at Pub- litalia, E.BISCOM, and Pub- likompass, before moving into sports business as Com- m e r c i a l D i r e c t o r o f F . C . I n t e r n a z i o n a l e ( 2 0 0 4 – 2007). He became General Manager of the Salone in 2008, a role that led him to the coordination of its inter- national editions and to the development of a broader strategy that connects com- mercial outcomes with cul- tural programming. With Italian Design Day positioning design as a pub- l i c g o o d , a n d t h e S a l o n e offering a concrete forum where industry meets soci- ety, the Los Angeles conver- sation set the stage for a wider Milan-LA exchange on how design practice can a d v a n c e i n c l u s i o n w h i l e responding to climate reali- ties. D e s i g n a s a t o o l f o r equity is a powerful and p e r h a p s u n e x p e c t e d theme. As someone who has led the world's most i m p o r t a n t d e s i g n f a i r f o r y e a r s , h o w w o u l d you define the "social responsibility" of design today? Today, social responsibil- ity in design is an attitude: t h i n k i n g a b o u t p e o p l e b e f o r e o b j e c t s . I t m e a n s designing with care, creat- i n g t h i n g s t h a t l a s t , a n d respecting both those who make them and those who use them. It also means hav- ing the courage to say "no" w h e n c h o i c e s a r e n o t aligned with the sector's val- u e s . A t t h e S a l o n e , w e reward those who combine b e a u t y a n d q u a l i t y w i t h e x e m p l a r y b e h a v i o r . F o r t h i s r e a s o n , w e a s k o u r exhibitors to follow Green Guidelines that inform both d e s i g n a n d i n s t a l l a t i o n s : reusable and modular dis- plays; certified, recycled, or r e c y c l a b l e m a t e r i a l s ; responsible end-of-life man- agement; reduced packaging and single-use plastics; low- impact energy and services; m o r e e f f i c i e n t l o g i s t i c s ; waste-conscious catering; supplier traceability; and adherence to ethical codes. For us, the way something is made speaks just as much as the final result. Milan and Los Ange- les are two very differ- ent creative capitals, yet Italian Design Day: LA puts equity and sustainability on stage SILVIA NITTOLI NEWS & FEATURES TOP STORIES PEOPLE EVENTS CONTINUED TO PAGE 6 Milan Design Week (above: an installation) is the motor behind the development of Italian Design Day around the world (Photo ©Alessandro Russotti)

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