L'Italo-Americano

L'Italo-Americano THURSDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2025 www.italoamericano.org 6 NEWS & FEATURES TOP STORIES PEOPLE EVENTS both thrive on the inter- s e c t i o n o f d e s i g n , a r t , a n d t e c h n o l o g y . W h a t did you find most stimu- l a t i n g a b o u t e n g a g i n g w i t h t h e C a l i f o r n i a design scene, and what can Italian design still teach or learn from it? From Los Angeles, I take home its hybrid energy, the fusion of culture, technology, a n d e n t e r t a i n m e n t . F r o m Italy, we bring the depth of craftsmanship and a culture of detail. The best exchange happens right here: learning to prototype quickly without losing soul, and to tell stories of innovation with a human touch. In California, I saw great courage in experiment- ing with new formats and languages; from Italy, we bring a design memory that helps give roots to novelty. It's an encounter that enrich- es both worlds. The Salone del Mobile has increasingly become a c u l t u r a l a s w e l l a s a c o m m e r c i a l p l a t f o r m . H o w d o y o u m a i n t a i n t h e b a l a n c e b e t w e e n b u s i n e s s a n d c u l t u r e , between the market and a broader reflection on the future of living? The balance lies in curat- ing content that opens up new visions while helping companies meet the right people. Every special project acts as a bridge: emotions draw visitors into the stands, and ideas turn into relation- ships and opportunities. We stay the course with a coher- ent direction that places the v i s i t o r a t t h e c e n t e r a n d makes every choice mean- i n g f u l . I n t h i s w a y , t h e Salone remains both market- r e l e v a n t a n d g e n e r o u s t o w a r d t h e c o m m u n i t y . That's why we bring part of our program into the city, with installations designed to stay open even after the fair, for Milan's residents a n d f o r t h o s e w h o a r r i v e once the event's spotlight fades. We take inspiration from stage design languages such as Es Devlin's immer- s i v e s p a c e s w h e r e l i g h t , word, and sound converge, a n d R o b e r t W i l s o n ' s d r a - maturgy of light and time. In other words, we are not talk- ing about mere backdrops but narrative devices that d i a l o g u e w i t h t h e c i t y , e x t e n d i n g t h e c u l t u r a l impact of the Salone and creating tangible value in the urban fabric. For more than twenty years, the SaloneSatel- lite has been a showcase for designers under 35. How has the new gener- a t i o n ' s a p p r o a c h t o d e s i g n e v o l v e d , a n d what do they gain from e n g a g i n g w i t h e s t a b - lished companies? In the beginning, young designers would arrive with their "icon object," like a chair, a lamp, or a poetic piece. Today, they present working prototypes, often conceived as product fami- lies or services: modular fur- niture, hybrid materials, 3D- printed components, and repairable projects. They're more aware of production p r o c e s s e s a n d c o s t s , a n d they can explain why their project serves someone, not just why it looks good. From their dialogue with compa- nies, they learn three con- crete things: feasibility, that i s , w h a t c a n r e a l i s t i c a l l y e n t e r a c a t a l o g a n d w h a t c a n n o t ; i n d u s t r i a l t i m e , because a prototype requires development, testing, and support; and the value of relationships, because from that first meeting, intern- ships, licensing agreements, or co-developments can be b o r n . E v e r y y e a r , w e s e e y o u n g p e o p l e w h o , a f t e r exhibiting at the Satellite, join a company or sign their f i r s t p r o d u c t . O n e t h i n g , however, hasn't changed: the Satellite is, above all, a human encounter. Marva Griffin, its founder, listens t o a n d e n c o u r a g e s e v e r y y o u n g t a l e n t . A n d w h e n , years later, we see one of their products in store win- dows, we know that the first prototype on our floor was the right first step. How important is the international dimension t o d a y , a n d w h i c h n e w markets are you focus- ing on the most? We are an international community: Milan remains our center of gravity, but our listening extends outward. The United States, the Mid- dle East, India, and South- e a s t A s i a a r e t h e r e g i o n s where we're building lasting bridges. It's all about learn- ing how to listen to the cul- tures we engage with. In the Middle East, we'll debut Red i n P r o g r e s s . S a l o n e d e l M o b i l e . M i l a n o m e e t s Riyadh, a three-day event running from November 26 t o 2 8 , 2 0 2 5 , a t t h e K i n g Abdullah Financial District (KAFD). Organized with the A r c h i t e c t u r e a n d D e s i g n Commission of Saudi Ara- bia's Ministry of Culture, it w i l l b r i n g t o g e t h e r m o r e than 35 Italian brands and serve as a meeting point with the local design ecosystem. The format is conceived to activate concrete connec- tions between companies, architects, developers, and institutions. We bring the Salone wherever there is a desire for quality, adapting languages and formats with- out losing coherence. That's how authentic growth hap- pens. Milan and the Salone del Mobile have become inseparable. How do you envision their relation- ship evolving in the com- ing years, especially in a n e r a w h e n d i g i t a l innovation, sustainabili- ty, and the very concept of living are changing so rapidly? In the years ahead, I envi- sion a more porous ecosys- tem, one that connects pavil- i o n s , u r b a n s p a c e s , a n d digital tools in a fluid, wel- c o m i n g e x p e r i e n c e t h a t respects the pace of those who take part in it. The city will continue to serve as the "educating context," while the Salone remains the plat- form that connects. Togeth- er, they can guide the indus- try toward a more conscious, beautiful, and shared way of living. That is the commit- ment we renew every year. "Today, social responsibility in design is an attitude. It means designing with care, crea- ting things that last, and respecting both those who make them and those who use them" - Marco Sabetta CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4 From left, IIC LA Director Emanuele Amendola; Consul Lorenza Errighi; AIA LA Executive Director Carlo Caccavalle; Salone del Mobile Director Marco Sabetta; Consul General Raffaella Valentini; Principal of Atelier Manferdini and Chair of SCI-Arc Graduate Programs Elena Manferdini; Tighe Architecture's principal Patrick Tighe; and ICE LA Director, Giosafat Riganò (Photo courtesy of James Riva) Carlo Caccavalle, Marco Sabetta, Elena Manferdini and Patrick Tighe during Italian Design Day in Los Angeles (Photo courtesy of James Riva)

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