Creature Comforts

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The Salone Internazionale del Mobile fair is where aficionados of design convene annually in Milan during the month of April. This year, over 300,000 spectators perused endless aisles of furniture, lighting and accessories on the fair’s 50th anniversary.

The sheer scope of companies represented is an indicator of the influence Italian-based design has had on the industry. “The Salone hasn’t really changed a lot, despite location and figures of exhibitors, exhibiting area and visitors,” said Cosmit President Carlo Guglielmi. “The major ingredients are quality and innovation, which have been the same since the first edition in 1961.”

Events ranged from exhibitions to the work of design students. “All the companies choose the Salone to launch their new products,” said Guglielmi. “Therefore they become a platform for the launch, a village that leads where other will follow, as it was once said in a very prestigious British magazine.”

The exhibitors and events range from classic to progressive and modernist. “The Salone has also always been a response to the needs of the exhibitors and the market,” Guglielmi said. This year lighting and office furniture were integrated into a single exhibition space. “Coupling these two exhibitions together has been a significant move, because designing lighting systems and offices always makes for many points of contact and overlaps.” Several exhibits will be on display in Milan including “Dream Factories” at the Triennale Design Museum. (Cosmit)