Design Language
New kid on the block speaks many languages
Press Release, Milan, Monday 20 February 2017
During Milan Design Week, from 4 to 9 April 2017, the Design Language exhibition will take place at Civica Scuola Interpreti e Traduttori 'Altiero Spinelli', which will be opening its doors for the very first time. This international design exhibition can be seen as a study of the layers of our everyday designs, the various design languages spoken around the world, and the wealth of cultural identities that lie behind objects. The show includes more than fifty design studios and brands, and brings together professionals from all over the world for a three-day conference.
Design Language demonstrates the number of different languages that designers speak. Whether it is colour, use of materials or style, the diversity is every bit as plentiful as the number of dialects spoken around the world. Ultimately, the final product says a great deal about the culture in which it was made. ‘Design Language is a cross between a trade fair and an exhibition in which diversity in approach and form is the leitmotiv,’ says David Heldt, co-initiator of the presentation during Salone del Mobile. The exhibition provides common ground where different design worlds collide and new alliances are forged.
Longframe (1993) by Alberto Meda for Alias in The Evolution of a Chair at Design Language 2017
The following is a selection of the more then 50 international designers and companies participating: ABK Stuttgart (DE), Viviana Degrandi (IT), Atelier 010 (NL), Designing Grand Tour (IT/NL/JP/CO), Alberto Meda (IT), STOLL (DE), Naqsh (JO), and SUWADA (JP). The origins of the represented design firms vary from Japan to Jordan and from Turkey to the Netherlands, to name just a few of the twelve countries taking part. Design Language also represents different generations, as reflected by, for example, the participating newcomers and Italian masters, including Alberto Meda (IT), Giulio Iacchetti (IT), José Kranen (NL), Edgar Flauw (FR), Uniqka (TR) and ROOFmatters (IT/NL). The outcome is as rich and diverse as a language can be.
Ludarista (surfboard) by Edgar Flauw. Image by Jeremy Boulc'h
Design Language is a three-year cultural design project at a brand new location. The project involves the participation of students and graduates from the Altiero Spinelli University and hosts a three-day international conference about design language with different speakers, such as Jacob de Baan, Paolo Cascone, Alvaro Catalan de Ocon, Aldo Colonetti, Alberto Meda, and Lorenzo Palmeri.
Design Language is an initiative by studio CARA \ DAVIDE and Connecting the Dots, and is developed in close collaboration with the Civica Scuola Interpreti e Traduttori 'Altiero Spinelli', the Comune di Milano, and Aldo Colonetti. Partners: Fondazione Milano, Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs, Tortona Design Week and Association of Dutch Designers (BNO).
STOLL Smart Textiles: 3D (knitted to shape) Balaclava with heated mesh structure in mouth area.
Design Language
Civica Scuola Interpreti e Traduttori ‘Altiero Spinelli’, Via Francesco Carchidio 2, 20144 Milan
Opening hours: Tuesday, 4 April – Sunday, 9 April 2017, 10 AM - 8 PM. Sunday till 6 PM.
Press Preview: Monday, 3 April, 2 PM - 5 PM.
Mixing the Dots Opening Cocktails: Monday, 3 April, 6 PM - 11 PM (by invitation only).
Note to editors, not for publication
Press Conference
Wednesday 22 March 2017, 10 AM
c/o Civica Scuola Interpreti e Traduttori ‘Altiero Spinelli’, Via Francesco Carchidio 2, 20144 Milano
RSVP: Bureau Deleau rsvp@thedots.nl / +31652472990
For more information and visual materials, please go to our Press Kit in Dropbox, contact our press officer Luc Deleau (press@thedots.nl / +31652472990) or project manager Davide Gramatica (designlanguage@thedots.nl / +393295421868), or visit our website www.designlanguage.thedots.nl
and design-culture internationally during key design events and fairs
