It was a great pleasure to hear that several products from “Design for Work” category were among the winners of del XXIV Compasso d’Oro ADI, the oldest and most authoritative Design Award. In particular, I’m referring to Flap by Caimi Brevetti and Vela by Tecno, and also to the Special Mentions to LaPalma for Add and Unifor for SC&A (..and a little bit disappointed for Privée by Ares Line, not selected by the Jury).
Quite rewarding for me, too, in a way. Actually, being in the board of ADI Design Index in the category “Design for Work” I could take part in the selection of these products, I had followed their path during these three years and had supported their value in the various stages leading to the final prize.
Lately, the “workplace” trade had not aroused the Compasso d’Oro jury’s interest, but thanks to those companies who have invested in research and innovation and shown a coherent planning consistency, 2016 marks a turning point, thus proving that the technological devices are not the only work tools, although absolutely necessary and not just in an innovation-oriented field.
The quality of work, real and perceived, also comes from the physical space (one of the three key words of Smart Working together with technology and management).
And furnishings, along with other interior design components, bears upon this quality, provided that they actually offer something new, help to improve the wellbeing of people.
The secret of these products intended to become masterpieces can be found in these wise statements by some of the professionals winners of the ADI Compasso d’Oro Career Achievement Awards 2016:
“As design engineers we do something about it. We’re all about invention and improvement.” (James Dyson, winner of international Career Achievement Award).
“I like to design products that last for years, products that are not intrusive and that give the feeling of having always been where you put them, but which also stimulate the imagination at the same time.” (Carlo Bartoli, winner of Italian Career Achievement Award).
“Italian design companies have shown that through expanding sensitivity and taste, the human capacity to connect the head, heart and hands is enhanced: a value that we associate with craftsmanship and incorporate into accepted Italian and therefore humanistic design.” (Rodrigo Rodriquez, winner of Italian Career Achievement Award).
“In the complexity of contemporary society there is always someone somewhere who is doing something unexpected and which goes in the right direction, that is, someone who has found how to deal with and solve a problem, while redefining and creating a new sociability at the same time.” (Ezio Manzini, winner of Italian Career Achievement Award).
We thank these promoters of the genuine vision of Design awarded by Compasso d’Oro.
Editorial by Renata Sias, editor WOW!
Captions (from left):
Flap di Caimi Brevetti (ADI Design Index 2014) design Alberto Meda, Francesco Meda. (Design for Work): “Compasso d’Oro for a free and versatile system that presents a new solution for invisible problems such as sound and noises.”
Vela di Tecno (ADI Design Index 2015) design Lievore Altherr Molina (Design for Work) “Compasso d’Oro for research that results in an elegant, lightweight, technological yet solid product that brilliantly integrates ergonomics and aesthetics”.
Add di Lapalma (ADI Design Index 2015) design Francesco Rota (Design for Work) “Special Mention for a Modular chair and backrest system for the design of waiting rooms or lounge environments”.
Parete SC&A di Unifor (ADI Design Index 2014) design Pierluigi Cerri, Alessandro Colombo – Studio Cerri & Associati (Design for Work) “Special mention. Only the glass walls are left exposed and it greatly lightens the perception of enclosed spaces so as to create a permeable, rational, and comfortable work environment”.
