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Design of the Future: Flexible, Sustainable and Slow
At Salone del Mobile 2022, eight designers reflect on the future of homes, interiors, furniture and design
Roberta del Vaglio
18 June 2022
The future of design may have already been written. This is what we’ve learned talking to designers at the Salone del Mobile fair (recently held in Milan, Italy, from 7 to 12 June 2022), who have kept an eye on how home dynamics, and therefore interior design and furnishings, are changing.
Designers are seeing consumers seek out homes they can live in with ease, designed not only with style and trends in mind, but homes that take into consideration functionality and opportunities to share spaces with family, friends and work colleagues. Flexible and easy-to-use furnishings and interior solutions help make this happen. Consumers are looking for items that are designed to last, too, because durable furnishings are more sustainable. The era of fast design is over, these designers declare, as we regain an appreciation for unique pieces.
Designers are seeing consumers seek out homes they can live in with ease, designed not only with style and trends in mind, but homes that take into consideration functionality and opportunities to share spaces with family, friends and work colleagues. Flexible and easy-to-use furnishings and interior solutions help make this happen. Consumers are looking for items that are designed to last, too, because durable furnishings are more sustainable. The era of fast design is over, these designers declare, as we regain an appreciation for unique pieces.
Serena Confalonieri. Photo by Andrea Agrati.
Serena Confalonieri, Italy
Influenced by 20th-century graphic art, Serena Confalonieri showcased her Arcadia pouf for Gebrüder Thonet Vienna at the trade fair. The piece features a geometric supporting structure made out of the company’s signature curved wood. She also presented her Venus lamp collection for Servomuto, featuring a lycra component inspired by 1960s aesthetics.
Hybrid decor and sustainable production processes
“The most recent changes in our social and work lives have created increasingly hybrid spaces. It’s therefore fundamental that pieces can adapt to new lifestyles, and new ways of working and living. Some rooms in the house have turned into offices, while offices have been increasingly seeking to create a home-like atmosphere – making adaptable and flexible furnishings prevalent in design,” says Confalonieri.
More than materials: the road to sustainability begins with a new production model
“Before we look at materials, we have to focus on production, and on production without stock; made-to-order must become a new consumer habit. We may not always be able to choose artisanal products, but it’s important to recognise and appreciate real ‘Made in Italy’, and not only as a symbol of quality but as a production process that favours an ethical approach to choosing materials and to labour standards,” she says.
Serena Confalonieri, Italy
Influenced by 20th-century graphic art, Serena Confalonieri showcased her Arcadia pouf for Gebrüder Thonet Vienna at the trade fair. The piece features a geometric supporting structure made out of the company’s signature curved wood. She also presented her Venus lamp collection for Servomuto, featuring a lycra component inspired by 1960s aesthetics.
Hybrid decor and sustainable production processes
“The most recent changes in our social and work lives have created increasingly hybrid spaces. It’s therefore fundamental that pieces can adapt to new lifestyles, and new ways of working and living. Some rooms in the house have turned into offices, while offices have been increasingly seeking to create a home-like atmosphere – making adaptable and flexible furnishings prevalent in design,” says Confalonieri.
More than materials: the road to sustainability begins with a new production model
“Before we look at materials, we have to focus on production, and on production without stock; made-to-order must become a new consumer habit. We may not always be able to choose artisanal products, but it’s important to recognise and appreciate real ‘Made in Italy’, and not only as a symbol of quality but as a production process that favours an ethical approach to choosing materials and to labour standards,” she says.
Serena Confalonieri with her Arcadia pouf for Gebrüder Thonet Vienna. Photo by Carlo Mossetti, Buccia Studio 03.
The person at the centre
“There’s an increasing demand for personalised products, a trend that puts the person at the centre. And because our personalities are so multifaceted, we need a personal style that evolves and grows to incorporate new tastes and preferences as we go along. I thus think it’s essential that design adapts to this mix of different styles, each as unique as the individual,” says Confalonieri.
Coherent projects: combining flexibility, craftsmanship and sustainability
“All my new projects are faithful to these values: flexibility, craftsmanship, and sustainability, as I’ve explained. The companies that I’ve chosen to work with, Gebrüder Thonet Vienna, Servomuto and Victoria Arduino, all have approaches that are in line with my philosophy,” she says.
Find, follow and network with other design professionals on Houzz
The person at the centre
“There’s an increasing demand for personalised products, a trend that puts the person at the centre. And because our personalities are so multifaceted, we need a personal style that evolves and grows to incorporate new tastes and preferences as we go along. I thus think it’s essential that design adapts to this mix of different styles, each as unique as the individual,” says Confalonieri.
Coherent projects: combining flexibility, craftsmanship and sustainability
“All my new projects are faithful to these values: flexibility, craftsmanship, and sustainability, as I’ve explained. The companies that I’ve chosen to work with, Gebrüder Thonet Vienna, Servomuto and Victoria Arduino, all have approaches that are in line with my philosophy,” she says.
Find, follow and network with other design professionals on Houzz
Draga Obradovic and Aurel K Basedow of Draga & Aurel. Photo by Piero Gemelli.
Draga Obradovic and Aurel K Basedow, Serbia, Germany and Italy
Draga Obradovic and Aurel K Basedow combine industrial production with fine craftsmanship. At Salone del Mobile, they presented new collections for Baxter, Gallotti&Radice, Visionnaire, Wall&Decò and Essential Home.
As part of Milano Design Week 2022, the design duo also presented at Fuorisalone in Milan (held from 6 to 12 June 2022), with independent projects for Rossana Orlandi and Nilufar Depot, and were at the Urban Matters exhibition at Superstudio Più.
Decor must convey emotion
“We’ve always felt that a piece of decor, just like a work of art, should be able to convey feelings, emotions, passion and, above all, beauty. Beauty carries different – and positive – vibrations. And it’s also memory: objects must tell a story, which is why we design pieces that hold onto the memories of designers who came before us, as well as of historical periods and lifestyles,” say Obradovic and Basedow.
The design of the future? It’s collectible
“We believe that trends are moving towards customisation and a blending of genres, due also to a change in client requests. If brands were once reassuring status symbols, today people seek out exclusive, one-of-a-kind pieces, made just for them. It’s a return to quality, to making things to measure and by hand.”
Draga Obradovic and Aurel K Basedow, Serbia, Germany and Italy
Draga Obradovic and Aurel K Basedow combine industrial production with fine craftsmanship. At Salone del Mobile, they presented new collections for Baxter, Gallotti&Radice, Visionnaire, Wall&Decò and Essential Home.
As part of Milano Design Week 2022, the design duo also presented at Fuorisalone in Milan (held from 6 to 12 June 2022), with independent projects for Rossana Orlandi and Nilufar Depot, and were at the Urban Matters exhibition at Superstudio Più.
Decor must convey emotion
“We’ve always felt that a piece of decor, just like a work of art, should be able to convey feelings, emotions, passion and, above all, beauty. Beauty carries different – and positive – vibrations. And it’s also memory: objects must tell a story, which is why we design pieces that hold onto the memories of designers who came before us, as well as of historical periods and lifestyles,” say Obradovic and Basedow.
The design of the future? It’s collectible
“We believe that trends are moving towards customisation and a blending of genres, due also to a change in client requests. If brands were once reassuring status symbols, today people seek out exclusive, one-of-a-kind pieces, made just for them. It’s a return to quality, to making things to measure and by hand.”
Nora chest of drawers from the Heritage collection by Draga & Aurel. Photo by Federica Lissoni.
Sustainability is a complex process
“Sustainability is a very complex concept that requires measuring solidly at every level of a company, otherwise it risks becoming a mere marketing campaign. And precisely because we care deeply about it, we prefer to speak more about sustainable design, about reclaiming pieces.
“This is the concept at the heart of our Heritage collection, made up of unique vintage pieces we picked from antiques markets. We then gave the pieces new life using artisanal techniques – which we also consider ‘reclaimed’ as several had been all but abandoned – to give new life to the materials, the wood, the metal, and then to transform them with cast resin applications,” say the designers.
Sustainability is a complex process
“Sustainability is a very complex concept that requires measuring solidly at every level of a company, otherwise it risks becoming a mere marketing campaign. And precisely because we care deeply about it, we prefer to speak more about sustainable design, about reclaiming pieces.
“This is the concept at the heart of our Heritage collection, made up of unique vintage pieces we picked from antiques markets. We then gave the pieces new life using artisanal techniques – which we also consider ‘reclaimed’ as several had been all but abandoned – to give new life to the materials, the wood, the metal, and then to transform them with cast resin applications,” say the designers.
Nicola Gallizia.
Nicola Gallizia, Italy
Beauty, functionality and conviviality are the elements guiding Nicola Gallizia’s latest designs. At Salone del Mobile, he presented with Molteni&C | Dada, Francesco Molon, Riviere, Henry Glass, TM Italia and Papadatos, as well as a project with Battilossi at Fuorisalone.
Greater awareness of the nature of a home
“Homes have become one of the most thought-provoking topics in recent years, as, like it or not, we’ve spent much more time in them. Now and in the future, I predict a greater awareness that we need homes to actually spend our lives in and share. A home should be versatile and perform multiple functions at the same time,” says Gallizia.
Function and beauty
“Function must not come at the expense of the beauty or style we want to surround ourselves with. The requests I now receive are for homes that are beautiful, but can respond to new needs at the same time,” he says.
Homes are increasingly versatile and convivial
“The home of the future is versatile and convivial; for example, the dining table can become a home office during the day and therefore needs to be in a more private area of the home; then you eat lunch and dinner there, then it becomes a study space for younger members of the family, to once again become a space to spend time together, which is much needed.
“A versatile home can respond to these needs with more than just furniture, but with opening and closing systems that allow you to have more privacy in a space at one moment, and then reconnect it with the rest of the house with little effort,” says Gallizia.
Nicola Gallizia, Italy
Beauty, functionality and conviviality are the elements guiding Nicola Gallizia’s latest designs. At Salone del Mobile, he presented with Molteni&C | Dada, Francesco Molon, Riviere, Henry Glass, TM Italia and Papadatos, as well as a project with Battilossi at Fuorisalone.
Greater awareness of the nature of a home
“Homes have become one of the most thought-provoking topics in recent years, as, like it or not, we’ve spent much more time in them. Now and in the future, I predict a greater awareness that we need homes to actually spend our lives in and share. A home should be versatile and perform multiple functions at the same time,” says Gallizia.
Function and beauty
“Function must not come at the expense of the beauty or style we want to surround ourselves with. The requests I now receive are for homes that are beautiful, but can respond to new needs at the same time,” he says.
Homes are increasingly versatile and convivial
“The home of the future is versatile and convivial; for example, the dining table can become a home office during the day and therefore needs to be in a more private area of the home; then you eat lunch and dinner there, then it becomes a study space for younger members of the family, to once again become a space to spend time together, which is much needed.
“A versatile home can respond to these needs with more than just furniture, but with opening and closing systems that allow you to have more privacy in a space at one moment, and then reconnect it with the rest of the house with little effort,” says Gallizia.
Constance Guisset. Photo by Felipe Ribon.
Constance Guisset, France
Sophisticated but down to earth, Constance Guisset loves to explore all areas of design, from lighting to furnishings, even venturing into fashion and accessories. Among the collaborations she presented at Salone del Mobile and Fuorisalone were her work with Billiani, La Manufacture, and Tectona Paris, for whom she was commissioned to design a new showroom.
The future of design is exciting
“I expect to be surprised by the future of design. From new functions, new ways of living, new technologies and materials … we can’t lose our enthusiasm for what’s coming next, including the challenges, like the environmental crisis. We have to be more imaginative than ever. But I think we have to act now. The future is now,” says Guisset.
Sustainability is a collective journey
“There are many ways to pursue sustainability in design. We can work on materials, packaging, shipping… there are many factors involved and we need to work together and combine forces. One interesting way could be designing products that last longer so we don’t have to replace them. Then we can give them to our children.
“Another way is obviously working on good concepts, on solid projects that will stand the test of time. But we also have to be mindful of aesthetics when designing objects. They’ll have to go beyond trends and remain appealing – they have to be visually sustainable. Part of a designer’s job is to create objects that we’ll want in our homes for a long time,” says Guisset.
Constance Guisset, France
Sophisticated but down to earth, Constance Guisset loves to explore all areas of design, from lighting to furnishings, even venturing into fashion and accessories. Among the collaborations she presented at Salone del Mobile and Fuorisalone were her work with Billiani, La Manufacture, and Tectona Paris, for whom she was commissioned to design a new showroom.
The future of design is exciting
“I expect to be surprised by the future of design. From new functions, new ways of living, new technologies and materials … we can’t lose our enthusiasm for what’s coming next, including the challenges, like the environmental crisis. We have to be more imaginative than ever. But I think we have to act now. The future is now,” says Guisset.
Sustainability is a collective journey
“There are many ways to pursue sustainability in design. We can work on materials, packaging, shipping… there are many factors involved and we need to work together and combine forces. One interesting way could be designing products that last longer so we don’t have to replace them. Then we can give them to our children.
“Another way is obviously working on good concepts, on solid projects that will stand the test of time. But we also have to be mindful of aesthetics when designing objects. They’ll have to go beyond trends and remain appealing – they have to be visually sustainable. Part of a designer’s job is to create objects that we’ll want in our homes for a long time,” says Guisset.
Sebastian Herkner. Photo by Gabi Gerster.
Sebastian Herkner, Germany
This year at Salone del Mobile, Herkner presented his first bathroom collection, Zencha for Duravit, as well as various other collaborations including Emu, CoEdition, Ondarreta, Punt and Freifrau Manufaktur. He was also responsible for the Circolo Thonet installation for Thonet at Circolo Filologico Milanese.
Companies have to invest in new generations
“I’m happy that Salone Satellite is back – with great effort from Salone del Mobile – because it’s such an important platform for new generations. Young designers are courageous and one of their priorities is sustainability, but unfortunately they’ve had so little visibility without trade shows these past few years. Companies in this sector, on the other hand, did quite well because people invested in interiors, so at the moment they’re solid enough to invest in new generations,” says Herkner.
Responsible design, for life
“It’s important that we designers understand the responsibility we have when developing new products. At the same time, the public has to understand how important it is to buy products they’ll use for life, and not just for a few years before throwing them away. Before Covid, everything was fast: fast fashion, fast food, fast furniture. And now it’s time to think slow, local, and responsible. I hope that this is a powerful movement that sweeps the entire industry.”
Sebastian Herkner, Germany
This year at Salone del Mobile, Herkner presented his first bathroom collection, Zencha for Duravit, as well as various other collaborations including Emu, CoEdition, Ondarreta, Punt and Freifrau Manufaktur. He was also responsible for the Circolo Thonet installation for Thonet at Circolo Filologico Milanese.
Companies have to invest in new generations
“I’m happy that Salone Satellite is back – with great effort from Salone del Mobile – because it’s such an important platform for new generations. Young designers are courageous and one of their priorities is sustainability, but unfortunately they’ve had so little visibility without trade shows these past few years. Companies in this sector, on the other hand, did quite well because people invested in interiors, so at the moment they’re solid enough to invest in new generations,” says Herkner.
Responsible design, for life
“It’s important that we designers understand the responsibility we have when developing new products. At the same time, the public has to understand how important it is to buy products they’ll use for life, and not just for a few years before throwing them away. Before Covid, everything was fast: fast fashion, fast food, fast furniture. And now it’s time to think slow, local, and responsible. I hope that this is a powerful movement that sweeps the entire industry.”
Zencha by Sebastian Herkner for Duravit.
The evolution of the bathroom
“The bathroom is gaining importance because it’s the only private space where you’re truly alone, where you can relax and recharge. This is why it should be a bigger space. And it’s getting closer and more integrated with the bedroom, just like what happened with the kitchen and the living room. Bathroom design should be inspired by environmental responsibility, which translates into choosing materials carefully as well as being able to repair and reuse various elements. These aspects, of course, are important outside of bathroom design, too,” says Herkner.
Browse beautiful bathrooms by talented Australian designers
The evolution of the bathroom
“The bathroom is gaining importance because it’s the only private space where you’re truly alone, where you can relax and recharge. This is why it should be a bigger space. And it’s getting closer and more integrated with the bedroom, just like what happened with the kitchen and the living room. Bathroom design should be inspired by environmental responsibility, which translates into choosing materials carefully as well as being able to repair and reuse various elements. These aspects, of course, are important outside of bathroom design, too,” says Herkner.
Browse beautiful bathrooms by talented Australian designers
Federico Peri. Photo by Stefan Giftthaler.
Federico Peri, Italy
Federico Peri designs interiors, furnishings, and lighting. His work is known for extreme attention to detail, elegant aesthetics, and the use of combinations of authentic, rather than synthetic, materials. Among the projects he presented at Salone del Mobile and Fuorisalone were collaborations with the brands Marta Sala Éditions and Gervasoni.
Optimising space, indoors and out
“The fluidity and function of spaces are increasingly important after the Covid experience. The same can be said for space optimisation, especially in cities where homes are smaller, and the need to create workspaces in the house.
“Statistics also reveal a growing demand for outdoor design and furnishings. If prior to the pandemic only two out of 10 people took good care of their balconies, while the others just put out a couple of potted plants, now people are paying more attention to other aspects, from the flooring to the organisation, to creating a little corner to eat lunch or dinner in,” says Peri.
Specialised design
“In the future, I see more specialisation. There will be, for example, designers who focus entirely on lighting, or outdoor spaces, or living rooms and so forth. I predict that clients will also try to be even more informed, and this, on one hand, will make them more aware, but on the other hand, more confused, and our work will have to take this into account as well,” he says.
Federico Peri, Italy
Federico Peri designs interiors, furnishings, and lighting. His work is known for extreme attention to detail, elegant aesthetics, and the use of combinations of authentic, rather than synthetic, materials. Among the projects he presented at Salone del Mobile and Fuorisalone were collaborations with the brands Marta Sala Éditions and Gervasoni.
Optimising space, indoors and out
“The fluidity and function of spaces are increasingly important after the Covid experience. The same can be said for space optimisation, especially in cities where homes are smaller, and the need to create workspaces in the house.
“Statistics also reveal a growing demand for outdoor design and furnishings. If prior to the pandemic only two out of 10 people took good care of their balconies, while the others just put out a couple of potted plants, now people are paying more attention to other aspects, from the flooring to the organisation, to creating a little corner to eat lunch or dinner in,” says Peri.
Specialised design
“In the future, I see more specialisation. There will be, for example, designers who focus entirely on lighting, or outdoor spaces, or living rooms and so forth. I predict that clients will also try to be even more informed, and this, on one hand, will make them more aware, but on the other hand, more confused, and our work will have to take this into account as well,” he says.
Asia table lamps by Federico Peri for Contardi.
Timeless furnishings are sustainable
“I find it rather unsustainable to design trendy products that do really well in the beginning, but then are far less requested after just a few years. As a designer, I don’t have control over the entire production process, but what I personally try to do is to follow an ideal of ‘timelessness’ rather than designing things that will only last a short while,” says Peri.
Timeless furnishings are sustainable
“I find it rather unsustainable to design trendy products that do really well in the beginning, but then are far less requested after just a few years. As a designer, I don’t have control over the entire production process, but what I personally try to do is to follow an ideal of ‘timelessness’ rather than designing things that will only last a short while,” says Peri.
Vincent Van Duysen. Photo by Zeb Daemen.
Vincent Van Duysen, Belgium
Creative director of Molteni&C since 2016, his approach to design has always revolved around finding an essential, timeless style that goes beyond the trends of the moment.
Timeless design to make life better
“As I see it, the main point of product and furniture design is to improve the life of human beings in an organic, timeless way. Since the beginning of my career thirty years ago, the most important thing has been to consider design and architecture as a profession dedicated to mankind, and this means starting from the architecture of places, in which inhabitants need to feel protected and relaxed, before moving to the furniture and objects that surround them, which are necessary to live a comfortable, happy life,” says Van Duysen.
Slow design, natural materials and an artisanal approach
“I always try to use organic, natural materials. In general, I believe that design is becoming more and more what it should be: focused and placing greater attention on sustainability, on craftsmanship, on quality in general and, in particular, on the use of high-quality materials. I think that in the future we’ll see a shift to a kind of slow design characterised by timeless pieces that are passed on from generation to generation.”
Local materials for sustainability
“I want my projects and products to stand the test of time so that they’re never replaced and don’t create waste. I also try to be sustainable by using local materials so that every element comes from nearby and not from the other side of the planet,” he says.
Your turn
Do your clients’ wishes align with these designers’ aspirations? Share your experiences in the Comments below, like this story, save the images for inspiration, and join the conversation.
More
Ready for your next dose of news from the great global stage of design? Catch up on 10 Contemporary Lighting Trends for 2022 From New York
Vincent Van Duysen, Belgium
Creative director of Molteni&C since 2016, his approach to design has always revolved around finding an essential, timeless style that goes beyond the trends of the moment.
Timeless design to make life better
“As I see it, the main point of product and furniture design is to improve the life of human beings in an organic, timeless way. Since the beginning of my career thirty years ago, the most important thing has been to consider design and architecture as a profession dedicated to mankind, and this means starting from the architecture of places, in which inhabitants need to feel protected and relaxed, before moving to the furniture and objects that surround them, which are necessary to live a comfortable, happy life,” says Van Duysen.
Slow design, natural materials and an artisanal approach
“I always try to use organic, natural materials. In general, I believe that design is becoming more and more what it should be: focused and placing greater attention on sustainability, on craftsmanship, on quality in general and, in particular, on the use of high-quality materials. I think that in the future we’ll see a shift to a kind of slow design characterised by timeless pieces that are passed on from generation to generation.”
Local materials for sustainability
“I want my projects and products to stand the test of time so that they’re never replaced and don’t create waste. I also try to be sustainable by using local materials so that every element comes from nearby and not from the other side of the planet,” he says.
Your turn
Do your clients’ wishes align with these designers’ aspirations? Share your experiences in the Comments below, like this story, save the images for inspiration, and join the conversation.
More
Ready for your next dose of news from the great global stage of design? Catch up on 10 Contemporary Lighting Trends for 2022 From New York
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