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Art College of Design at Milan's Salone Internazionale Del Mobile
In March the Art Center College of Design took ten of its students to compete at the prestigious Salone Internazionale del Mobile in Milan, Italy.
Regarded as the premier furniture product event in the world, the Salone is part of iSaloni -- an immense, multi-show trade fair that brings together more than 2,100 leading exhibitors from around the world. Offering an extensive array of products, services and activities throughout the week, the event is designed to embrace the creative and dynamic culture of the international furniture market. An estimated 170,000 trade visitors from 140 countries are expected to attend.
The ten students from Art Center's Environmental Design Department were invited to join a select group of individuals in exhibiting their original furniture entries at the fair's SaloneSatellite, a special public event devoted to spotlighting the newest and most provocative work of both accomplished designers and young talent from around the globe.
"We're really excited to be a part of Salone this year," said Patricia Belton Oliver, AIA, chair of Art Center's Environmental Design Department. "It's a great chance for our students to show off their creativity and vision to the most influential gathering of designers in the world, as well as get a first-hand look at the best the industry has to offer and what other designers are up to. It'll be a great learning experience for them."
With entries ranging from sofas and chairs, to desks and lighting fixtures, the students' work are unique, yet share a common thread of being highly utilitarian. The participants and entries are:
Kimberly Jo Murray ("Yo-Yo F.T.H." lamp);
Denise Assad ("Serpentin Chaise" outdoor chair);
Holly Schmitt ("Duplicity" bench/table/love seat); and
Kelly Lee ("Chat" chair).
Others not pictured are: Amy Ruddick ("422 Holes" bench); Sean Yoo (sofa/side table/desk/storage shelf); Philip Godfrey Aja ("FOSA" bench/day bed/love seat); Monika Wahyu ("Pupil" desk); Aaron Rincover ("Tactility" lighting); Jonaton Guzman Damian ("Elytra" chair)
"Our students' work is a reflection of a guiding philosophy of the department about so-called smart design not isolated to technological advancements," explained Oliver. "When you first see the pieces, you're initially struck by how fabulous they look. Upon closer examination, you'll learn how adaptable and useful they are, as well. Design today needs to be attractive and multifunctional, because people have placed greater expectations on their environments, and I think our students have really captured that in their work."
FOR NEARLY 40 YEARS, the Salone Internazionale del Mobile has been a traditional trade show where exhibitors promoted their corporate strategies and philosophies through the products they displayed, as well as a forum for learning about the newest ideas within the culture of furniture design. The SaloneSatellite, which debuted three years ago, was intended to bring this innovative culture to the public, by giving them a glimpse of the industry's future. For more information on iSaloni, visit www.isaloni.it
The students will display their pieces at Art Center's exhibit booth for the duration of Salone. Upon their return to California, the pieces will be exhibited at the school's Pasadena campus, or at another featured exhibition.
Furniture design is one of several areas of study offered by Art Center's Environmental Design Department. Projects completed for this emphasis are intended to impact the environment for which they are produced, or to create an environment integral to its design. Other specializations in the Environmental Design department include set design for film and theatre, production design for film, interior architecture, environmental graphics, lighting and exhibit design, and themed environments.
Founded in 1930, Art Center College of Design is an internationally recognized school of art and design. An independent, nonprofit, four-year accredited college, Art Center confers bachelors and masters degrees in several disciplines, including Advertising, Entertainment Design, Environmental Design, Film, Fine Art, Graphic Design, Illustration, Photography, Product Design, Transportation Design, Communication and New Media Design, Art Theory and Criticism. Approximately 1,200 full-time students representing more than 35 countries are enrolled at the school, which is located in Pasadena, Calif.
This article and the wonderful samples of the talented students was sent in by Scott Taylor - Thank you Scott! be sure to visit the Art Center of Design web site at: www.ArtCenter.edu
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