the Italian touch

‘Italian touch’ is an impactful and effective expression that in media is increasingly associated with the perception of excellence that our design benefits from around the world.

The Italian style is indeed unique and original, the result of a millenary civilization that has sublimated over time, permeating all forms of culture and art.

A ‘magic touch’ that is characterized not only by a continuous search for beauty, made up of elegant shapes, clean lines and fine materials, but it is also the result of a ‘savoir-faire’ that embodies elements of craftsmanship and advanced technology, creating a sophisticated balance between tradition and innovation.

Italian designers have always been most talented in creating products that are both functional and attractive, with an emphasis on attention to detail and aesthetic appeal.

Indeed, our country was among the first to recognize and value industrial and architectural design as a distinctive feature of its identity, even as a tool for economic and cultural promotion.

Over the years, Italian design has been able to stand out in the world as one of the main examples of Made in Italy, becoming a symbol of prestige and excellence.

A success primarily due to its great versatility, ranging from art to architecture, from furniture to fashion, from giftware to automotive.

This is largely the result of the many companies and designers who have been able to express their creativity and technical skills to the fullest, becoming universally recognized models.

We might try to backdate the birth of this phenomenon to 1928, when Gio Ponti helped co-founding the magazine ‘Domus’, which later proved to be a major source of inspiration for designers, artists and entrepreneurs all over the world.

In the 1950s and 1960s, it was Ettore Sottsass and the staff of his studio, known as the ‘Memphis Group’, who brought a breath of fresh air and innovation, creating unique and ‘extravagant’ pieces that influenced many later designers.

Meanwhile, brothers Achille and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni created some of the most iconic and enduring design elements in history.

Alessandro Mendini, on the other hand, was one of the main representatives of the post-modernist movement, designing pieces that combined irony, color and geometric shapes.

This is just to mention a few of the most famous names in the history of Italian design, while being aware that we are wronging generations of other master innovators of the stature like

Marco Zanuso, Piero Fornasetti, Joe Colombo, Vico Magistretti, Mario Bellini, but the list would be far too long. 

During the 1970s and 1980s, Italian design became increasingly more relevant worldwide, with the launch of many new companies and brands that helped creating a strong and distinctive brand image.

Among contemporaries, Piero Lissoni, Patricia Urquiola and Antonio Citterio are just some of the examples of Italian designers who have achieved international success thanks to their creativity, innovation and ability to combine tradition and modernity.

Through their works, they have proved how Italian design is constantly evolving, while never losing sight of its identity and cultural roots.

Thanks to all of them and many other Italian design talents, the world continues to love and value Made in Italy, a powerful and influential movement, a unique cultural heritage and an inexhaustible attraction for enthusiasts and connoisseurs all over the world.