Sustainability at the heart of Italian Design Daykicking off on 9 March in Tunisiawith guests of the calibre of designer and architect Gianni Veneziano. This second edition develops precisely on the relationship between sustainability combined with cultureart and professionalism, but always with design the centre of attention. Yes, sustainability understood in the round, from an economic, social and environmental point of view, because this triple concept seems to be one of the cornerstones of the design industry.
Italian design and economic growth.
The same one that has contributed to Italy's economic growth, acting as a driver for the country's economy, with a well-tested 'recipe': beauty combined with quality raw materials, advanced production techniques and objective beauty of the products.
And it is no coincidence that the quality of 'things' is closely linked to sustainability. New products, in fact, go through environmental impact assessment and the choice of materials in their shapes and structures, thus aiming at a better quality of life and making a real contribution to environmental protection.
In this field the Italian design can always be considered innovative. A bit like in the kitchen, the artistic current of the moment goes hand in hand with the design schools, so that the Italian craft tradition, linked to technological innovation, remains at least current.
Gianni Veneziano with 'Change The Sign'.
For this edition of the Italian Design Day, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation has placed 'Living the Italian Way' at the heart of the year's theme, a way of sponsoring and publicising the style of the Italian flag from a productive and cultural point of view, an action integrated with the economy and scientific research. Among the various guests around the 100 cities hosting the event, Tunis will be attended by the architect and designer Gianni Veneziano. His lecture, scheduled for this morning, has been postponed to Saturday 10 March at 10am, due to an air strike that made it impossible to reach Tunisia.
Gianni Veneziano graduated from the Faculty of Architecture in Florence. He then moved to the United States, where he collaborated with several well-known architectural firms. In the meantime, he continued his academic activity, becoming Visiting Professor at several universities such as the Circle Campus in Chicago, the Faculty of Architecture and Industrial Design in Florence and the Academy of Fine Arts in Bari. At the same time, he managed to make a name for himself all over the world for his artistic activity, managing to reach every point of the globe thanks to exhibitions, where he was able to interact with 'conceptual thinkers' and touch upon other projects. He founded his own studio in Milan, V+T (Venetian+Team)together with Luciana Di Virgilio, and brings together other 'thinkers' who are capable of dealing with a variety of design realities. It is precisely Di Virgilio who will curate an exhibition in Tunis entitled "The Sign of Photography"a journey through the lens of some of the great photographers of some of the best-known image-makers.
The conference that Gianni Veneziano held in Tunis is entitled "Change The Sign", and it is nothing more than a sort of play on words and sounds that refers to our relationship with nature and how we are able to change the way we think about the environment. Precisely this idea of change, as explained, would have an influence on artists, leading them to leave a mark in the present, but projected into the future.
Alongside all these activities, the issues of the Italian Design Day open the door to the next Milan Furniture Fairwhich will be held next April. Meanwhile in the residence of the Italian Ambassador, Raimondo De Cardona, there will be an exhibition of some of the best known Italian design and automotive brands. Poltrone Frau, Molteni, Smeg and Fiat. The eye is therefore always on the future, because after the Salone del Mobile, the International Exhibition of the Milan Triennale is scheduled, but in March 2019. Talk about it now and discuss it tomorrow, in short, when it will become clear that environmental sustainability is the prevention of our planet's future. But the solution to this problem can only come through a connection of minds at work from different cultures.
