Comments on: The Obsessions of Italian Design at Triennale Design Museum http://www.dezeen.com/2008/01/03/the-obsessions-of-italian-design-at-triennale-design-museum/ architecture and design magazine Sun, 12 Oct 2008 04:39:26 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: selvaggia http://www.dezeen.com/2008/01/03/the-obsessions-of-italian-design-at-triennale-design-museum/#comment-80109 selvaggia Thu, 31 Jan 2008 11:02:48 +0000 http://www.dezeen.com/2008/01/03/the-obsessions-of-italian-design-at-triennale-design-museum/#comment-80109 The idea of such a museum has come very late to its accomplishment, as almost everything else in Italy. They want to celebrate Italian design from the golden age, which means stuff from the fifties to the eighties, that's totally ok. On the other side, there hasn't been a real support to Italian design throughout all this time. Let's think of the degree course in industrial design, which has been established in the first half of the ninenties or the general courses for visual communication, fashion, or exhibit design, which first came out in the late ninenties...Italian institutions have mostly ignored the lively world of design such as it was: industries, people and hard work. Now that those ages have undergone, they want to celebrate it all, perhaps a way to bring it to life again. There are now different rules and mechanism in Italian design, which is still alive but differently. They still ignore it. Nevertheless, Triennale is once again a private institution! Just have a look at the exhibition: they invited a foreign filmmaker for an exhibition about Italian design. Don't we have any good young filmmaker in Italy? I don't think so. Anyway, where is the connection between video installations and the products, which should stand for the real characters of this plot? They put together special effects, expensive videos and impressive images with horrible typography and a non-informative exhibition. What should people learn from this past? Famous design pieces are put in the shadow like grannies looking at a present thay can't understand anymore. There is no communication between the products and the video part, which was aimed to add more significance to the objects. But the objects talk for themselves, they are already something and need no other stories to tell. They just need a simple language to come closer to people even if people can't interact with them, in order for the general audience to experience these memorable products for what they merely are at first sight, just everyday tools, and perhaps to provide information about their place in the design scenario, why do they stand out from the crowd, why do they look so simple but are rather the outcome of a difficult process which engaged many good brains. All this, of course, through the simple language of design. People see, people touch, people play, people question and perhaps they get more into it. No celebration of the exceptional, design is the exceptionally ordinary of our life. Hopefully next exhibition will make me say "wooooow!".... The idea of such a museum has come very late to its accomplishment, as almost everything else in Italy. They want to celebrate Italian design from the golden age, which means stuff from the fifties to the eighties, that’s totally ok. On the other side, there hasn’t been a real support to Italian design throughout all this time. Let’s think of the degree course in industrial design, which has been established in the first half of the ninenties or the general courses for visual communication, fashion, or exhibit design, which first came out in the late ninenties…Italian institutions have mostly ignored the lively world of design such as it was: industries, people and hard work. Now that those ages have undergone, they want to celebrate it all, perhaps a way to bring it to life again. There are now different rules and mechanism in Italian design, which is still alive but differently. They still ignore it. Nevertheless, Triennale is once again a private institution! Just have a look at the exhibition: they invited a foreign filmmaker for an exhibition about Italian design. Don’t we have any good young filmmaker in Italy? I don’t think so. Anyway, where is the connection between video installations and the products, which should stand for the real characters of this plot? They put together special effects, expensive videos and impressive images with horrible typography and a non-informative exhibition. What should people learn from this past? Famous design pieces are put in the shadow like grannies looking at a present thay can’t understand anymore. There is no communication between the products and the video part, which was aimed to add more significance to the objects. But the objects talk for themselves, they are already something and need no other stories to tell. They just need a simple language to come closer to people even if people can’t interact with them, in order for the general audience to experience these memorable products for what they merely are at first sight, just everyday tools, and perhaps to provide information about their place in the design scenario, why do they stand out from the crowd, why do they look so simple but are rather the outcome of a difficult process which engaged many good brains. All this, of course, through the simple language of design. People see, people touch, people play, people question and perhaps they get more into it. No celebration of the exceptional, design is the exceptionally ordinary of our life. Hopefully next exhibition will make me say “wooooow!”….

]]> By: seervision http://www.dezeen.com/2008/01/03/the-obsessions-of-italian-design-at-triennale-design-museum/#comment-70311 seervision Fri, 04 Jan 2008 17:19:58 +0000 http://www.dezeen.com/2008/01/03/the-obsessions-of-italian-design-at-triennale-design-museum/#comment-70311 i disagree! Saw this twice . The exhibition had so much energy and definitely puts Italian design in its' place in international design. Was in the New Museum too in NY--and it's so much different from NY innaugural exhibit. they just are worlds apart-- But really the MoMA was more equivalent to Triennale since PS1 and New Museum is more avantgarde and not design-object focused. ..and since American design has less weight in international design history..its natural for Italians devote their own hall of fame. ..in their own territory.. I am looking forward to seeing it evolve though and ask the future of Italian or non-Italian d. ciao ciao and achille's is a must too...it's in a different context !! i disagree!
Saw this twice . The exhibition had so much energy and definitely puts Italian design in its’ place in international design.
Was in the New Museum too in NY–and it’s so much different from NY innaugural exhibit. they just are worlds apart–
But really the MoMA was more equivalent to Triennale since PS1 and New Museum is more avantgarde and not design-object focused. ..and since American design has less weight in international design history..its natural for Italians devote their own hall of fame. ..in their own territory..
I am looking forward to seeing it evolve though and ask the future of Italian or non-Italian d.

ciao ciao

and achille’s is a must too…it’s in a different context !!

]]> By: lorbus http://www.dezeen.com/2008/01/03/the-obsessions-of-italian-design-at-triennale-design-museum/#comment-70168 lorbus Fri, 04 Jan 2008 08:14:59 +0000 http://www.dezeen.com/2008/01/03/the-obsessions-of-italian-design-at-triennale-design-museum/#comment-70168 @Musser: The photos are the best part. I visited a week ago and was completely let down by it... The illumination is horrible, making it hard to see the objects. Every 3 pieces there is an LCD screen detailing the product name and designer. You have to wait for the cycle to catch the info. This is a place where cardboard tags would have been more appropriate. (talk about bad design) The museum is trying too hard to be edgy and trendy. Italian design is all about the maverick spirit and passion, not superficial enhancements. Save yourself the ticket, and go visit Castiglioni's studio a block away! @Musser:
The photos are the best part.

I visited a week ago and was completely let down by it…
The illumination is horrible, making it hard to see the objects.
Every 3 pieces there is an LCD screen detailing the product name and designer. You have to wait for the cycle to catch the info. This is a place where cardboard tags would have been more appropriate. (talk about bad design)

The museum is trying too hard to be edgy and trendy.
Italian design is all about the maverick spirit and passion, not superficial enhancements.
Save yourself the ticket, and go visit Castiglioni’s studio a block away!

]]> By: Musser http://www.dezeen.com/2008/01/03/the-obsessions-of-italian-design-at-triennale-design-museum/#comment-70057 Musser Thu, 03 Jan 2008 21:53:36 +0000 http://www.dezeen.com/2008/01/03/the-obsessions-of-italian-design-at-triennale-design-museum/#comment-70057 I'm thinking that this is one of those situations where photographs, alone, can't tell the real story. At least I'm hoping that's the case. I’m thinking that this is one of those situations where photographs, alone, can’t tell the real story. At least I’m hoping that’s the case.

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