Dezeen Magazine

Istituto Marangoni

Istituto Marangoni and Cappellini challenge designers to create a multifunctional piece of furniture

Istituto Marangoni and Italian furniture brand Cappellini have launched their annual design contest.

The fifth edition of the annual competition, named No Code Generation, offers young designers a full scholarship to the product and furniture design masters course Istituto Marangoni Milano Design, commencing October 2019. Winners will also be given the opportunity to intern at Cappellini's design studio in Milan.

Applicants are tasked with designing either a multifunctional piece of furniture or a series of multi-use furniture items, intended for use in living areas and bedrooms.

"The latest trends in high-end furniture design demonstrate a growing interest in combining different lifestyles and design styles that do not necessarily talk the same language," said Mark Anderson, director of education at the Istituto Marangoni Milano Design.

"A mixable piece of design is one that it is suitable to be combined with what it is consistent with it and what it is not alike."

Istituto Marangoni: No Code Generation design contest
The contest challenges designs to create a piece of multifunctional furniture

The competition is open to graduates and students in their final year of studies in product design or architecture, as well as professionals with experience in the relevant fields.

The projects, which will be judged on their "innovation and concept synthesis", will be considered by a jury consisting of teachers at the design school, as well as international designers and architects, including architect and ADI president Luciano Galimberti and Giulio Cappellini, designer and art director at Istituto Marangoni Milano Design.

"Inspired by the new generations, No Code Generation acknowledges the fluid scenario the youngsters have grown up in and looks at the way they explore the variety of places, locations, experiences as well as visual languages, thanks to a relationship with the surroundings which is technology bound," said Anderson.

"They enjoy moving fluently through the world's art and design capitals, from Miami to Shanghai, from London to Mumbai, and enjoy different cultural proposals creatively. Their experience is codified and not bound by any given code."

Relaunched in 1979 by Giulio Cappellini, the Milanese furniture brand is recognised with its collaborations with designers such as Jasper Morrison and Nendo.

Find out more about the No Code Generation contest on its website.