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PROGETTI DI DESIGN 08
“I treat objects as if they were people”,
reveals Raffaella Mangiarotti,
“I show them the same respect and
attention that I would show an individual
person. My designs seek to ‘humanize’
objects, giving them expressiveness
and a sort of emotion. My goal is not
to create a more beautiful or luxurious
object, but to give it a soul, a unique
personality. This vision comes from my
passion for people and human relations,
which drives me to transform ordinary
moments into pleasurable experiences”.
It is an approach reflected in her designs,
eye-catching in their equilibrium balanced
between utility and aesthetics, precise
forms and harmonious materials. Palù,
the last piece of furniture designed
for Pianca, also has a boldly defined
character. It is the evolution of the series
of the same name, born of a charming
bedside table, which opens out first
towards the user and then to the room.
Generous and inviting, Palù is an empathic
seat, that embraces and comforts.
The soul
of objects
— Q&A
— Do you still sketch by hand?
For me, sketching is a tool for engaging
with the client, which helps me
understand their preferences.
I prefer to present ideas that are not
definitive, leaving space for the other
person to interact with my design,
because, like Magistretti, I firmly believe
that the project is a dialogue.
— If you had to compare your design style
to an art movement, what would it be?
Perhaps Modernism, with its strong bond
with innovation and industrial precision.
My objects demonstrate the same
calmness of language.
— What is the strangest or most unusual
thing that has inspired you for a design?
The angle of a dandelion inspired me in
the design of a lamp.
