This week Turin held “Torino Design Week”: A gamut of demonstrations, talks and design products from mostly Italian makers, but also from the rest of Europe, America and Asia. At Operae (a space where independent designers could present their products) my main intent was to see (new to the scene) Italian independent art book publisher
Lazy Dog Press, and their presentation of their first book, “Take your pleasure seriously” featuring (graffiti style) calligraphy by
Luca Barcellona. The presentation was developed around and about the contamination of self-production and the new branding of “Made in Italy”. Also
Garagedesign (a virtual place where product designers can submit and develop limited ed. designs for the consumer) offered an intriguing talk on new business models.
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L-R Daniele Prosdocimo of Valcucine (kitchen design),
Luca Barcellona and Massimo Pitis of "Lazy Dog Press”
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At the historical house 'Casa del Pingone’, Turin based
Mag Is In presented their beautifully curated project of 65 independent magazines from all over the world. Among the flux of underground Italian self-produced magazines, art books and zines like
Nuant, were (big sigh) monsters
House Industries' photo-lettering demo-magazine and the subtle and sweet graphic novelist, Chis Ware.
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House Industries: Photo-lettering
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Chris Ware: Tales of Tomorrow
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Nuant: page open featuring Officina Tipografica Novepunti
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It was an inspiring afternoon capturing the increasing move towards the personalization of products, but highlighting the decidingly questionable "how to”; a topic surely to be explored deeper at next years event.
