The prime objective of Salone Satellite has always been to discover, follow, valorise and offer concrete possibilities to young designers under 35.

This year marks the 21st edition of the world’s leading event for talented young designers – an edition for reflecting on the future of design, right from its origins, and for exploring the delicate balance between craftsmanship and the new technologies

Recently the Salone Satellite reaffirmed its vocation and its mission to spark conversation and reflections on and study into the future of design.

650 young designers were ranged over 2,800 square metres in Pavilions 13-15 at Fiera Milano in Rho, with free public entry from Pavilion 4

For their part, the young Salone Satellite protagonists from all over the world, were asked to showcase works that explore the relationship between heritage and the contemporary scene, with projects poised between the new technologies and craftsmanship.

An exploration of experimentation, memory, slow design, nature and the force of matter, anthropomorphism, creative recycling, cross-contamination and digital effects, with the power to amaze and trigger reflection.

Participants 2018 Salone Satellite

Salone Satellite Awards 2018

The SaloneSatellite Award – now into its 9th edition – marked a further step towards facilitating the interface between demand and supply, between business people and designers and between creativity and production.

The Entry selection process is, as always, extremely competitive, in order to uphold Salone Satellite’s excellent reputation, as it “crowns” promising young designers destined for the market and the design star system.

The Award is conferred by an international Jury of prominent figures in the design world, which selects the 3 best products on exhibit.

Winners were also be able to avail themselves of a consultancy service and press office, in order to guarantee maximum visibility for the winning product

This year’s award which carries a prize of 5,000 Euro’s, went to the emerging talent that the Jury felt best represented the theme of sustainability.

Winners

The SaloneSatellite Award 2018 of Salone Del Mobile.Milano announced the young designers chosen as the ” The Future of Design ”

The Jury selected three projects that stood out because of the message they embody, focusing not just on the formal incisiveness of their design but also their sustainable, communicative, interactive and ludic element, essential for the lives of adults and children now and, hopefully, also in the future.

An international jury of leading figures in the design world is involved in the award process –

Paola Antonelli, Senior Design Curator, MOMA;
Annemarie Ballschmiter, Welt Am Sonntag;
Christophe Guberan, designer;
Cristina Grajales, Cristina Grajales Gallery;
Daniela Fantini, Fantini;
Giulio Feltrin, President, Arper;
Massimo Iosa Ghini, architect;
Michele Lupi, Icon and
Taro Yamane, President, Sanwa.

FIRST PRIZE

Cucina Leggera (Light Kitchen)
by Stefano Carta Vasconcellos, Italy

Motivation : Ease of construction and assembly, compactness and financial accessibility are the main characteristics of the Light Kitchen, leveraging the sort of design approach and vision that will continue to hold good for the future.

Product description : CucinaLeggera (LightKitchen) is a kitchen unit which can be assembled through the interlocking of seven elements, without screws or hardware.

SECOND PRIZE

Tink Things
by Tink Things, Croatia

Motivation : This project sees children not as small adults, but quite simply as children. Tink Things caters to their specific playful and sensory needs, helping them grow happily and with awareness.

Product description : The design approach considers wide spectrum of sensory needs while using therapeutic principles of sensory integration to design products that shape a comfortable and encouraging environment for all kids.

THIRD PRIZE

Soft Block
by Yuri Himuro, Japan

Motivation : The Soft Block fabric modules encourage the interaction and creativity of the user, like an unfinished project open to infinite variations and possibilities. They also demonstrate the ability of fabric to become a three-dimensional and modular element for decorating spaces simply and with a personal touch.

Product description : This is a new home decoration object like a block toy. They provide new building experience that takes advantage of softness and allow you to twist and bend. You can enjoy how to grow them.

A major new departure for this edition is Salone Satellite’s participation in the European Year of Cultural Heritage 2018, instituted by the European Commission and implemented and run in Italy by the Ministry for Cultural Heritage.

The scheme is designed to support and encourage the efforts of those working in European cultural heritage, with a view to raising awareness of the value of cultural heritage as an asset and a resource for the European economy.

It seemed only natural for Salone Satellite to want to be involved in the initiative, as it clearly complies with the requisite criteria, as set out by the Commission ( job creation, local and regional development, tourism, social inclusion, community engagement and identity building ).

As part of this special event, an award to help further their career will be presented to an emerging designer who has come up with an outstanding sustainability project.

European Year of Cultural Heritage 2018 award

Savoa
by Sakari Hartikainen, Finland

Motivation : Right from the word go, Savoa exudes a pleasing balance of ecological thinking and aesthetic feeling. It draws on the ancient traditions of Nordic and Oriental design, melding them and propelling them into the contemporary world in a mature and elegant approach.

Product description : Savoa is a delicately balancing side table that resonates to the ecological balance and mirrors the constant quest for harmony in our lives.

Banca Intesa San Paolo award

Claro
Mutarq, Mexico

Motivation : Claro harnesses the minimum to express the concept of sustainability to the maximum, thanks to its lightness, simplicity, ease of assembly and transport, and its inexpensiveness. It thus encapsulates all the basic tenets of sustainable design