Thirty-two Italian designers created the first collection for Design Memorabilia. The De Gustibus Collection is a project in which the designers utilized concepts that occurred during their lifetimes. You can browse the collection here.
Above image: Salt and Pepper grinders by Piero Lissoni.
Designboom quotes project curator George M. Beylerian, stating of the set:
“the objects, set to make their debut at MoMA design store in july 2015, are envisioned as an international collection of high-designed functional objects for daily use. ‘design memorabilia’ comprises 32 utilitarian pieces that range in price from $ 12.00-$100.00, with every effort made to make them affordable to as many people as possible.
“‘the idea of design memorabilia is to bring great designs to today’s masses—not only the cognoscenti, but to new generations,’ beylerian says.‘through design memorabilia’s website and partnerships with select design stores, bookstores and department stores, consumers will now have access to sophisticated contemporary designed products created by the very best global design talent.’”
So think of the set as a crash course in Italian design history. We posted some of the finer ceramic pieces here along with biographies of the makers as they were written on the web site.
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Aldo Cibic moved to Milan in 1979 and became a co-founder of the Memphis design group. In 1989, he went out on his own, founding Cibic & Partners. Cibic teaches at the Domus Academy, as part of the Industrial Design degree in the Faculty of Architecture at the Milan Polytechnic and as part of the Industrial Design degree in the Faculty of Design at the University of Architecture of Venice.
Paesaggio Italiano, bone china salt and pepper shakers and toothpick holder by Aldo Cibic.
Keith Mascheroni studied at Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, CA and has a B.A. degree from the Rhode Island School of Design. Keith’s true creative spirit lies in his passion for food and ideas for product design. He creates tabletop, kitchenware and conceptual furniture. His ‘Homage to Giovanni Acquaviva’ for Feed the Universe hopes to rectify some of the more radical culinary proclamations of the Italian Futurist movement.
Futurist Coasters by Keith Mascheroni. The coasters are in acrylic but are an homage to ceramicist Giuseppe Mazzotti along with Mascheroni’s father, John, who is also a futurist designer.
Ettore Sottsass attended architecture school in Milan before working as a design consultant to the Olivetti company, an appointment which culminated the Olivetti Valentine typewriter (1969). As Sottsass moved away from pure functionalism, he became an acknowledged leader in the Anti-Design movement, which opposed “correctness” and “good taste.” In 1981, he led the Memphis movement, producing colorful, multifunctional and ambiguous pieces that broke conventional forms and poked fun at the seriousness of functional objects. His work is extensive and ranges from ashtrays, vases, to architecture and beyond.
Squared circle bowl set. Based on a design from 1958, manufactured by Bitossi ceramics in Milan, these bowls were inspired by the shapes of the traffic lamps Sottsass saw on his first trip to NYC while working for US designer George Nelson.
Milanese architect Giulio Cappellini obtained a degree in architecture and, later, in business from Bocconi University School of Business Management in Milan. Many Cappellini products are to be found in the permanent collections of the most important contemporary art museums. Cappellini was selected by Time magazine as one of the ten global trendsetters in the ambit of fashion and design.
Puntino Demitasse set. Before the line comes the dot – the smallest, most basic element in design. Famed designer Giulio Cappellini plays on this elemental building block to create his series of ceramic demitasse cups celebrating the designer’s art and, perhaps, the designer’s best creative stimulant, a good cup of coffee. Made of porcelain.
Angelo Mangiarotti graduated from the Architecture School of Politecnico di Milano in 1948. In 1953-1954, he worked in the United States. Upon his return, he opened his own architectural firm in Milan with Bruno Morassutti, which was active until 1960. Mangiarotti was an architect, urban planner and designer whose designs earned him awards in Italy and abroad, including the prominent Compasso d’Oro lifetime achievement award.
Trio Bud Vases. Designer and architect Angelo Mangiarotti created this trio of organic shapes with the same movement and grace seen in his architectural monuments that reveal a pursuit of the dynamic relationship between interior and exterior, void and solid.
Born in Milan, Alessandro Mendini was one of the main personalities of the Radical design movement of the 1970s. In 1979 he joined the Studio Alchimia as a partner. He has been awarded several international prizes, including the Compasso d’oro in 1979 and in 1982. He holds an honorary title from the Architectural League of New York as well as the title of “Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres” from the French Republic. He has written several articles and books and teaches at the University of Milan.
Decorative Plates. Porcelain decorative plates imprinted with four distinctive satirical visions of different rooms. Hand wash only; do not use any abrasives. Plates include holes on back rim for wall mounting.
Born in Milan, Rodolfo Dordoni graduated in architecture at the Politecnico University in 1979. Dordoni’s approach to the process of design and production is broad and includes the development of image strategies, product concepts, design and the development of product marketing. He is the founder of Dordoni Architetti, with Luca Zaniboni and Alessandro Acerbi, working in the fields of architectural planning and interior design.
Icicle Ice Bucket by Rodolfo Dordoni. This ingenious glass ice bucket slows the melting of the ice by separating the ice in the upper half of the elegant glass vessel from the slowly accumulating pool of water below. Made of borosilicate glass.
Marcello Morandini was born in Mantova, Italy in 1940, and attended the Brera Art Academy in Milan. He began working as a graphic designer at Bompiani in 1962. Soon after, he opened his own studio and dedicated himself exclusively to design and artistic research. Morandini has become a reference point for designers around the world.
Tea for Two (Infinite Love) by Marcello Morandini.
Piero Lissoni began his career in 1978 having gained his architecture degree at the Milan Polytechnic. In 1985, he joined Boffi Kitchens as Art Director and Designer. In 1986, together with Nicoletta Canesi, Piero Lissoni opened the Lissoni Associates studio. Lissoni is a very minimalistic designer and has worked with many of the world’s most notable design companies. His products are exquisitely simple and elegant.
Salt and Pepper grinders by Piero Lissoni. Designed to be equally easy on the eyes and wrist, these salt and pepper grinders are a smaller, more human scale of the traditional industrial-looking handle grinders. Each piece can be filled from the bottom simply by using a coin to unlock, leaving the top portion free of visual interruptions. Made of die cast aluminum, stainless steel and alumina ceramic.
Vico Magistretti graduated from the Politecnico di Milano University in 1945 with a degree in architecture. In the 1950s, he moved into the field of mass-produced furniture and lamps. His design works are on display in MoMA’s permanent collection in New York and in many other museums in America, Japan and Europe. Magistretti received many awards in his lifetime, including the Gold Medal at the 1951 Trienniale and two Compasso d’Oro awards in the years 1967 and 1979. He is considered as one of Italy’s most intelligent and talented designers and architect.
Ping Pong Cocktail Trays by Vico Magistretti. Place a thumb through the indicated hole and create an easy to use personal tray for food and beverages.
Donato D’Urbino and Paolo Lomazzi began working together in 1966 when they founded their design studio DDL – De Pas, D’Urbino, Lomazzi in Milan. These designers have collaborated with the largest companies in the sector, and in 1979 received the prestigious Compasso d’Oro award for the project Shanghai commissioned for Zanotta in 1973. In addition to industrial design, they also worked on architectural projects, installations, interiors and urban planning. After d’Urbino passed away, the remaining two partners continue their work together.Their works are in museums and exhibitions of worldwide, the Triennale Design Museum in Milan, and at MoMA in New York.
Manini Chopstick Stand. Are these friendly fingers designed to hold your chopsticks or send you a signal? You decide. The design commemorates the 45th anniversary of de Pas, D’Urbino & Lomazzi’s iconic “Joe” chair. Made of porcelain.
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