Working Radius: 2011

Undoubtedly one of the most important things I had to do as a furniture designer - visit the Milan fair.

I had heard from people who are regulars at the fair that it is huge and messy. Well of course it is huge and the trick is never aim to see the whole of it. I short listed the halls and companies that I needed to spend more time with and it worked. Yet there was loads to see within those and after 3 days of being on my feet at the fair (and outside of it) I was completely bowled over - not by sheer volume but the extent the companies go to showcase their creativity. Large or small, there wasn't a single stall that didn't make me want to see more. At the end of the fair I couldn't bear another mention of the word 'design' - just some wine, pasta and a blank mind is what I needed!

The most important thing at such events is not to restrict yourself to the fair grounds. There's more to see around the town. Thanks to my co passanger on the flight to Milan who turned out to be an architect and another friend from Udine who is a regular visitor I figured there were at least two other districts in Milan that were not to be missed. Hence it was 3 days at the fair and 3 evenings/nights at these places that had without exaggeration hundreds of other design shows, exhibits and product launches going on simultaneously. Its not a time that any company related ( or not ) to furniture would miss out on. The whole place seemed to be `breathing' design. The shows ranged from top exclusive brands and designers to fresh graduates getting together to showcase their work outside of restaurants or in the common area of the condos. All this within few steps from each other, it wasn't going to be easy to absorb so much.

At the fair without exception the best products and unique concepts came from the smallest companies showcasing variations in a limited range. Companies that had the most number of pieces in all the categories - well it was more like been there done that bar few new ideas. For display and stall design Kartell won hands down. They are known to do great displays - of course they don't need to pull the crowd but what was good about the stall was they made it so open to visitors. Unlike most other companies they didn't project a high end exclusive (read bordering on snooty) image. Their products were out there for all to see and marvel at. Take as many pics as you like - they had nothing to hide or lose.

A post cannot do justice to what I saw - probably a compilation of images would be more worthwhile. All was a big blur at the end of it but what I will always remember is the fine details they took care of at the displays - whether it was the stalls or the stores. Frivolous or over the top at times, it was always elegant and impeccable. Tacky is a word they haven't learnt at all.

I should have been feeling tired and my feet sore by the end of my third evening in Milan. Instead I just felt I had earned the big trip that was going to follow in the coming days. I was finally going to be boarding a train from Milan and waking up next morning in Rome :-) I had never longed for something to happen as much as this trip. Rome followed by Florence, Tuscany, Pisa were going to be added to Venice and other towns that I had seen in northern Italy earlier. These 2 weeks were going to be a dream come true and something I had to simply do. Yes that makes for another post and not here. Coming soon on www.ladakhitrail.blogspot.com.

Till then a few glimpses of Milan and Salone del Mobile 2011.