designEX Blog

DESIGN// Welcome to Salone del Mobile as reported by AMS

It’s April, & Milan Design Week / Salone del Mobile is upon us. Think the ‘Olympic Games of Design’ & you’re halfway there!! Over the years the event has become so big, installations are housed in every available space across the city, making it impossible to cover it all.

First launching in 1961 as a trade export initiative to market Italian Design products internationally,  the event has exploded into the biggest lifestyle event on the planet. Now in its 51st year, Salone attracts almost 1 million visitors during just five days – placing a tremendous impact on a city of just 1.3 million residents – about 3 or 4 times the affect on the city when compared to fashion week. In the next 24 hours editors, bloggers, retailers, designers, architects, photographers, videographers, & other interested creatives will descend on what is the worlds largest lifestyle event. Most major brands, ranging Sony through Lexus, take the opportunity to capture the attention of masses of attendees.

This year Salone coincides not only with a major International Art Fair (this weekend), but today the city centre is entirely closed for the Milan Marathon – along with constant drizzling rain, the combined events will all but cripple access in the centre of the city.

Normally on every alternate Sunday the centre is closed to cars, an endeavour attempting to stem burgeoning pollution issues, but due to the marathon – human access is denied to many parts of the centre – so unless one is in possession of an official exhibitor’s pass – many parts of the centre are a ‘no-go’ zone. In reality – an organisational disaster.

So with the centre all but closed, along with most of the shops – it’s time to explore the markets, & the annual flower festival.

With an umbrella!

IMAGES // (c) Anne-Maree Sargeant

FOR MORE INFO ON OFFICIAL FAIR – head to // cosmit.it

by Anne-Maree Sargeant  // The Snap Assembly blog // AMS-info

THE NEST// As seen on How We Create 02.04.12

As designEX – Australia’s largest showcase of interior products, finishes and accessories – heads into it’s 24th year, the exhibition has unveiled not only a new look but an entirely new vision that will ensure the event continues as the key platform for design professionals to connect, inspire and explore the latest in their field.

By Ben Morgan.

See the original post here// http://howwecreate.com/

The NEST – An Australian Design Showcase

In support of Australian furniture, lighting and object design talent, designEX NEST will showcase the BEST in works from independent Australian designers and design collectives.

Observing that there are several platforms that promote new works by emerging designers, along with supportive mentor programs showing product at a prototype stage; designEX identified an opportunity to support local design talent within a commercial environment.

An invited group of 20 independent Australian designers and design collectives will showcase new product, granting exposure to 15,000 design industry professionals expected to attend the exhibition in Sydney this May.

Design duo Ben Blakebrough and Sarah King // Blakebrough+King work from their studio in the highlands outside Sydney, and are presently consolidating 6 years of design practice together into a strong collection destined for the Australian retail market.

King says “after launching prototype works several years consecutively at the Salone del Mobile in Milan, we are focusing on expanding our local presence as wholesalers through design-EX.  We also hope to engage new collaborations with architects and interior designers.”

Sarah curated The Other Hemisphere, an Australian design collective that exhibited in Milan at Salone del Mobile.  Read the profile in INSIDE by Domingo Robledo - HERE

Sydney-based industrial designer David Knott established his design studio in 2002 to manufacture and distribute a range of lighting, furniture and products. Consulting to both national and international design offices and manufacturers, David’s keen to showcase a new body of work explaining that ‘the ability to connect with specifying interior designers and architects will ideally lead to ongoing project work,’ reflecting on his decision to participate.

036 Pendant Light by David Knott c. 2007

Stay tuned for upcoming profiles on all NEST participants, and discover why Australian design is firmly on the radar of key players in the international design scene!!

Blakebrough+King-http://www.blakebroughking.com/

David Knott- http://www.knott.com.au/

by Anne-Maree Sargeant

The Snap Assembly blog // AMS-info

Hotel Missoni Kuwait

Almost two years after unveiling Hotel Missoni Edinburgh, the long-awaited Hotel Missoni Kuwait opened the doors on February 29^th, a second collaboration with Rezidor Hotel Group.

Boasting breathtaking views across the Gulf, the iconic Italian fabric house stretches playful geometry and bolts of contrasting color throughout the interior, with the Hotel featuring key pieces from the MISSONI HOME COLLECTION, expertly melded with individual pieces personally selected by Rosita Missoni – iconic designs including the Hans Wagner-designed Wishbone Chair and Superarchimoon lamps by Philippe Starck.

Bold, passionate and fashionable, the interior fit-out is relaxed, and to quote Rosita Missoni “every piece of furniture is something I would choose for my home,” the resulting scheme awash with a beach-inspired palette and the brand’s trademark exuberant patterns, with rooms orientated to capitalise on the Salmiya seafront location, and the endless views of the Arabian coast.

Other MISSONI hotel sites are currently under construction include Oman, Brazil and the recently announced Antalya in Turkey, set to open in 2013 – where a 18-hole golf course to be designed by Swedish golf pro Annika Sorensta, the jewel in the Missoni Hotel Country Club club, to come complete with it’s own olive grove!

In the lead-up to the arrival of Hotel Missoni Kuwait, one of the regions most highly anticipated hotel developments in the Middle East, Missoni commissioned a series of five short films on YouTube, with the debut video appearing on Nowness.com. The film follows the many adventures of Missoni’s founders as they travel through famous sites across Europe and the Middle East, crossing land and sea aboard their Missoni hot air balloon.

The 18-storey hotel features 169 rooms and 63 suites, decked out with the latest Bang & Olufson, with guests able to convert their ‘magic mirror’ into a television at the flick of a switch! 

Stay tuned for exciting Missoni product launches at designEX, along with a special installation. MISSONI HOME is available in Australia exclusively from Spence & Lyda

by Anne-Maree Sargeant

The Snap Assembly blog // AMS-info

WELCOME to designEX BLOG!!

After 24 years designEX remains Australia’s most significant trade event for interior design and architectural professionals – and now with a new team at the helm, designEX is about to enter a new era!

Over the coming weeks we will introduce you to the people behind the brands, exhibitors and designers; the big-name internationals set to headline the seminar series, along with the inside word on a range of HOT pop-up events scheduled on-site at the Sydney Convention & Exhibition Centre, May 14-16th  2012.

I have been invited by Diversified Exhibitions, the management team who bring designEX to life, to undertake several projects that include – the BLOG, the NEST and the HIVES.

 Join us here on the blog as we step behind-the-scenes to engage with the people behind the brands, and other originators who will inspire us to new directions in design.

In the coming weeks we will introduce you to the creative talent behind this year’s dynamic event program – so please sign up for our updates – we’d love to stay connected!! 

by Anne-Maree Sargeant

The Snap Assembly blog // AMS-info

portrait (c) Sonny Vendevelde