What is design? Some call it the ‘functional’ art form, where creativity and beauty strike a balance with use and user. When something pretty is also practical, it is often said to have been designed well. Design professionals consider design the ‘contamination,’ in the best sense of the word, of their media by culture, of art by business and mass consumption, and of households by artists who influence the form of everyday objects, from couch to coffee maker. From May 24 to 29, various locations throughout Florence and Calenzano will host to the first of what is expected to become an annual event: Florence Design Week, a showcase for Made in Tuscany products, the companies that produce them and, above all, the creative minds behind them.
The event focuses not only on Tuscany’s well-established design community but also on design communities elsewhere. With interactive events and design competitions, Florence Design Week will spotlight work from emerging countries and design academies, giving young Italian and international designers an opportunity to promote themselves and their work, interact with the public as well as other designers and entrepreneurs.
Other cities have similar events, but Florence Design Week takes a uniquely Tuscan twist on the concept of design, shining a bright light on design culture and its unique place in the art world as a form in which businesses and production coexist with innovative artistry and creativity.
The packed schedule for Florence Design Week includes meetings with designers and curators, exhibits in various locales, roundtable discussions, showrooms and design-inspired aperitivos. A veritable tour of the town, the event will invite designers, residents and visitors to interact. As restaurants and bars will become showrooms and well-known venues will host events, Florence Design Week will demonstrate that, as do form and function, fun and innovation coexist.
Florence design week events
Here are just some of the events of Florence Design Week. For a more detailed program, see www.florencedesignweek.com.
Alma Artis
May 24 to 29 Palazzo Pitti
Exhibit featuring 12 unique aquariums designed by Stefano Alinari, 12 different species of fish, and a 12-piece gold jewelry collection.
Digital Evolutions: Creative Productions in Contemporary Digital Culture
Starts May 27 at 6pm, Caffetteria delle Oblate (via dell’Oriuolo, 26)
A selection of the best works by students of 3D animation, postproduction video and interactive installation courses, curated by the Masters program in Multimedia Content Design (Università degli Studi di Firenze and RAI).
Ecodesign
May 27 at 5pm, Spazio 180 at the Centro Giovani Calenzano (Calenzano)
Eco-creative workshop for all ages on recycling, reusing and repurposing; aperitivo and DJ set.
Week-long expositions
May 24 to 29, Accademia Italiana (Piazza Pitti, 15)
Haute-cuture creations by fashion design students; Design & Music, an exhibit by students in interior design, product design, graphic design and visual communications.
Open Design Week
May 25 to 29 from 3pm to 7pm
Casa della Creatività (Vicolo Santa Maria Maggiore, 1)
Organized by the European Institute of Design, features five themes in five days: recyclable design, design to plant, edible design, wearable design, and design to discover.
Meet the Designers and Music Showcase: Contemporary Florence
May 28, Arno beach in S. Niccolò and May 29, Parco Anfiteatro dell’Anconella (Firenze Sud) from 7pm to midnight.
The grand finale! Two parties featuring bands, DJs, a chance to meet event designers, buffet, cocktails and more.
