As a subprogram of Salone del Mobile.Milano, SaloneSatellite opens opportunities for designers under 35 and post-study to present prototypes that have not been produced or marketed. Since its establishment in 1998, it has connected over 14,000 young talents to the design industry. This year, the brilliant program founded by Marva Griffin marks its 25th anniversary with the theme of ‘Connecting Design Since 1998’. It underscored SaloneSatellite’s importance as a hub and incubator of connections and relationships between budding professionals and companies from all over the world.
STORY BY Vira Tanka | PHOTOS BY Ludovica Mangini | Salone del Mobile.Milano
In its first year, SaloneSatellite launched into orbit bringing 65 young exhibitors from diverse countries and a group of international design schools. This year, it was joined by 600 participants from 32 countries and 22 international design schools and universities. More than an exhibition, the 2024 edition gave a chance to its participants to make contact with designers from past editions, whose careers were given a boost at SaloneSatellite, and to have mentoring opportunities.
Amongst the exhibitors this year was Cassia Studio, an interior design studio based in Surabaya, Indonesia, displaying two chairs, a stool and an ashtray. Creative Director Felix Sidharta explained that aside to the knots of his Simpul chair and stool, the uniqueness of his products includes the material, which is rattan from Sulawesi.
Entering its 13th year, the annual SaloneSatellite Award jury was once again chaired by Paola Antonelli, senior curator of the Department of Architecture and Design at MoMA, New York. The Award was a celebration of innovation in process and tradition with a view to championing sustainable thinking. Out of more than 100 applicants, the jury picked four winners:
Studio Ololoo from China as the first winner with its lamp “Deformation Under Pressure”, Italian designer Filippo Andrighetto won the second prize with his bookcase “Veliero”, and Ego Undesigned came in third place with “Voronoi”, a set of 3D printed brass cups, while Tunisian trio Mohamed Romani, Chems Eddine Mechri and Ahmed Bssilaper was awarded with Special Mention with their “Fibra” lamp.
Alongside the Award, there were also round table discussions and the exhibition Universo Satellite at Triennale Milano, curated by Beppe Finessi and Ricardo Bello Dias.