'the design city' captures the indissoluble creative spirit of milan

‘design in milan is a physical and palpable presence’ writes editors marco sammicheli and anna mainoli in forma edizioni’s new book, ‘the design city’. it describes and explores how milan is an extraordinary lab where there is an indissoluble link between the city and the industrial fabric. this has made the location central to the world of design, graphics, and architecture from the mid-1950s to the present day and, no doubt, beyond.

enzo mari, images © forma edizioni

forma edizioni’s 416-paged book comprises a volume of large, rare visual and autobiographical portraits. it explores ‘the design city’ and how creativity is seen in all corners, from design studios to factories and especially at events such as the salone del mobile where the international creative community congregate each year. as we travel through history from location to location, the book takes readers on a inspirational journey that articulates and reconstructs the uniqueness of what has been created in milan.

enzo mari

in the volume, marco sammicheli – a milan-based contributor of wallpaper* magazine and professor at the design school of politecnico di milano – surveys the progression of the profession through work places of designers, ranging from post-war masters to emerging professionals. like enzo mari, alessandro mendini and aldo rossi to name just a few, these creatives maintained a strong bond with local companies while generating global relevance for their work, their ideas, and italian design in general. readers see rare archive material supported by interviews with each of the protagonists of contemporary milanese design. comparisons between them, examples of their most renowned work and the methods they use, emphasize the different ways of interpreting the profession as well as design’s ability to be integrally embedded in all things, especially in a city.

enzo mari

in ‘the design city’, sammicheli showcases a range of views on the relationship between milan, its cultural system, and the salone del mobile. it covers major moments in milan and thus design’s history while exploring the current situation in the city. at its heart, however, the book captures the voices of those who exemplify the city’s international creative spirit. its the city of design commerce, training and professional growth; the ideal place for creatives to express themselves. from learning about the history of its extraordinary environment, readers are adept to being part of milan’s future.