Moving In The City
Milano: city of design
Milano is the center of the design world. Yet Milan has yet to really be affected significantly by interaction design. Why should they embrace such new directions? So unclear a picture? They are the established leaders in virtually every other form of design and have held that position for more than 40 years. In every other way the city continues to lead the world and to be one of the world’s significant innovation capitals. This is not conjecture: Milan is measurably one of the most innovative cities in Europe, and consistently so.
One of the major ways that Milan creates opportunity to share what’s new, (but perhaps more importantly to bring designers and innovators from the world INTO Milan where they contribute to the ongoing cycle, and ceaselessly enrich the talent pool the city has for design and innovation) is annual trade shows and events that are not merely based at a “convention center”, but which literally take over the whole city. Milan is of course also a world capital for FASHION and fashion does the same, holding 2 or more “fashion weeks” per year. Milan is the home city of several of the largest fashion brands in the world: Armani, Prada, Fendi. Numerous design shows are held year round in Milan, for furniture, lighting, product design. But one annual design event is by far the largest show of the year in Milan, the largest in the design world is the annual DESIGN WEEK that literally takes over the entire city for a week, and at which a million or more people visit. This occurs every year, usually in late April.
The centerpiece of Design Week is the “Salone del Mobile”, the world’s largest design show, the Milan Furniture Fair. It has been running consecutively in downtown Milan for fifty years. “The Salone” is held in a huge exhibition space, not unlike a convention center actually, this is called, the “Fiera” or “fair”. Milan has just opened a new and fabulous “fiera” complex, designed by Roman architect Massimilano Fuksas (http://images.businessweek.com/ss/06/10/fuksas/index_01.htm ) .
But over the years, the Salone has become more a trade show and the real events have moved into the city taking over any and all available rentable space throughout the city. This part of the salone is known as “Fuori Salone”, OUTSIDE Salone.
This is where the action is!! Every company holds splooshy openings for a roll-out of their new year’s product or to merely hold a social to attract attention and potential investment and buyers. These spaces will have at the nightly openings, bars and DJ’s and food. But all week all the venues run the typical evening ritual in Milan, which is known as “cocktail”. Use your imagination. But in many cases, as a branding exercise and to create buzz, the companies do an entirely conceptual space that is meant to either provoke or entertain. Sometimes it’s a combination of both. You are asked to design such a space. It must be “architectural” to some degree but should showcase the company through INTERACTIVE design that provokes and creates positive buzz and foot-traffic during the event, and beyond. Remember, the world’s press is there and they will write about that which is memorable. This will be your SECOND of two projects related to Salone and Design Week in Milano 2007.
The city is split into “zones” about 5-6 in all from which you can reasonably see work in one area in one evening without jumping around too much. These are called “Zona”. The openings begin about 7pm and run til 10ish. But they are once open to the public open all day long, as is the Fiera show. There are FAR too many events in one night for anyone to get to anywhere NEAR all of them, as companies all hold a cocktail but usually one night a bigger “opening” or event. The space is open all ay long to view. But most people want to go to the event to see the space (and get free drinks and food). There is a Zona Durini, Zona Brera, Zona Tortona etc. Tortona is very interesting: definitely the up and coming design area in the city where many top studios are locating and where many of the best events are held each years during Design Week, and one "night" where the whole are becomes a street party. Very edgy. You will design an exhibition space for a given company in Zona Tortona.
MOVING (in the) CITY:
Design a system for people visiting the Salone and Design Week incorporating interaction Design that uses technical as well as human-centered means. This project is HIGHLY urban and that is part of the design. This project must have “architectural elements.
Two weeks will be provided for this first prototype. The particulars of the project are listed below. Significant 3D renders, populated with copious SCALE PEOPLE will be required which TELL THE STORY and communicate the technical concept visually. The CITY SPACE must come alive and the idea feel compelling and revolutionary. Be faithful to the streets and buildings in Milan and the audience that would be at such an event. Be as experimental and conceptual as you wish. COMMUNICATE energy. Use the city to do so. One component of your proposal MUST involve/ utilize a Vespa scooter.
