The work and ideas of greats from Italian history, if rediscovered and studied, have the potential to stimulate ideas and power the country’s growth.
Aldus Manutius, a Renaissance publisher in Venice, is one of the figures who contributed to creating Italian aesthetic taste. He was responsible for the design of the modern book, in the format which we still use today. He was responsible for many innovations in typefaces, including a precursor to modern italic type.
Hypnerotomachia Poliphili – Francesco Colonna (1499)
Source: Wikipedia
Olivetti Lettera 22 (1950)
Source: Olivetti historical archive
Leaping ahead four centuries, we find Adriano Olivetti and his idea of a completely different factory, in accordance with human needs and rhythms, an ethically sustainable workplace. It was there that iconic products like the Lettera 22, the portable typewriter currently on display in the Architecture and Design section of MoMA, New York, were brought to life.
These are the forefathers of Italian design, people with extraordinary ideas who were able to do business by expressing the Italian genius that the whole world admires. There is a need to return to these examples, gathering past examples of and experiences with Italian Human Design and using them to relaunch the same values in an international movement which recognises its forebears.
In their personal affairs, the importance held by their workplaces, the experience-based nature of the spaces, emerges clearly. It is along these same lines that Vetriceramici created its Fiorano Tech Hub, a place in which to experiment, collaborate, share expertise and compare ideas. The ambitious goal is to act as global collectors and catalysts for projects, people and energy, to inspire growth in the memory of the great names of Italian history.
