On 16 March 2023, Italian Design Day commemorated its seventh edition at Sky51, EQ Kuala Lumpur, commanding a prestigious guest list from various backgrounds and professions. Initiated by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs together with the Italian Trade Agency, the event took place globally in more than 100 cities all over the world—setting a benchmark for Italian design while presenting novel approaches for sustainable innovation. 

Continuing its legacy from last year’s event, which was conceived by Ambassador Massimo Rustico, industrial experts from world-renowned Italian brands were invited to share their knowledge and testimony with the honourable guests in attendance. Themed “The quality that lights up. The energy of design for people and the environment”, Italian Design Day 2023 highlighted the industry’s commitment to creating quality products that combine both aesthetic and functionality using production processes that respect the environment and people’s health. 

The event kicked off with a welcome speech by Ambassador Massimo Rustico and his co-host, Kavita Sidhu, a Malaysian actress and model. Franz Cerami—a visual artist and university professor who serves as the “Ambassador of Italian Design” in Malaysia—then graced the stage to talk about urban regeneration and his design methods. One highlight of his presentation was the unveiling of his extraordinary work on “Pink City Kuala Lumpur”—a virtual concept for Kuala Lumpur’s vertical city.

Among the world-renowned Italian companies involved in the event were premium automaker Maserati; luxury fashion house Roberto Cavalli; VIP helicopter company Agusta, a brand by Leonardo; handcrafted fine Italian jeweller Roberto Coin; Icona Design Group, a design company for smart mobility and automotives; Lightcraft, a contemporary lighting company for Malaysian homes; and Fincantieri, one of the world’s largest shipbuilding groups. 

Ahead, four brand representatives from these Italian houses share the hallmarks of Italian design and its significance to their brand and industry. 

Agusta, a brand by Leonardo 

Describe the hallmarks of Italian design that make it so distinctive and celebrated around the world. 

Manuela Barbarossa, Head of VIP/Corporate Segment Marketing: “It’s a unique combination of ancient and contemporary; it’s pioneered, imaginative, and versatile, with meticulous care for quality and detail and having beauty as its guiding light.”

Why is Italian design so important to your company and industry? 

MB: “There are several reasons for it. Technology and innovation are part and parcel of Italian design in  many ways and many sectors—a prime one being the aviation industry since the early centuries. After all, this sector in Italy immediately set multiple records thanks to its pioneering mindset. If we look at Leonardo and Agusta-branded passenger transport helicopters today, we still see that unique combination of craftsmanship and advanced technology. Italian design’s versatility translates into vast customisation possibilities, which is another winning driver for us. Also, borrowing the well-known statement, “for an aircraft to fly well it must be beautiful”, we would say that the beautiful and sleek design of our helicopters is what makes them fly very, very well—fast, agile, smoothly, comfortably, and safely.”

Roberto Cavalli

Describe the hallmarks of Italian design that make it so distinctive and celebrated around the world.

Anna Cordini, Brand Manager of Roberto Cavalli: “I believe that the hallmarks of Italian design have been made clear since day one of its history. Good design must be reliable and useful, withstands time, and continues to improve—Italian design ticks all these boxes and more. [Hence, the] hallmarks of Italian design are timelessness, innovation, and beauty.”

Why is Italian design so important to your company and industry? 

AC: “At Roberto Cavalli, we are the fashion of Italian design. Fashion has the extra ingredient in the Italian design recipe: creativity. This is what makes every piece of our collections special and new. It is important to let a fashion designer’s creativity flow to always create new, beautiful designs, as embodied by our clothes, shoes, bags, and accessories.”

Fincantieri

Describe the hallmarks of Italian design that make it so distinctive and celebrated around the world.

Fabrizio Ferri, Head of APAC Region at Fincantieri: “I believe Italian design is a combination of passion, imagination, culture, and our capability to  mediate between past tradition and future innovation. You can see it in everything we do, be it fashion, cars, furniture, ships, interior decorations, and so much more. All Italian products are  beautifully designed, and they perfectly serve a functional purpose.”

Why is Italian design so important to your company and industry?

FF: “Fincantieri builds beautiful cruise ships, and when a passenger goes for a vacation on one of our cruises, they want to experience emotions, enjoyment, and comfort. This is exactly what our ships can give considering that they are a perfect combination of Italian passion and beauty with engineering competence and manufacturing excellence, this is what in Fincantieri we call Italian design.”

Roberto Coin 

Describe the hallmarks of Italian design that make it so distinctive and celebrated around the world.

Roberto Coin: “The Renaissance was the period where talents in sculpting, painting, architecture, literature, food, banking, innovation, and jewelry were born. It marked the rebirth of a new world. Over the centuries, the “made in Italy” brand has become synonymous with timeless elegance, impeccable style, glamour, and beauty.”

Why is Italian design so important to your company and industry?

RC: “As we are very much an Italian company (to be precise, we are Venetian), we represent diversity and innovation by continuously changing styles. The worldwide consumer considers the “made in Italy” brand as a symbol of the highest quality and beauty, and that’s what we uphold. Art is our soul and culture is our heart.”

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