MINIMALISSIMO EDITED
Design should not dominate things, should not dominate people. It should help people. That's its role.
– Dieter Rams
What's happening?
Hello. It was design week at Salone del Mobile (Milan's annual furniture fair) which comes to a close today. I wasn't able to make it this year, nor had I even planned to, but I hope to make a return as an observer next year. Did you make it there? Any noteworthy designs? I've seen a handful of really beautiful pieces and a couple of them will be featured soon on the site. I find it's a very different experience discovering design online and walking the streets of Milan during the fair and randomly wandering into a low-key showroom that you probably wouldn't otherwise find. Obviously seeing digital representations of physical works are considerably different by default, but there's an experience that transcends that during Salone. Now let's dive into some of our recent features.
– Carl
Features
PORTA LAMP
Product designer Simon Legald collaborated with Danish design company Normann Copenhagen to create the minimal and wireless Porta Lamp. As implied by its name, Porta is a portable lamp and is characterised by its rounded, organic design cues. The cylinder base and elongated dome shape of the lamp shade contribute to an aesthetic cohesiveness.
OFFSET GRINDER
The offset cannabis grinder, designed by Montréal-based experimental studio A-OKAY, uses an easy to grip, asymmetrical shape to provide added leverage for effortless grinding. The unconventional yet minimal form is milled from a solid piece of aluminium making it a durable and beautiful object.
ZOO COLLECTION
Designed by Ionna Vautrin for EO Play, the Zoo Collection is a bright, playful, and expressive collection of cuddly toys made in a big oversized version and a mini "teddy bear" version. The three animals; toucan, panda, and whale represent the elements; air, earth, and water.
MONOLITHIC ENSEMBLE
Located in Planegg, a municipality in the district of Munich, lies a monolithic dual residence designed by German architects Unterlandstättner Architekten. Drawing on Bauhaus sensibilities, the spatial constellation is supported by daylight guidance and visual axes, and an ensemble character is strengthened by the specific volume design and homogeneous materiality of the two buildings.
DRIFT BUREAU
Drift Bureau reinterprets the classical writing desk with a strong graphic look and a relaxed sense of function. Mounted on the wall, this strikingly abstract piece holds a variety of possible uses: work and write while sitting at it or make use of the integrated compartment that discretely holds essential work and writing materials like a laptop, paper, or personal charging station.
Where next?
Discovery
other things for you to read, explore, and maybe even admire:
taking a walk across the internet: an interesting piece by Eric Li on why browsing with speed needn’t be the only goal
a tour inside Bureau Borsche: a look inside the minimalist graphic design studio in Munich
why we should create: if we have the privilege to create, then we should
the creativity ark: maintaining creative quality from the perspective of Manu Moreale
This monthly edition of the Minimalissimo newsletter was supported by aprile, the hanging chair
inspired by spring days and designed by Matteo Modica, aprile is a simple suspended chair that oozes elegance—a floating seat, shaped after spring petals, swinging gently. designed and handcrafted in Italy with artisanal love.
whether you're looking for visual inspiration or design insights, you can visit our gallery to discover the very best of minimalism in art and design.
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