DESIGN IS IN THE AIR, BUT ALSO IN TOWN! Thesignspeaking Corners @ BARCELONA DESIGN WEEK

In support oftalented young designers, companies and startups, THESIGNSPEAKING network has decided toparticipate in Barcelona Design Week for the first time. This week of events,presentations, workshops, conferences, and exhibitions dedicated to networking– which is now it its twelfth edition – highlights design as a tool fortransforming society and a key factor in innovation, sustainability andimproving the quality of people’s lives.

THESIGNSPEAKING– a multi-faceted system aiming to provide new business opportunities andvisibility through its online magazine, special print editions, temporary shop,group exhibitions and by way of The Press Cloud, the communication platform 3.0– has established a media partnership with the organizer of BDW, BCD BarcelonaDesign Center, and identified two locations to showcase some design worldtalent.

Two corners in two of thecity’s neighborhoods, Eixample and Ciutat Vella, commissioned by THESIGNSPEAKING to promote creative dialogue between Italians and Spaniards: atthe Opera Lounge, in Calle Mallorca 193, the collectiveexhibition “OF ART AND DESIGN-when art inspires design and design isreflected in art” presents design objects in concert with the opening ofthe ‘Strait Line’ exhibition, on display until 31 August, which features thework of talented street artist Antonyo Marest and is curated by Escalera deIncendios. The artist, inspired by the architecture and the colors of theCatalan capital, creates original works and unusual geometries in a uniquepalette of 25 colors. His paintings pair perfectly with the creations of Demo Ceramics: Paul Demo is interested in experimentation, his ceramiccollections feature over-sized containers, conceived to protect a secret, whichare part toy and part art object. He was the first to apply the PVD (PhysicalVapor Deposition) technique to large-scale ceramics. Such as Cumuli, Carrara White marble and mouth blown glassvases collection, designed by Gumdesign(Gabriele Pardi e Laura Fiaschi) for IVV952.And the carpet Kame designedbyIlariaInnocenti for Karpeta. In the beautiful premises of Opera Lounge, an original and unique placewhere art, culture and beauty meet, half hair salon and half art gallery,the soap sculptures of the Paris duo Seem Soap(MathildeLehmann and Valentine Sée) are perfect.

Here Mokador coffee presents the first”selfie-bar” for “design lovers”. Thanks to DADO OPTIMA – simple to use coffeemachines featuring sophisticated aesthetics that are the creative brainchild ofdesigner Gianni Bortolotti, internationally recognized as one of the masters ofItalian design – guests can prepare their very own excellent 100% Italianespresso. And you’ll also be able todiscover the winning design from the 3rd edition of TALENT’SMANIFESTO identified byway of a “call for young designers under 30” on the website www.thesignspeaking.com the theme of whichis: outdoor and public spaces to evoke “Inspired in Barcelona: in&out” the event which broughtCatalan design to Milan Design Week 2017 for the first time.

TABLE ANDSURROUNDINGS is the title devised for the event at the vegetarian bistro Rasoterra, at Carrer de Palau 5, wheredesign elements add poetic and ritual content around the table and, asAlessandro Mendini says, “the object becomes an emotional friend”.This location will be the showcase for the premiere presentation of thebranding created by STC Studio C, of Milan andBerlin, by designer Christoph Schnug for buah (the Malay word for ‘fruit’)a young, innovative company that produces 100% natural, cold-dried fruit, whichcan be used to make smoothies, muesli, or salads. The packaging is adistinctively iconic and sustainable paper tube, which can also be used as ameasuring tool for the preparation of an infinite number of recipes. For the occasion, a new lookalso for the venue with Siru Lighting’s Segni lamps combiningVenetian-style processing techniques with innovative shapes of Gumdesign and ceramic elements designed by young designers for Il Coccio Design Edition such as Sovrappensiero‘s candle holders, OdoFioravanti’s Collo vase and Colletto pot, Carmelo Zocco’s vase andMarioScairato‘s Tino. Also on display, somecreations from Tour de Fork, amultidisciplinary design studio inspired by food and food culture founded in2011 by designer Stefano Citi and by Claudia Castaldi. Castaldiis a photographer, foodstylist, and creator of the photographs for buah’s new recipe book in progress,which will be featured in a preview exhibition at Rasoterra.