DESIGNER SPEAK
Words of wisdom from Meghna Malik and Emmanuel Gallina
Your humble beginnings?
Exiled very young in the world design capital, Milan, I completed my studies at the Politecnico in Milan and worked in several Milan design agencies. In 2000, I joined Antonio Citzio’s famous agency where I worked for 7 years. Later, I started my own agency. Today, I work mainly in France and in Italy, but projects do come along my way from Brazil or China. We work mainly on design products, brand strategies and interior design. I refer regularly to the ten principles of good design according to Dieter Rams. Let me quote here the third principle - ‘A well executed design does not lack beauty. The aesthetic quality of a product is an integral part of its usefulness. The products used on a daily basis produce an indirect effect on users and their well-being’.
Essentials of a good design?
A good design goes to the basics and leaves no room for the superfluous.
“Elegance, obviousness and simplicity are the key words that guide my work.”
Elegance, obviousness and simplicity are the key words that guide my work. Attention to detail is a reality of every moment in line, form, and functionality.
Design is much more than we think?
A designer is the guarantor of the project and it must integrate many constraints - ergonomic, technological, social, commercial, brand identity, communication, etc. The designer must have this high quality of synthesis and dialogue in order to move the project forward in the most coherent and legitimate direction in relation to the initial concept. The success of a product is very complex to achieve if all the different points of view are not taken into account.
Your current assignments?
Coming up is a presentation in April 2017, at the Milan Design International Show (Milan design week) of a large collection of very elegant, essential and luxurious products created and designed for the Italian brand Poliform. The product range includes Mathieu desk, Sophie chairs, Jane armchair collection, couch and bench, Henry side tables, coffee tables and stools.