I never thought I would ever have the chance to go to Italy, let alone get to study Design there. I had no idea what to expect when I first arrived, but over the five weeks we were there, I kept wanting to learn more and it really began to feel like home.
Before coming on this trip, I was not aware of the strong influence Italian designers had on the field and some of the things we interact with frequently. Until now, I had always associated good design with primarily Scandinavian designers. Taking the tour of Alessi and hearing about their history was a huge turning point for me in terms of recognizing Italian product design.
The designer that I think had the greatest influence on me was Achille Castiglioni and going to his studio to hear about his process was fascinating. The way that he approached design with humor and fun really resonated with me and I hope to convey a similar attitude in my designs. There was not one design of his that I did not think was brilliantly thought through which I find exceptionally impressive. I even purchased one of his spoons and I am so glad I did.
Another trip that really inspired me was going to the Alfa Romeo museum. The level of detail put into each of their cars is impeccable and I believe I share a similar desire for specificities in a total piece of design. I was also very interested in the evolution of their brand and how distinct a lot of their designs were from each other. There was a car that resembled a door wedge and then contrary to that was a very curvy silouhette. These two designs showed the differences between time periods as very few cars now have such a dramatically angular design.
Wedge shape, circa 1970’s 
Curvy shape, circa mid 2000’s
Another aspect of Italy I admired was how itso seamlessly juxtaposed the vintage with the modern. For example, the Sforza Castle was built in the 15th Century and is still complete and used daily for educationaluse. At the same time, the economics building at Bocconi University was built in 2008 and displays the modern style of the present. Even though the castle directly contrasts that style, both are kept and celebrated for what they each represent.
Sforza Castle,15th Century
Bocconi University, 2008
Oneof the things I enjoyed the most, however, was the time they took to enjoy the various aspects of their life. Whether it was a full meal or just a coffee, they took their time to completely interact with it. This was especially noticeable at the bars when people would stand with their coffee and chat with the person next to them and then proceed about their day. I found this to be really charming and I hope to try and replicate this on any level here in the US as I think it brings more of a sense of community together.
Rossopomodoro Pizza
Caffe from Bar Luce
