Italian Style Contract – held at Cersaie 2018
The Sound of Design – Italian Style Contract was the title of the collective exhibition organised at Cersaie, the international ceramic tile and bathroom furnishings show held in Bologna from 24 to 28 September 2018. Hosted in Hall 30 of the Bologna exhibition centre, the collective exhibition celebrated its fifth edition this year while remaining faithful to its longstanding focus on the world of contract furnishing and the excellence of Italian Style. Music and design are both the result of a creative act, they stir emotions and break down barriers, explained the two curators Angelo Dall’Aglio and Davide Vercelli, who with The Sound of Design demonstrated that while music and design are both timeless they can equally well adapt to current trends and fashions and generate new ideas.
A total of 6,641 visitors, including 5,586 Italians and 1055 international attendees, converged on the mysterious 720 square metre booth whose walls displayed an iconic photo of the members of the rock group Madness in single file. With a layout that remained concealed from outside, the booth was divided into 10 sets devoted to various contract sector spaces including an outdoor spa, the bedroom of a B&B, a restaurant/lounge bar and a library, all arranged around a large dance floor inspired by the legendary Studio 54 in New York.
Music and videoclips accompanied visitors to The Sound of Design on an emotional journey exploring the flexibility and characteristics of the displayed ceramic tiles and bathroom furnishings, the real highlights of the exhibition. The music, chosen in collaboration with the media partner Radio Capital, was drawn from the years from 1976 to 1983, a tumultuous period marked by an unprecedented mix of diverse musical genres that also had a major influence on the world of design.
“As in previous years, we wanted to create an appealing, hospitable and stimulating venue that would engage all the senses. The resultant space proved ideal for hosting thought-provoking meetings between visitors and the approximately forty participating companies and showcased all the products to maximum effect. The focus on contract furnishing made the 2018 event especially popular amongst professional visitors, Cersaie’s main target audience.”
The calendar of events held in the arena proved highly popular, from the official opening on the afternoon of 24 September to the presentation of the ADI Ceramics & Bathroom Design Award 2018, the meeting with architects Teresa Sapey and Matteo Nunziati organised by Matrix4Design, the presentation of the Houzz & Home 2018 renovation market trend survey and wine tasting. Last but not least, the live broadcasts from the Radio Capital booth brought the exhibition to the attention of a wider audience beyond Cersaie.
As part of the ongoing collaboration with the Bologna Design Week, an eye-catching portal publicising the exhibition and featuring a mini-spa concept and a spectacular waterfall was officially opened on Wednesday 25 September in the Quadrivio of Galleria Cavour in the city centre.
The Sound of Design also had a live web and social media presence thanks to the online programme Isola Social organised once again by the magazine Il Bagno Oggi e Domani in close collaboration with design bloggers Carlotta Berta (unprogetto), Elisabetta Mattiello (MaisonLab), Simona Nurcato (BesideBathrooms) and Nora Santonastaso (design outfit) and with the participation of the Italianbark international blog team coordinated by Elisabetta Rizzato.
The Sound of Design is an event promoted by Edi.Cer. Spa, Bologna Fiere and Promos s.r.l. and organised by Promos s.r.l. during Cersaie 2018. Curated by Angelo Dall’Aglio and Davide Vercelli, it is held from 24 to 28 September in Hall 30 of the Bologna Exhibition Centre and in the Quadrivio of Galleria Cavour in the city centre during the Bologna Design Week from 25 to 29 September.
Participating companies
ADRENALINA, BERTOLOTTO, BRIONVEGA, CANTONI TRADING, CERAMICA SANT’AGOSTINO, CORDIVARI DESIGN, EMILGROUP, ETERNO IVICA, FIMA CARLO FRATTINI, FLAMINIA, GOMAN, GUFRAM, HOUSE OF MUSIC, ITLAS, JULIA MARMI – PIASENTINA STONE, LAGO, LEA CERAMICHE, L’OPIFICIO, LUCE DI CARRARA MARMO, MADE A MANO, MINACCIOLO, OIKOS – COLORE E MATERIA PER L’ARCHITETTURA, OPINION CIATTI, RAGNO, RUBINETTERIE 3M, SELETTI, SLAMP, UPGROUP, WALL&DECÒ.
Media partners
BRIGHT – VIDEO E COMUNICAZION INTEGRATA, DESIGNPRESS.INFO, IL BAGNO OGGI E DOMANI – DBINFORMATION, INTERPROMEX COMUNICAZIONE, MATRIX4DESIGN – EDITRICE INDUSTRIALE, RADIO CAPITAL.
Technical partners
ALYA, BF SERVIZI- BOLOGNAFIERE GROUP, GALLERIA CAVOUR, GPLANET, LATIFOLIA GROUP.
General information: Promos – tel. +39 051.66.46.000 – mostra@cersaie.it
Press office:
Map Design Communication Cersaie
Patrizia Ledda Andrea Serri
p.ledda@mapdesign.it aserri@confindustriaceramica.it
Mob. +39 339 4766974 Mob. +39 348 1504905
