May
13 , 2005
Malfatto:
Imperfect Design for a Better World?
A Material ConneXion ® Symposium
Material
ConneXion, the world’s premier materials resource specializing
in the needs of designers and architects, presents its inaugural
symposium “Malfatto: Imperfect Design for a Better World?“
An important and timely contribution to the business and design
worlds, this one-day event presents “malfatto” as
an aesthetic solution to many of the economic and social challenges
that arise from globalization.
“Malfatto”
is Italian for “poorly made”—an tongue-in-cheek
designation of an approach to design that privileges controlled
experimentation, the hand of the maker, and materials research
that is not directly related to industrial thinking. Advocated
perhaps most passionately by the Italian architect and industrial
designer Gaetano Pesce--who introduced the concept forty years
ago, when slick, machine-perfected Italian design ruled--malfatto
is an idea whose time has come.
Moderated
by author and New York Times columnist Phil Patton, the symposium’s
distinguished presenters will comment on diverse aspects of
creating aesthetically, economically and ethically successful
products through the integration of the industrial and non-industrial.
Issues such as branding, authenticity, the Third World work
force and regional materials, as well as the political and economic
influence of design feature as key topics.
Malfatto
prompts us to reconsider what we take for granted in our consumer
society. "Why are we faced with a maze of utilitarian objects
which all look alike? No wonder world-class manufacturers persist
in the idolatry of branding to distinguish their products from
the competitors',” says Material ConneXion Founder and
President George M. Beylerian.
Gaetano
Pesce’s declaration of his personal definition of malfatto
will be followed by presentations by the design gurus and mavericks
whose understandings of the term enrich its meaning. Revolutionary
trend forecaster (not to mention publisher and humanitarian)
Li Edelkoort will analyze the social motivations of the
First World’s movement toward unique, hand-made objects.
Community activist Kardash Onnig will give personal testimony
as to why a Madison Avenue mogul would leave the buttoned-down
security of corporate America to make playthings. And “Doors
of Perception” organizer and deep-thinker John
Thackara will describe guidelines for evaluating the
potential of emerging markets.
The views
of those listed above will be contrasted with statements from
designers working in major corporations, who can report first-hand
on malfatto’s infiltration into their companies. James
Ludwig (Creative Director of Steelcase North America) will.
Scott Henderson (Principal and Founder of Scott Henderson Inc.
and Mint) will suggest the best possible future for massproduction.
Scott Wilson (Global Creative Director for Nike Explorer Group)
will. Due to their different responsibilities and interests,
these designers have developed their own visions of humanistic
design that contrast with malfatto.
Scheduled
to take place on May 13, 2005 at the Tishman Auditorium, New
York City, the symposium is conveniently positioned on the day
before the opening of the International Contemporary Furniture
Fair. All symposium attendees will receive a free ICFF pass
with their ticket purchase.
Purchase tickets online at www.materialconnexion.com
About
Li Edelkoort
Li Edelkoort founded The Edelkoort Group,
which provides trend analysis and consulting services to major
international companies dealing in cosmetics to cars to paper.
More recently, her work has evolved into the realms of education,
humanitarianism, and curatorship. In 2006, an internationally
touring exhibit will celebrate Edelkoort’s forecasting
as a landmark medium of social commentary.
About
John Thackara
Two related questions inspire John Thackara: "we know what
new technology can do, but what is it for?" and, “how
do we want to live?”. The results of his international,
collaborative research are discussed at the celebrated Doors
of Perception conference. His next book, In the Bubble: Designing
In A Complex World, will be published by MIT Press in Spring
2005.
Contact:
Conferences Department
conferences@materialconnexion.com
Tel.: 212-842-2050
