Salone del Mobile launches Formafantasma-designed collectible design platform.

2 hours ago7 min read1 comments

In a move that feels less like a simple product launch and more like the opening of a meticulously curated digital gallery, the Salone del Mobile has unveiled 'Salone Raritas,' a collectible design platform conceived by the visionary studio Formafantasma. This isn't just another e-commerce site; it's a deliberate, almost philosophical intervention into the world of design collecting, offering a curated selection of unique pieces, limited editions, and what are intriguingly termed 'outsider' objects.Think of it as the design world's equivalent of a major museum acquiring a radical new digital wing—a space where the boundaries between art, craft, and collectible object are intentionally blurred. Formafantasma, the Italian duo of Andrea Trimarchi and Simone Farresin, are the perfect architects for this venture.Their practice has long been characterized by a deep, research-driven approach that interrogates the very foundations of design, from the origins of materials to the global impact of production. They don't just design objects; they design contexts and conversations.Applying this methodology to a digital platform is a masterstroke. They are not merely designing a user interface; they are designing an experience, a new way of seeing and valuing design.The platform's focus on 'raritas'—rarity—goes beyond mere scarcity. It champions the narrative behind the object, the singularity of its creation, and the story it tells about our material culture.The inclusion of 'outsider' objects is particularly telling, suggesting a welcome democratization that seeks to elevate pieces that might exist outside the traditional, often insular, circuits of high design. This could include works by self-taught artisans, experimental prototypes from unknown studios, or culturally significant artifacts from marginalized communities.It’s a bold statement that value is not solely determined by a famous name or a prestigious gallery but by the intrinsic power and story of the object itself. The timing of this launch, set for Milan, is no coincidence.Milan's Salone del Mobile is the undisputed epicenter of the design calendar, a week-long spectacle of commerce and creativity. By planting 'Salone Raritas' firmly within this ecosystem, the organizers are making a clear claim about the future of the industry.They are signaling that the frenetic, trade-fair model must be complemented by a more contemplative, archival, and enduring marketplace. This platform provides a permanent home for the most exceptional, one-of-a-kind pieces that can often be lost in the visual noise of the main fair.It’s an answer to the growing desire among collectors for provenance, depth, and a more meaningful connection with the objects they acquire. The implications are vast.For designers, it opens a new, prestigious channel to reach serious collectors directly, bypassing some of the traditional gatekeepers. For the market, it introduces a new layer of curation and intellectual rigor that could help stabilize and legitimize the often-volatile collectible design sector.And for the public, it offers an unprecedented window into the rarefied world of design collecting, an educational resource as much as a commercial one. In the hands of Formafantasma, 'Salone Raritas' is poised to become more than a platform; it is a new cultural artifact in its own right, a beautifully designed lens through which to view the past, present, and future of what we choose to collect and cherish.

#Salone del Mobile

#Formafantasma

#collectible design

#Salone Raritas

#Milan

#design platform

#curated selection

#featured

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