Walter Mariotti addresses Dezeen: “Let’s try to imagine the future of design together”

It was a surprise to read the correction that Marcus Fairs, the founder and director of Dezeen, published today. It was an apology to his “Italian friends” and to all the sectors involved who were offended by the idea put forward last week by his magazine for a virtual Salone del Mobile managed from abroad, which sounded, and perhaps not only sounded, unjust for a community – that of design, of Milan and of Italy – that is strenuously trying to face up to one of the most insidious and terrible enemies in its history.

His intellectual honesty and his recognising that the proposal was inopportune is to be appreciated.

This having been said, one of the points raised by Fairs remains particularly valid and pertinent. The pandemic has in fact accelerated certain dynamics, such as that of digitalisation, that cannot be sidestepped for much longer either by creative minds, by the business world or by consumers. Above all it cannot be avoided by the media, which represents the fabric, the framework and the spirit of this system. We here at Domus therefore feel it is right to respond with another suggestion: why not bring together sector media, specialised businesses and institutional figures, as well as others, in order to further examine the question, analyse the situation and put forward proposals. A design council that looks to the inevitable future, a future that will be very different from the past and the present, could help to provide an image of what it will be like. It may even be able to form it. We are willing to do our part. Who’s with us?

Opening image: Piazza Duomo, Milan. Photo Moroguru.