The 2022 edition of the Red Dot Awards saw prizes given to two projects by Migliore+Servetto: the headquarters of the Generali Group Foundation The Human Safety Net in the Procuratie Vecchie in Venice – winner in the Interior Design category – and the Waterfront Door / Into the Ocean in Busan in South Korea – in the Urban Installations category.
By selecting the two projects from the hundreds nominated, the international jury composed of experts and professionals in the sector identified their motivation for assigning the two awards in the following characteristics: the matrix of inclusion, innovation and sustainability that permeates the entire The Human Safety Net project, and the simple but powerful colourful gesture of the Busan Waterfront, which promotes an urban regeneration project.
The Interior, Exhibition, Multimedia & Graphic Design project for the Procuratie Vecchie by Migliore+Servetto was chosen by the jury as one of the most successful examples of 2022 in the field of Interior Design, not only because of the innovative and experimental approach aimed at generating sustainable and inclusive spaces, created “for sharing” and designed in relation to visitors’ behaviours, expectations and needs but also for the consistency between the Foundation’s objectives and their translation into spatial terms. The main design aspects of the interior design intervention of The Human Safety Net Foundation’s headquarters – which were fundamental in the awarding of the prize – are linked to the lightness with which the project relates to the historical complex of the Procuratie that houses it and to the deep bond it builds with the city of Venice, an emblem of strong cultural identity and openness towards other cultures. There are three recurring symbols that connect the entire project: the table, the nest and the mirror. The table – an emblem of encounter and dialogue – is present in the interactive installations and in social spaces. The nest is the symbol of hospitality and bonds, and is recalled in the structures of the bookcases, providing a sort of fil rouge that connects the social spaces and those dedicated to work. Finally, the mirror boasts a centuries-old tradition in Venice and recurs in the furnishings of the café and in various installations. It is an allegory of challenging oneself, of reflection, of consciousness.
The urban graphic intervention for the Waterfront Door / Into the Ocean in Busan, South Korea, is part of an extensive redevelopment process taking place along the city’s coastline. Already established as a meeting place before the pandemic, in 2020 the Ministry of Culture, Sport and Tourism of South Korea held a competition to give new life to the area, in light of the rules imposed by social distancing. The intervention by Migliore+Servetto proposes a dense and colourful pattern that not only emphasises the city’s view over the sea, but also forms a path dotted with safety distances that evokes marine nature. The result is a place that invites people to inhabit it. To bring the project to life, the studio involved 40 local artists to translate the sketch designed by Ico Migliore into the large scale of the waterfront. The intervention is therefore not only the expression of the enriching dialogue between art and design but also an example of the fruitful intercultural exchange between Italy and Asia. It is a project that looks towards a new conception of urban space to respond to the changing pandemic context, the originality and effectiveness of which earned the studio the prize in the Urban Installations category.
The two prestigious awards are an important recognition of the work by the Milanese studio, which will celebrate its first 25 years of activity this year spanning 500 projects in 18 countries. Within this pathway, the innovative approach and constant research in the technological sphere has led to design outcomes characterised by an iconic nature, recognisability and strong inclusive and community connotations of the projects.
Migliore+Servetto
Founded in 1997 by Ico Migliore and Mara Servetto, Migliore+Servetto is an Italian design studio based in Milan that has carried out over 500 projects in 18 countries, winning prestigious international awards, including three Compassi d’Oro. The Studio specialises in the design of branding projects and narrative spaces – public areas, museums, exhibitions, installations, retail projects, hospitality, entertainment – working at all levels, from interior design to graphics, from videos to multimedia, alongside research and educational activities that take place at an international level. Ico Migliore is Professor at the Politecnico di Milano and Chair Professor at Dongseo University in Busan (South Korea), while Mara Servetto is Visiting Professor at Joshibi University in Tokyo. The companies and institutions that have entrusted the Studio with their projects include Max Mara, Tod’s, Giorgio Armani, Adidas, Fila, Lexus, Alcantara, Boffi, Samsung, Whirlpool, Bombardier, New York Times, Wallpaper*. Interventions for some of the main cultural destinations in Italy and Europe, such as the Egyptian Museum in Turin, the Miramare Museum in Trieste, the Chopin Museum in Warsaw and the ADI Design Museum in Milan bear the signature of Migliore+Servetto. In terms of urban design, M+S designed the Blue Line Park project in Busan, South Korea, and also oversaw the art direction and coordination of all public interventions in the areas of the common ground of MIND, Milan Innovation District. https:// miglioreservetto.com
Red Dot Design Award
The Red Dot Design Award is one of the world’s most important awards in the field of design. Established in 1955, the purpose of the award is to promote exceptional quality of designers and manufacturers within three categories: Product Design, Brands & Communication Design and Design Concept. The winning projects, announced during an annual awards ceremony in Germany, are subsequently included in the Red Dot Museum in Zollverein and presented in publications and yearbooks. The Red Dot Design Award – whose name and logo were coined in the 1990s by CEO Peter Zec – is synonymous with exceptional design quality. More information is available at www.red-dot.de.
