Delving into FIND – Design Fair Asia with Luca Palermo, CEO of Fiera Milano

GET A QUICK INSIDE LOOK INTO THE HIGHLY ANTICIPATED FIND – DESIGN FAIR ASIA THAT’S JUST AROUND THE CORNER AND THE OVERALL FUTURE OF DESIGN IN ASIA WITH LUCA PALERMO, CEO OF FIERA MILANO.

Tagged with a solid track record of organising, hosting and managing international events – exhibitions, trade fairs and congresses – in and beyond Italy since 1920 is Fiera Milano, with Luca Palermo positioned as its current CEO. As such, he is tasked with the great responsibility of strengthening synergy with other leading international event companies, finding a strategic partner to launch successful initiatives and connecting Italy-made products with the rest of the world. Henceforth, Palermo is deemed a high value member of the company and is entrusted with the authority to grow its portfolio of events on a global scale.

One of Palermo’s detailed key priorities is to maintain Fiera Milano’s commendable record of attracting over 4.5 million visitors annually, courtesy of its 80 Italian exhibitions portfolio and 30 foreign events portfolio. In order to achieve this, he actively seeks to work in teams that promote an enhancement of professionalism, passion and curiosity in daily relationships. In turn, this has allowed him to be actively connected with many other international companies and leaders. Most recently, the company has partnered with dmg events to successfully initiate FIND (Furniture, INteriors and Design) – Design Fair Asia.

Palermo is confident that FIND – Design Fair Asia, the first new international design fair to emerge amidst the pandemic and an important event on the Singapore Design Week calendar, will be the definitive fair for interior design and furniture in Singapore and beyond. It will present a rich profusion of carefully selected collection of interior brands, agencies, pavilions, designers and content from across the globe. Other than aiming to promote Made in Italy goods with the world, he is anticipating more partnerships with foreign countries in the interest of producing them too. The natural born leader is also keen on launching businesses in Asia to consolidate Fiera Milano’s position in this highly competitive region.

As Palermo will be playing a significant role in the upcoming FIND – Design Fair Asia which is set to take place from the 22nd to 24th of September 2022, here is a quick inside look into his thoughts regarding the fair and the future of design in Asia:

What is unique about FIND – Design Fair Asia?

FIND combines Western and Eastern design in one place, bringing together architects, interior designers, retailers, experts and design enthusiasts from all over Asia and the rest of the world. FIND is an event that emphasises the essentiality of the trade fair instrument as a privileged stage for intercepting new markets for companies wishing to expand their business beyond European borders.

How does FIND assess the suitability of brands, partners and exhibitors for the fair?

Current economic models are based on a level of consumption that is rapidly destroying our ecosystems. It is therefore necessary to design circularity into everything we do, which is why FIND brings together design talent under the common theme of sustainability.

There will be designers with pieces that use natural and/or local materials; designers who use waste, scrap, salvaged or recycled materials; others who use innovative materials or conventional materials in innovative ways. FIND will take the audience on a journey into the human-nature relationship, developing a design concept in line with the connection between the natural environment and its occupants.

What does FIND hope designers, architects and corporates take away from this exhibition?

FIND represents the new paradigm of design fairs that are no longer anchored solely in the pursuit of beauty but also in the social and sustainable. FIND’s mission is not limited to the aesthetics of design but pursues a concept of innovation that cannot ignore sustainability. Moreover, Singapore sees among its future projects the realisation of ‘Tengah’, the futuristic sustainable city where nature and technology will coexist in a new citizen-friendly reality.

Therefore, the visitor to FIND, whether designer, architect or company, has the opportunity to experience first-hand the innovations related to the world of creativity, bringing with them the relationships and exchange of ideas from the different cultures and styles. In a sector that aspires to innovation, professionals and enthusiasts will be able to absorb the originality of dynamic and stimulating environments to improve their approach to their future projects.

How can the collections presented at FIND Design Fair inspire designers, especially Asian designers?

The collections presented at FIND will inspire designers from Asia and around the world thanks to the uniqueness and innovation that can only be found in these global contexts, and especially thanks to direct encounters with artists and professionals from different styles and cultures.

Why is good design important?

Good design makes a product useful and more usable and allows it to last over time. It can really make the difference to the success of a product on the market.

What can we look forward to seeing at FIND and what can we expect in terms of collaborations/announcements in the next few months?

We all hope that FIND 2022 will be a successful edition and that it can represent the basis for other future editions. FIND represents an attractive pole for future partnerships in the supply world, seeking to attract the internationality of design.

How can Italy contribute to FIND?

Fiera Milano will contribute to FIND by bringing to Singapore the made in Italy and the uniqueness of Italian design esteemed worldwide. FIND will in fact benefit from important collaborations with Italian design excellences able to promote and enhance made in Italy in the world:

The multidisciplinary studio Stefano Boeri Interiors founded by architect Stefano Boeri with architect Giorgio Donà at FIND will take care of the creation of the special area dedicated to Italian companies called “The Italian Design Futures Capsule”. Together with the team of Stefano Boeri Interiors, Boeri will develop and design the concept and exhibition format of the companies that will participate in FIND representing the made in Italy.

ADI – Associazione per il Disegno Industriale (Industrial Design Association) will present the prestigious Compasso d’Oro awards at FIND, the most important recognition in the world of design that aims to highlight the qualities of products made in Italy and to recognise the value process that design imprints on the world of production and society in a transversal way.

Gilda Bojardi, editor-in-chief of INTERNI, is also the creator of FuoriSalone and curator of several international design exhibitions. The collaboration with INTERNI aims to create a symbolic bridge to promote the link between Singapore and Milan, the meeting and exchange between West and East, and between designers and entrepreneurs. INTERNI will develop the content part of the event, curating master classes during the days of the event.