The director of INTERNI and the Japanese designer (both Compasso D'Oro ADI for their careers in 2020 and 2011 respectively) gave a joint speech at the Italian Design Day 2023 in Osaka, on 9 March at the Hotel Conrad

On the occasion of the Italian Design Day 2023 in Osaka, on March 9 at the Hotel Conrad Gilda Bojardi and Toshiyuki Kita, both Compasso D' ADI Gold for Lifetime Achievement in 2020 and 2011 respectively, they were the protagonists of a "journey into Design", an event focused on the dialogue between Japan and Italy.

About Italian Design Day 2023 read here

The talk gave rise to a debate between the two protagonists who told a story of friendship, work and key moments in the history of design through videos, images and anecdotes.

A particular focus on the monographs of Interni dedicated to Japanese architecture and design through its protagonists.

A long history that has developed over the years, evidence of a unique relationship between apparently different cultures but united by rigorous and recognizable aesthetic canons of artisan and industrial know-how.

Over 120 guests were present in the room including Designers, Architects, Academics, and representatives of companies in the sector as well as representatives of the economic-financial world.

Gilda Bojardi as Director in charge of Interni and its System, as creator of the Fuori Salone in Milan, focused on the important international exhibitions organized by Interni which saw protagonists among other projects by Japanese architects and designers.

Read the text of the speech by the director of Interni, Gilda Bojardi

The fruitful osmosis between Italian and Japanese Design was highlighted, united by an equal passion for aesthetic research, technological innovation in the culture of design.

Toshiyuki Kita, internationally recognized designer, recalled his special and consolidated emotional and cultural relationship with Italy, and presented some of his most important creations that have made, over the last 50 years , the history of Japanese, Italian and international design. An exhibition space adjacent to the conference room has been specially set up with a selection of works, armchairs, chairs and objects by Kita.

Copies of the Interni magazine and the book celebrating 30 years of the FuoriSalone were snapped up.

The Consul General of Italy in Osaka, Marco Prencipe, exceptional moderator of the evening, underlined the key role that Design and Creativity play in relations between Italy and Japan as well as Italy's participation in the next EXPO Universal 2025 Osaka Kansai will be a further opportunity to consolidate the excellent relations already existing between the two countries.

The day of the Italian Design Day entitled "Quality that illuminates. The Energy of Design for People and the Environment" in Osaka was the occasion to announce the 61st edition of the Milan Furniture Fair  (April 18-23) alongside which Euroluce, an event dedicated to lighting, will also take place and to the lighting technology that will return after a four-year break due to the pandemic.

Contestualmente è stata annunciata la nuova Edizione del FuoriSalone di Interni, tema Design Re-Evolution, che si svolgerà dal 17 al 26 aprile all'Università degli Studi di Milano, all'Orto Botanico di Brera, al Portrait Milano, a Eataly Smeraldo Milano, alla Torre Velasca e in Via De Castillia.