Swarovski Crystal Palace 2010

“Begin doing what you want to do now. We are not living in eternity. We have only this moment, sparkling like a star in our hand-and melting like a snowflake…” - Francis Bacon, Sr.

Zona Tortona has the reputation for hosting the most inspiring design shows during Salone del Mobile in Milan. This year the grandness of Salone del Mobile outgrew its magnum size with the inclusion of an outside show site: Zona Lambrate. Despite the fresh hype, my first dedication was to the Zona Tortona. I’d forgotten about the overcrowded madness of the preview evenings until impatiently sitting during the long cab ride. Typically, the trip takes no more than 15 minutes, but this one took over 45 minutes due to the city-wide activities happening during the Salone del Mobile preview evening.

After my graceful entrance to the VIP preview party at Swarovski, I was greeted with familiar faces, which calmed my senses and made me feel at home. For 2010, Nadja Swarovski ensembled five outstanding international designers: Yves Behar, Vincent van Duysen, Rogier van der Heide, Gwenael Nicolas, and Tokujin Yoshioka. Swarovski spread her show at 32 Via Tortona throughout the entire two-story building to feature these five designers’ works, as well as an archive room, juxtaposing the new creations with highlights from the past eight years.

The Swarovski’s exhibit was the front-runner, and, as almost always, the most inspiring—definitely a role model for all innovative product developers. Please enjoy my snap shots taken from the event and definitely visit Swarovski’s annual exhibits if you are near Milan during Salone del Mobile.

Photos by D.B. Kim.