Angelo Mangiarotti

"One who cares for the soul becomes someone at ease with idiosyncrasies and the unexpected." -Thomas Moore

I love discovering design inspirations during my travels, especially when I come across noteworthy design products without any preparations or expectations on my part.

This happened recently while walking around the center of Milan, near Il Duomo. Unexpected raindrops forced me to seek shelter in a quiet courtyard with lush green overgrown ivy. I stood under a typical portico, in an envelope of beautiful archways, sheltered from the passing rain. There, I saw a small standing sign noting an exhibit: Angelo Mangiarotti. Because the name was unfamiliar, my curiosity invited me into the gallery.

I simply fell in love: timeless forms with a modernist approach to materials. The exhibition was a modern classic collection of Mangiarotti's home furnishing designs, from chairs and screens to desks and tables, all shown quietly. One may describe them as neutral and quiet, but they are also timelessly functional while being beautifully expressed. The spirit of Bauhaus seemed to live on, yearning for beautiful lines and proportions that might awaken the eyes of some emerging designers.

The experience felt as if someone had awarded me these spectacular inspirations. Now, I continuously look out for Angelo Mangiarotti's creations, and hope that some of his inspirations might spark some of my future concepts.