On the 12 March, the Consulate of Italy in Adelaide, in collaboration with the University of South Australia, hosted an event to mark the 9th edition of the Italian Design Day in the World. This year’s theme was “Inequalities. Design for a Better Life.”
The event, held at the Pridham Hall, focused on exploring the role of design in mitigating the impact of inequalities on individuals’ daily well-being, aligning with the broader goal of strengthening the Italian design brand globally. Key issues such as sustainability, inclusion, practicality, aesthetics, and functionality were at the core of the discussions, reflecting the thinking of designers and companies whose projects aim to improve everyday life.
In his speech, Consul Ernesto Pianelli highlighted how art and design serve as tools for promoting individual well-being and reducing inequalities, ultimately fostering a better quality of life. Alongside Product Design Professor Anna Brown and Industrial Designer Jim Hannon-Tam, the dialogue delved into the influence of design across various aspects of life—from work and education to urban planning—emphasizing its cross-generational impact. The care and attention invested in product design is vital for their longevity, and Italian design is renowned for this commitment to quality.
As part of the 9th Italian Design Day, the exhibition “Photography for Lifetime Achievement: A Tribute to Italian Photography and the Compasso d’Oro Masters,” curated by ADI (Association for the Industrial Design), was displayed to celebrate the connection between photography and design. The exhibition featured 48 posters celebrating the winners of the Compasso d’Oro Career Award, reinterpreted through the lenses of Italian photographers.
The event also served as a prelude to the Salone del Mobile in Milan, scheduled to take place from the 8th to the 13 April 2025, and was held in synergy with the upcoming International Exhibition at the Triennale of Milan titled “Inequalities: How to Mend the Fractures of Humanity,” which will run from May to September 2025. The aim of these events is to highlight the best policies and most representative projects addressing the growing inequalities that divide humanity.
This initiative is part of the Permanent Table for the Internationalization of Design, coordinated by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. Other key members of the table include the Ministry of Culture, the Association for Industrial Design (ADI), the Compasso d’Oro Foundation, ICE Agenzia, Salone del Mobile, the Milan Triennale, FederlegnoArredo, the Altagamma Foundation, and Confindustria.
The Consulate would like to extend its heartfelt thank you to everyone who participated in this event, which celebrated Italian design and its contribution to combating inequalities.
