“Super Fresh” debut in Milan

The Local Design exhibition, featuring ADesignStudio’s Eon and LightGarden ranges, has been called “super, super fresh” by Milan television channel Corriere TV. The exhibition, curated by Emma Elizabeth and Tom Fereday, represented a collection of Australian design for the first time, at the world’s biggest international design event in April this year.

Located within the buzzing 5 Via precinct, the exhibition was housed in Teatro Arsenale, an ancient building whose first stone was laid in 1272 – now a theatre, but previously a church, college and school. The striking Eon pendants and modular Lightgardens, by Sydney lighting designer Alex Fitzpatrick of ADesignStudio, illuminated the back wall of the church, where the old altar would have been, providing a dramatic centrepoint for the exhibition.

As the only lighting designer selected to take part in this particular exhibition, Alex was chuffed to be able to illuminate the quality of the curated Australian work showcased in this debut exhibition. “I was excited to be a part of such a great group of Australian designers,” said Alex. “We do have a presence in the design world and you can see the relationships that have formed between some of the more established designers.”

In Milan, the locals – including theatre managers and church-goers – welcomed the Australian creative contingent, and were not fazed by the scale of the exhibition, which included the installation of 10,000 black bricks that became the backdrop to the 12 exhibitor’s ranges.

The exhibition attracted attention from international media, as they affectionately dubbed the Australians “the toddlers of the design world”. Local Design was sponsored by Brickworks.