Now a regular fixture on the Shanghai exhibition circuit, Italian Design Icons (IDI) has its roots in Nanjing’s foreign community, when a boutique expat law firm set its sights on Shanghai, from both a legal and design perspective.
Held from 15 to 17 November at ideaPod the Bund, and with the theme of “Innovative Design, the City of the Future”, Italian Design Icons 2019 attracted numerous top Italian design brands and innovative companies in the industrial and technological sectors. Joined by many a qualified speaker, IDI garnered the attention of a wider audience, as well as art and design enthusiasts and many university students.
An idea by the DP Group that was founded by long-term Nanjing expat, Carlo D’Andrea, IDI is organised by Eastant Communication & Events; D’Andrea is also curator of the expo.
The purpose of the exhibition is to promote, particularly among the Chinese public, Italian brands and industrial design. During the 3 day exhibition, speakers shared with the many visitors their ideas and vision of innovation for a better society and new methods of industrial design. IDI seeks to celebrate the excellence in Italian design, embrace the sustainability of new projects and share knowledge across various industries.
This year’s edition, the fourth in Shanghai, received precious support from institutional partners, including the Consulate General of Italy in Shanghai, LUISS University Guido Carli, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Design, the China – Italy Chamber of Commerce (CCIC) and the Italy China Foundation (FIC).
Among the thousands of visitors to this year’s IDI was Under Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Italy, Mr. Ivan Scalfarotto, and also Prof. Romano Prodi, former President of the Commission of the European Union and former Italian Prime Minister, both visiting Shanghai at the time.
Fourteen of the most distinguished Italian brands in China participated in IDI this year, namely Ansaldo Breda, Ariston, Casappa, Comau Robotics, Costa Crociere Asia, Ducati, FAAM, Fincantieri, IGuzzini, Itema, Maserati, Pirelli, Poltrona Frau and Targetti, while the recently opened ideaPod as location added an interesting sense of innovation to the entire exhibition.
IDI is part of the “Italian Creativity Milan | Shanghai – ALL AROUND” initiative, sponsored by the Consulate General of Italy in Shanghai, the Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Activities and Tourism and the Municipality of Milan.
