It is always a special occasion when Cosmit, the company behind the Salone Internazionale del Mobile (the Milan Furniture Fair), enters the lion’s den and invites to an opulent dinner in the week of the Cologne Furniture Fair (IMM). Self-confidently the Salone shows its biggest competitor that Italians offer the better hospitality. This year the Italian furniture fair invited for a panel discussion showing Paul-Bernd Berger, a furniture and design marketing and sales expert, Ralf Raimo Jung, journalist and film producer, Stefan Diez, an new star on the German design scene and – tataahhh! – Richard Sapper – one of the old school of Italian designers with cult status. Munich-born Sapper started his career at Mercedes-Benz and went on working for names like Gio Ponti, Zanuso, Kartell, Fiat, Pirelle, IBM, Artemide or Alessi. Numerous products he designed can be found in the MoMA in New York.

Of course the subject was about design in Italy and also of course it was mainly the star – Richard Sapper – who had the lead. He gave away some amusing experiences he had in his career. For example a story from Continue Reading »