Steering away from innovative materials and unchartered concepts, IVDesign creates time-tested classic essential items such as chairs, bookcases, and tables.
Based in Vicenza, a city in northern Italy, IVdesign was founded in 2007 by Francesca Braga Rosa and Ivano Vianello. The designers both graduated as architects from the IUAV of Venice, where they developed an interest in interior architecture, landscape, and design in both historical and contemporary contexts before establishing the studio.
Using solid materials such as wood and metal, the studio makes modern pieces that are both expressive and understated and classic materials are approached in unconventional ways. Metal is treated as if it were as light and as foldable as paper, resulting in designs such as a stainless sink for Antonio Lupi that artfully attains the illusion of lightness and malleability. At the same time, wood is also lightened in weight, often assembled in square frames rather than solid pieces, as demonstrated in the glossy white aluminum framed Loveseat for Crate & Barrel, which looks almost as if it is suspended in the air. The studio has also designed for other international companies such as Nitoarredamenti (Rapsel), Synthesis, Beamalevich (Barcelona), Valsecchi 1918, DeCastelli and OPPA (Brazil). An in-house collection is also designed and created under the name, Self, which encompasses a range of household items that exude the designers’ signature geometric lightness, practicality, and playful approach to everyday items.
IVDesign started the About Design Vicenza project in 2008, which evolved to become a national design competition, which was followed by the establishment of Vicenza Design Week in 2009. The designers have also made a significant impression on the Italian and international design scene through showcasing their work at the Salone Satellite from 2009-2011 and at the Meet design exhibition in Rome and at the Mercati Traianei in 2012. In 2013, they participated in the exhibition Italian design meets the jewel in Milan at the Triennale and the following year, their work was presented at the exhibition Around the Frame and at Ventura Hive in Lambrate for the Fuori Salone del Mobile.
With an artistic, effortless design approach to classic household items, the objects created by IVDesign are made to last, both on a functional and aesthetic level; they are future-proof, in fact.
