Italian Design Day
The Italian Design Day is an annual event that celebrates the excellence of design "Made in Italy" across the globe. The seventh edition of the event was held on March 9th, 2023, at Vespa Cambodia, located at 1750 Oknha Try Heng St. (2011), Phnom Penh. The theme of the event was "The Quality that lights up. The energy of design for the people and the environment," with a focus on sustainable and inclusive architecture and design. The event was promoted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Italy, supported by the Embassy of Italy in Bangkok, and organized by the ICBA Arts Committee.
The Italian Design Day created a dialogue between Italy and Cambodia, with a welcome address by H. E. Paolo Dionisi, the Ambassador of Italy to Thailand, Cambodia, and Laos, and Mr. Aurelio Flacco, the Honorary Consul of Italy in Phnom Penh. The event was opened by Alexander Bellman, Architect, and founder of Gruppo C14 in Milan, who gave an insightful speech on the importance of Italian design. The attendees had the opportunity to see the presentations of distinctive Italian Design products, and visuals of the most representative Italian design brands "Light on made in Italy."
The event included a talk by Alessandro Mangano, Italian Building Engineer, Architect, and partner at AEC, who discussed the role of design in creating sustainable architecture. The event also featured speakers such as Carlo Santoro, Associate Professor at the American University of Phnom Penh, and Rindeth Long, Marketing and Communication Manager at Vespa Cambodia.
As part of the event, the ICBA Arts Committee launched a call for design submissions. The aim of the call was to find and highlight the most significant, inclusive, and sustainable architecture and design works produced by Italian or foreign applicants, professionals, graduate students, and students. The finalist project was announced during the event, followed by a Q&A session, and networking with refreshments.
Overall, the seventh edition of the Italian Design Day provided an excellent platform for designers, architects, and design enthusiasts to explore and celebrate the energy of design for the people and the environment. The event emphasized the importance of sustainable and inclusive design and provided a valuable opportunity for collaboration and dialogue between Italy and Cambodia.