Elena Salmistraro is an Italian product designer and artist who lives and works in Milan. She studied at the Brera School of Art and graduated in Fashion Design at the Milan Polytechnic in 2003, followed by a second degree in Industrial Design in 2008. In 2009, she founded her studio with architect Angelo Stoli, working on projects ranging from architecture to design, art, fashion, illustration and visual arts in general.
His work is strongly contemporary and draws inspiration from illustration and street art, fashion and nature in general. His creations are the result of the combination of art and serial design, with a language strongly characterised by the use of three-dimensional textures and bright colours full of energy.
One of the priorities of her work is the meticulous study of the harmony between forms, which is reflected in the expressiveness of the objects, in the animism and poetry of the stories.
For Elena, emotion is a fundamental function of the object.
Elena collaborates with some of the most important Italian and international companies such as Alessi, Apple, Bosa, Cappellini, CC-Tapis, Ceramica Flaminia, Cinelli, Driade, De Castelli, Disney, Florim, Huawei, Ikea, Marella, Microsoft, Moooi Carpets, Natuzzi, Nike, Tai Ping, Technogym, Timberland and Vitra. He also collaborates with prestigious art and design galleries such as Rossana Orlandi, Antonio Colombo Gallery, Dilmos, Camp Design Gallery, Duson Gallery, SecondoMe, My Own Gallery and Puntacontérie.
One of his most iconic designs is the Primates vase, designed in 2017 for Bosa Ceramiche, a representation of contemporary primitivism.
In 2017, she received the “Salone del Mobile Milano Award” as “Best Emerging Designer“, for her ability to introduce her own expressive imagery into the dialogue with large-scale serial production, enriching it with new insights.
Since 2017, Elena has also been a World Ambassador of Italian Design on the occasion of “Italian Design Day“.
In 2019, AD Italy, Germany and France counted her among the 100 most important figures in the world of design, and in 2021 Marie Claire Maison included her among the 50 outstanding personalities of the art and design scene.
In 2022, she was awarded the prestigious “Frame Design Award” as “Best Designer” by the international architecture and design magazine – Frame.
Elena has won numerous national and international awards such as the Good Design Awards, Frame Awards, Salone Del Mobile Milano Award, ADI-Ceramic&Bathroom Award, Archiproducts Awards, Big See awards, Icon Award, ADI Design Index Selection, and has received several mentions such as EDIDA Japan and European Product Design Award.
His works have been exhibited in the main Italian and international trade fairs and in some of the most important museums, such as the Triennale Design Museum, the Guggenheim in Venice, the ADI Design Museum, the Pinacoteca di Brera, the Biennale del Design in Porto the Mad museum in Singapore, the Design Museum – Centro Cultural la Moneda-Santiago de Chile,The Lookout – V&A Waterfront – Cape Town, the Lace Museum in Cantù, the Glass Museum in Altare, the MAC Museum of Contemporary Art in Lissone and the Ceramics Museum in Faenza.
She participates in various initiatives and talks, including the TEDx in Padua in 2022.
She is active in the world of teaching at the Istituto Marangoni in Milan, the Abadir University in Catania and the Milan Polytechnic.
Taliso by Elena Salmistraro @Istituto dei Ciechi ©Antonio Managò
Let’s discover more about her:
What are the biggest challenges you have met in your career?
The biggest challenge is also a constant one, and it is always to find a balance between creativity and the company’s needs. While the creative and visionary aspects are essential parts of my work, it is necessary to adapt and find the right compromise when collaborating with companies, matching their needs and demands with my personal taste.
Over the years, I have learned that the key is to integrate the more artistic aspect of my work with the client’s requests. This means translating a vision and needs into work that can best reflect both aspects. It requires a good degree of flexibility and adaptation.
Meeting this challenge also means growing both as a designer and as a person. I have learned to manage expectations, communicate effectively, and find alternative and creative solutions to problems. It is not just a matter of technical skill, but also of confidence and self-knowledge. I have learned to trust my instincts and to listen actively.
How would you describe your work?
My work is a continuous process of exploration and experimentation, primarily focused on studying shapes and textures to bring unique objects to life that not only fulfill their primary function but also engage the emotional aspect.
I work with objects, art installations, fashion, and graphics, and I enjoy discovering different materials and their characteristics. I’m always looking for new ways to create objects that can evoke emotions and tell a story.
My aesthetic is inspired by nature in its entirety, and my approach could be described as organic. I often let the object take shape as I work on it, as if it were a living thing. This approach allows me to explore and find different and better solutions for each project continually.
How is your passion for visual art and design born?
My passion for art and design started in my childhood. I always enjoyed drawing and creating objects with my own hands. As I grew up, I cultivated this passion, and my studies always followed this direction, from art schools to design schools.
I have always been fascinated by the ability of art to tell stories and to affect the soul and emotions through the power of images and color. This passion has evolved in my work, where my search for beauty, functionality, and narrative is evident.
I always try to merge and enhance these two disciplines in my projects. On one hand, visual art is an infinite source of inspiration with its variety of forms, colors, and textures, while design fascinates me for its ability to solve problems and to tell the story of an era and society through its habits.
My passion comes from my curiosity for the world and my desire to create beautiful, functional, and emotional objects. I’m always looking for new ways to explore art and design and to integrate my influences into my personal aesthetic.
What is the most difficult work you have done and why?
Among all the projects I have carried out, there are many that have left a lasting impression on me for their complexity, but certainly the one that I still remember today is one of the first encounters with a company. It was the first project I carried out for Bosa Ceramiche for the Animalità exhibition held at the Triennale, where I designed Loricato and Khepri, two zoomorphic containers.
The main challenge of this project was to integrate and channel all my artistic knowledge, including painting, sculpture, ceramics, and fabric, into a single object that was coherent, had its own language, and had a great visual impact. Furthermore, it was one of the first projects that, in terms of production, was not under my complete control, as it was entrusted to a company.
The complexity of the project required a great attention to detail and a continuous search for the best solutions for every problem that arose. I had to work in a very collaborative way and dedicated myself full-time to the project for several months. However, the satisfaction of seeing the two projects realized and admired by the public was enormous and made me realize that hard work and dedication can lead to great results.
What is your main source of inspiration?
My main source of inspiration, which may seem banal, is nature and the world around me. I am fascinated by its beauty and complexity, its shapes, colors, textures, and movements.
Nature inspires me because it is an environment in constant evolution, always in motion and transformation. There are always new discoveries to be made, new combinations of colors and shapes to explore, and new inspirations to find.
Moreover, I am influenced by culture and traditions, especially by folk art and craft techniques. I like to explore how these techniques can be reinterpreted and integrated into contemporary design, creating objects that tell a story and have a strong cultural identity.
What about your next project?
At the moment, I am working simultaneously on several projects, all of which are very interesting and stimulating, and share an artistic component that uses mixed techniques and various materials. I am very excited about these projects, which will soon be presented, but I cannot reveal much about them at the moment. Thanks to these projects, I have been able to explore new creative solutions and constantly challenge myself.
Outside of design, what are you currently interested in and how is it influencing your work?
Outside of design, I am interested in music, cinema, and comics. I am always looking for new experiences that can enrich me both personally and professionally. I love to sing and I am open to external influences. Music and cinema stimulate me a lot because they allow me to discover new forms of expression. They often guide me in drawing new subjects and help me think outside the box. I enjoy traveling and discovering new places, traditions, and craft techniques that I can then integrate into my work. However, I don’t really like flying. I have many interests outside of design that I cultivate and nourish because I feel the need to stimulate my creativity.
Elena Salmistraro portrait_Giulio Cappellini Amor Fati