Carlotta de Bevilacqua
Carlotta de Bevilacqua is a force of nature. Not only one of the world’s most influential authorities on the design of light because of her constant leading edge research into technologies, such as during her time as Head of Research at Artemide, but a producer of multiple important breakthrough products each year for Artemide and Danese, such as “Tian Xa”, “Rigel”, Altrove” and the “Una” system. This is enough to solidify her reputation as one of Italy’s most important designers. But, her role as President of the venerable Italian design manufacturer Danese allows her to bring a consciousness to production and a desire to maintain what has always been important and valuable to Italian Design – and to allow a platform for important young designers to produce innovative work. She acquired a struggling Danese in 1999, then began re-focusing the company’s values towards contemporary environmental innovation as well as a sense of social responsibility as outlined in the company “Manifesto”. And she is a great friend to the ItaliaDesign program having agreed to spend time and do interviews with us four times, in 2006, 2007, 2009 and again this year.