If you live and breath design since a very young age, it is quite likely that an innate design inclination will make a nest in your chest. That is exactly what happened to Francesco Meda, 1984-born Compasso d’Oro Prize-winning designer with a prestigious family legacy behind: his father, Alberto Meda, has worked with furniture excellences of the likes of Alessi, Vitra, and Colombo Design. The son is far from reeling behind: together with Alberto, he signed a few stunning projects for Kartell and Caimi Brevetti (their latest collaboration – a modular shoe rack – involved Volta Footwear and was launched at the Milano Design Week), but only after learning the ropes in London, with Sebastian Bergne and Ross Lovegrove, respectively, and proving to everyone (and especially to himself) that he could be a genuinely talented designer. And that he is able to work as a team and share creativity with fellow colleagues – as he already did with the futuristic “Samantha” chandelier realised in partnership with Francesco Faccin for Nilufar.

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Courtesy photo

Proudly born and lived in Milan, Francesco Meda took off for more exotic destinations and later got back to his native soil, an actual hub of unparalleled businesses and artisanal excellences that every year gather on the occasion of the Milano Design Week. That’s his throwback to that hectic time of year.

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Photo: Daniele Iodice

1. First thought that comes to mind if you hear the words, “Milano Design Week 2017”.

Milan with an utterly different charge, like if it was “doped”.

2. The most exciting project you spotted this year.

Formafantasma’s Blush Lamp for Flos, and the Ombre Glass chair by Germans Ermics.

3. Your all-time fave installation.

MARNI Playland.

4. The most thrilling person you met.

The artist Jos De Gruyter.

5. Your biggest disappointment.

An overall aesthetic and structural uniformity among products by different designers.

6. Any wishes for next year?

Less idle objects and installations – more research.

7. Describe your work in one sentence.

I always start from materials, and keep a special eye for the settings my creations are destined to.

www.francescomeda.com