The Association for Industrial Design ready for a strategic alliance with Carrara. Aim: to strengthen the relationship between marble and designers. In view of the many events it holds featuring various Design prizes, supported by ADI, CarraraFiere is the right partner.



A lengthy visit to the quarries followed by a few companies with a keen interest in design and innovative production impressed the heads of the Tuscan delegation of ADI, the prestigious association for Industrial Design. This immediately led to a serious of activities that could prove very useful to strengthen relations between marble and the world of avant-garde design and more in general between the Carrara marble exhibition that has always paid great attention to design, which is one of the most delicate and strategic elements of products "made in Italy", and the ADI CarraraFiere already has relations with the Association on a national level and in particular with the Chairman, Luisa Bocchietto, who takes a very active part in the events organised by CarraraFiere. On this occasion it was Luigi Trenti, Chairman of the regional ADI, together with the Association’s Secretary Stefano Pirrone, who visited the quarries and workshops to get a close-up of the industry that is so appealing to the world of design. There was immediately an interest due to their professional and institutional expertise, but which also stemmed from the emotions that the world of marble arouses as well as the strong commitment on Carrara exhibition’s behalf to promoting design.



This is exactly why the Association for Industrial Design, that since 1956 has brought together a large number of designers, companies, journalists, researchers and professors (now over 2000 members) to focus on the theme of Italian and international design, has given its support to Carraramarmotec on a national level and takes an active part in the organisation of the "Innovative Design Technology Award", open to companies who produce machines for natural stone.



"ADI is making a survey of excellent products in the region and the marble industry is one of the industries that we knew less about but certainly deserves more than just a mere mention and in fact will be given its just recognition at the museum of Tuscan design that is to be created. We have seen, both in the quarries and in the square designed by Pino Castagna in Marina di Massa, a fascinating industry with unique technical and aesthetic solutions – said the Chairman Trenti at the end of the day – a culture that must be promoted and kept closely related to education. On a regional level the Carrara exhibition is unique in terms of its constant and constructive attention to design and designers in many of the events it organises. We have seen the desire, confirmed in facts, to go in the direction that is one of our Association"s main objectives, that is to strengthen the culture of design that is fundamental to the competitiveness of the production world".



CarraraFiere’s Managing Director, Paris Mazzanti, followed on and expanded on this aspect during talks after the visit “because we are convinced that any event that aims to represent the excellent side of an industry and not only what trade has to offer, has to take into consideration innovation and design, the key elements in achieving quality products in all industries. This is why the relationship with ADI, both on a national and regional level, is particularly important for us and we would like it to stretch to other events too as already happens for marble with Marmotec and Seatec for the marine industry”.



There are therefore all the necessary conditions to continue and build on our relations that will not just be formal arrangements but will encompass some of the industries that characterise the economy of the area in a concrete way, starting from marble itself “taking the knowledge of this industry into university courses and schools that train designers, with conferences and talks by operators and businesses and above all taking the students to the quarries and processing plants. This is fundamental - commented Stefano Pirrone, ADI Tuscany’s Secretary - to stimulate a design culture built on a strong relationship starting from the schools between who thinks and who produces.”