Salone del Mobile 2020 – 14 projects selected

14 February 2020

On March 27, it was announced that the 2020 edition has been canceled.

The Open Call Salone del Mobile 2020 yielded 32 proposals. Advisers Lucas Verweij, Marleen Engbersen and Jeroen Kramer selected 14 proposals from among them. The committee hopes that this selection will provide a broad picture of the qualities of the Dutch design field. They selected the following presentations in which very diverse competencies are expressed:

- A+N Salone Satellite – Alissa+Nienke
- Tech in Process - Symposia & Preview – Envisions
- blowing glass (werktitel) – Thomas Eyck
- Chairwave – Justus Bruns
-3D Knitted Furniture – Studio Skrabanja
- YAMUNA FORZANI X MOTEL FORLANINI PLAYHOUSE – Yamuna Forzani
- MORPH CARE CENTER – Audrey Large
- JOB IN MILAAN – Job van den Berg
- Duurzame collectie Moroso – Studio Wieki Somers
- Stop Making Sense – White Noise (Klaas Kuiken en Charley Reijnders)
- Fungi & Stains on stairs – Lizan Freijsen
- ARBELA - a visual guide – Hozan Zangana studio
- ENDENDIJK - GESTOELD OP BEWEGING – Hans Endendijk
- CLAY WORKS 'Mommy I made an Ashtray' – HandMade Industrials

evaluation

The proposals submitted were assessed against the criteria of this call for proposals, which focus on:

- the extent to which the presentation and the designs to be shown are able to distinguish themselves in terms of artistic quality and presentation form;
- the extent to which the presentation contributes to the development of the international practice and the broadening of the applicant's field of activity;
- the expected opportunities that the presentation creates for the applicant and the Dutch creative industries;
- the expected contribution to strengthening the image of the Dutch creative industries abroad.

The advisers evaluated the proposals to gauge how consistently they were conceived and the extent to which they met the criteria of the Subsidy Regulations and this open call. The evaluation took the form of a tender: a number of proposals were preferred to the other submissions. Fourteen applications received a positive evaluation and the applications were ranked in comparison with each other. The budget allows for six proposals to be honored.

information about the evaluation and selected proposals

Everything is just right in the proposal by Alissa + Nienke: the proposal is well developed and contains innovation, artistic quality as well as potential for the industry. In the proposal by Thomas Eyck, there is appreciation for the way Christien Meindertsma approaches the task; it will probably result in interesting designs. As in previous years, the total collective behind Morph will offer a striking and diverse picture of Dutch design quality and art education in Milan. The committee appreciates the sustainable thinking behind the proposal by Studio Skrabanja, with an integrated solution for textile reuse. Both the design and the presentation are well thought out. Milan is a good platform for this, and the collaboration with the TextielMuseum and Knitting Holland inspires confidence. Sustainability also plays an important role in the proposal by Studio Wieki Somers. The committee appreciates the collaboration being entered into with Moroso. The committee expects the seating arrangement as a social intervention by Justus Bruns to contribute to awareness design. Klaas Kuiken and Charley Reijnders will also cause a stir with their new strategy. Yamuna Forzani and her entourage will certainly trigger something in Milan and allow a socio-political sound to be heard with her colourful installations and interventions within the context of Milan. The committee also expects the work and installation of Hozan Zangana to express an important message. The film installation will be an experience. The committee is looking forward to the results achieved by Envisions and the collectives' collaboration with German company Imat-Uve. The committee calls the positioning in the proposal by HandMade Industrials very powerful, and sees promising innovation in technology and form in Hans Endendijk's furniture design. It expects Milan to provide self-taught designer and furniture maker Endendijk with a good opportunity to meet the industry. The work of Job van den Berg also demonstrates a solid quality. With a carefully drawn-up plan, Milan will certainly offer him opportunities. Lizan Freijsen varies on her theme and will be able to build on her strategy with her presentation in Milan.

Unlike last year, for example, the advisers did not find all the applications equally strong. They contend that a number of proposals do not specifically address the strategy behind a presentation in Milan and that the proposals have not yet been strongly thought out and developed. In order to recoup the large investment in a presentation in Milan, a shrewd plan is very important. In a number of proposals, the advisers see signs that the approach of the applicants is too lightweight, and they miss motivation and focus about going to Milan, from the perspective of their own practice. In the enormous range of presentations that the fair week has to offer, it is very difficult to stand out and attract an audience. It requires careful preparation and strategic vision, aspects that the advisers did not see in all the proposals. The advisers also mention that they would have liked to have seen more social and societal themes, for instance sustainability, or more critical stances being taken.

A budget of € 75,000 was available for this call. The subsidies are provided from the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science's intensification of international cultural policy 2018-2019.