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Inspiration & Tips/Get to know/Get to know Artemide
The Nessino mushroom lamp stands illuminated on a desk with pens, books and a plant.

Get to know Artemide: A pioneer in Italian lighting design

Italian design is renowned worldwide for its ability to blend innovation with beauty, and when it comes to lighting, few brands capture this ethos better than Artemide. Founded in 1960, Artemide has become synonymous with cutting-edge design and technological excellence. Join us and delve into what makes Artemide unique, its guiding principles, and their vision for the future of lighting.
Friday, August 23, 2024
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The essence of Italian design

Italian lighting and design are characterised by a unique combination of scientific, technical, and in Artemide’s case, humanistic skill. As Artemide puts it, this interdisciplinary approach has deep roots in Italy's cultural history, reminiscent of Leonardo da Vinci, who was both an engineer and an artist. The true value of Italian design lies in its ability to anticipate change through innovation, culture, and creativity. For Artemide, every innovative project is born out of this blend of science and humanism, aiming to create products that not only serve a function but also evoke emotion and beauty.

The Falkland floor lamp in white stands next to a red and blue printed poster.

"The Human Light": The philosophy at the core of Artemide

Artemide's tagline, "The Human Light," reflects its deep commitment to the relationship between light, space, and human experience. Since the beginning, the brand has focused on how light can transform spaces into dynamic environments that engage our senses on multiple levels – “perceptive, emotional, psychological, and even physiological” states Carlotta de Bevilacqua, the President and CEO for Artemide. Light is more than just illumination; it is a crucial element for life, much like air and water. Artemide's designs aim to enhance well-being through the thoughtful use of light, acknowledging its profound impact on our daily lives.

Two Falkland pendant lamps from Artemide hang in a living room in neutral colours.
The stainless steel Tolomeo lamp with an adjustable arm stands on a white table with purple accents.

Designed by Michele De Lucchi and Giancarlo Fassina the Tolomeo lamp embodies the perfect balance between functionality and aesthetics.

What sets Artemide apart from other lighting designers?

Artemide stands out in the crowded field of lighting design in its encompassing approach to product development. With a branch of 60 people responsible solely for research and development the brand lives and breathes innovation, function and design to create lighting solutions that are both beautiful and enduring. “For us, innovation is not just about producing something new but finding ways to design products that will last” Carlotta tells us. The brand's commitment to this vision is evident in its collaborations with some of the world’s leading architects and designers, ensuring that every product is a blend of cutting-edge technology and artistic vision.

The NH wall and table lamps from Artemide hang and stand on a desk with a stack of books.

The creative process behind Artemide’s innovations

It is this creative design process and dedication to research that at Artemide that allows them to see things differently and explore new possibilities in lighting design. “Science is above all a vision as well as rigorous research. It can grow our knowledge to interpret the future, open new frontiers” says Charlotta. Artemide collaborates with architects and designers from around the world to bring diverse perspectives to its projects. This collaborative approach ensures that every product is a result of a dialogue between different disciplines, from mechanical engineering to the physics of light and optics. The end goal is to translate this expertise into products that are not only innovative but also emotionally resonant and beautiful.

A light capable of following our rhythms and our needs in a flexible way, which allows us to become authors of our environment, pretmaking us more aware and responsible in its use.” – Carlotta de Bevilacqua, President and CEO of Artemide.

The design principles that shape Artemide

Artemide’s design philosophy is rooted in the belief that good design should improve a person’s life, not just on an individual level but for the planet as a whole. The brand emphasises the importance of sustainability, striving to enhance performance while reducing energy and material consumption. This principle of “subtraction as beauty,” inspired by Michelangelo's philosophy, drives Artemide to constantly push the boundaries of what’s possible in lighting design. “I believe it is important to reduce [in order to] innovate, to try to give more with less, better performance and new qualities with less energy and matter.”  Carlotta expresses with passion. Every product is created with careful consideration of its impact on space, well-being and energy efficiency.

Artemide’s vision of the future

Research is simply the starting point Carlotta tells us, “Artemide has collaborations for technological and cultural research in different fields to open new perspectives and better explore the different aspects of [a] project.” She continues. Artemide works closely with established architectural designers, for example, who “share with us an idea of how light can interact with architecture and life rhythms, we share with them our competence and research in light technology, our know how.” Carlotta explains.  

As technology evolves the future of lighting design might be considered unpredictable. Artemide, however, views this time as an opportunity to explore new frontiers. The brand envisions a future where light is more than just a source of illumination - “Light not only makes the invisible visible but is also capable of transporting data, exchanging information, generating interactions and services.” states Carlotta emphatically.  Artemide is committed to designing light that adapts to our rhythms and needs, making us more aware and responsible in its use. In this era of rapid change, the focus remains on placing both humans and science at the centre of every design.

Artemide is not just a lighting brand; it is a visionary force in the world of design. With its unique blend of science, art and humanism, Artemide continues to set new standards in lighting innovation. The brand's commitment to sustainability, well-being, and the transformative power of light ensures that it remains at the forefront of the industry. Whether you're looking for a piece that will elevate your space or seeking inspiration from one of Italy's most iconic design houses, Artemide is a name that embodies the very best of Italian design.

 

Photography: Elof Martinsson, Artemide

Rebecca Sparling
Author

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