Ask almost anyone what the term “Made in Italy” means when affixed to garments, handbags or pieces of furniture, and most will respond that it’s a guarantee of quality and aesthetics.
The vast world of Italian design spans decades, historical periods and styles, and there are hundreds if not thousands of Italian designers, artisans and manufacturers – past and present – who have contributed to the association of the “Made in Italy” merchandising mark with the concepts of craftsmanship, status and timeless style.
Italian design is synonymous with quality. And that is precisely because it is rooted in tradition while also embracing technology and innovation: a combination that is not to be taken for granted in a world that is not-so-slowly embracing fast fashion, fast furniture and fast most things.
World-renowned architect and designer Gaetano Pesce is a hugely important name in the world of Italian design, and when he met artisan and businessman Andrea Corsi fortuitously in 2003, it would lead to the founding of the company Corsi Design and the re-proposal of the Fish Design collection to the public.
Before Corsi Design came to life, Andrea Corsi – who has traveled the world and is a master of languages – had served as export manager for design companies, including top luxury brand Cassina in the 1960s, and later headed up design company Alias until the company was sold in 2002.
Instead, contemporary design pioneer Gaetano Pesce was born in the seaside city of La Spezia in 1939 and studied architecture at the University of Venice in the late 1950s. He was also a member of Bauhaus-inspired collective Gruppo N, and over his career he has worked as an architect, urban planner, and industrial designer, creating iconic pieces for the most important of Italian design companies including B&B Italia, Vitra and Cassina.
And it was the chance meeting between the two men two decades ago that put both on a new trajectory. Pesce entrusted Corsi with the manufacturing and artisanal production of the Fish Design range, the designer sharing his magic formula and allowing the artisan to continue and improve the production of the range of products.
Andrea Corsi began experimenting with resin following the inception of his brand in 2003, trying to subdue its fluctuating character, paying meticulous attention to its details, and improving upon the different models; creating a much-loved line of products. Years of experience, trials, errors, intuitions and discoveries have led to today’s exceptional results.
Corsi Design has always embraced color and distinctive shapes, collaborating with famous Italian designers including Alessandro Mendini, the Campana brothers, Enzo Mari and Paola Navone, whose creations and collections deftly balance traditional artistry and contemporary forms. The company’s offering ranges from furnishings like lamps, tables and chairs to rings and bracelets.
With resin being a relatively new material in the world of design, Corsi Design continues to experiment with it with a variety of techniques and types, all depending on the type of product to be made. And its processes of trial and error serve to make improvements and discoveries that will ensure that this special material continues to get the attention and notoriety it deserves.
And despite the company’s use of molds and standard pigments, each piece in the Fish Design and other Corsi Design collections depends on the genius and patience of its artisan, whose spatula strokes and artistic gestures give each design a unique and inimitable appearance.
All in perfect Made-in-Italy style.
To learn more, visit:
https://designitaly.com/collections/gaetano-pesce-for-corsi-design
