The Compasso d’Oro – the oldest and most prestigious industrial design award around – is an important award decided by the Italian Association of Industrial Design (ADI), with the objective of recognising and showcasing the quality of Italian design. The 2018 longlist has whittled down the 746 entries to 172 products, which will be on show at Milan’s Leonardo Da Vinci Museum of Science and Technology in October and at Rome’s Acquario Romano in November.
The objects, which have been on the market since 2017, have been selected by the permanent ADI Design panel of over 100 experts including researches, specialist journalists and designers, who are tasked with identifying the best new products coming out of Italy for each edition.
The longlist offers a diverse snapshot of the design panorama, encompassing everything from lifestyle to vehicles, work-related products, services, food design and even social causes, including initiatives fighting against desertification in Africa and promoting the creation of professional skills and activities in less developed countries. Also included are the 23 best projects by students at Italy’s design schools, who will compete for the Targa Giovani prize.
“The ADI Design Index and its permament panel, which is made up of 150 experts from a range of disciplines drawn from all over the country, is always open to new ideas and collaborators,” explains ADI President Luciano Galimberti. “It’s a huge organisational commitment for the ADI, but one that guarantees a scientific and transparent approach to our evaluations and judgements.”
All of the products honoured (with the Compasso d’oro, Menzione d’Onore or Targa Giovani) are collated in the ADI’s Compasso d’Oro Historic Collection at the ADI Foundation, run in collaboration with the Italian Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Activities and the regional authorities. The collection was set up in 2001 in order to preserve and showcase the wealth of quality products.