Young designers grow up

The side event of Salone del Mobile.Milano Moscow brings to the stage projects of young designers under 35

The new generation of designers taking part in the SaloneSatellite in Moscow is increasingly specialized, trained, aware and creative. These are emerging designers and graduates-to-be of the most famous design schools in Russia and the former Soviet nations, who on the launching pad offered by Salone del Mobile.Milano Moscow present their production of an international audience.

Projects that range from furniture to decoration, becoming more concrete and pragmatic year after year, with effective, functional and conceptually variegated design. The inspirations come from current trends – from the digital dimension to environmental sustainability – always with an accent on social and everyday necessities, in an ethical context. The items shown here – selected from the protagonists of the 2019 edition – are explained by their creators themselves, also in terms of their ambitions and philosophy.

Julia Korotkova and Asmik Kosakyan
Julia Korotkova and Asmik Kosakyan

Julia Korotkova – Asmik Kosakyan
“This year we are showing a family of wooden toys called plAywood, which reveals the potential of basic geometric forms: simple spheres are divided into different parts that can be moved and recombined; there are other pieces inside, to create an element of surprise and curiosity. Today’s toys, like digital gaming, don’t leave much room for the imagination and creativity of kids. Through this project we try to encourage the users to create their own characters, without limitations on assembly modes. The natural look of the wood makes the items not only toys, but also decorative presences.”

Anastasia Kartuzova
Anastasia Kartuzova

Team 40
“Previously I made a collection of furniture in minimalist style, but for the SaloneSatellite I wanted to think bigger: what could I do to make my collection adapt to a wider range of lifestyles? This prompted me to discover which natural materials we can use in furniture to feel more at ease while at the same time protecting nature. As Russian designers – we do not yet have a culture connected with production – we have to make sure all the aspects of the design are at a good level: ergonomics, easy, effective production, marketable value, form, sustainability.”

Elizaveta Trusova
Elizaveta Trusova

Elizaveta Trusova
“Taking part in the SaloneSatellite is my biggest dream come true! I have decided to show the project Vermicelli, a freestanding coat rack that combines beauty, style and functionality, while solving a question that directly involves me, which has become the main characteristic of the design: the piece allows people of different heights to easily hang up garments! In the working process, I focus on three basic rules: never give up (even when it is very hard), be diligent and love what you are doing. Even the most ordinary routine task can be done with these principles.”

Polina Bodrukhina
Polina Bodrukhina

Polina Bodrukhina
“At the SaloneSatellite I am presenting BathMoon. The main concept is that the space of the bathroom should have a clear order, where every object has its place in terms of efficiency and hygiene. One good example is the mirror that moves to adapt to the precise position of the user; another is the door that is also a tissue dispenser. The hanging cabinet has various functions: it can contain shelves, drawers, organizers, lighting, and much more. With this project I create a design that proposes a new user experience, thinking about functions in a new way.”

Daria Cherviakova
Daria Cherviakova

Daria Cherviakova
“In my work the most important aspects are novelty, relevance and technological efficacy. As in the case of Throne, a chair for taking selfies. This product addresses the rather narcissistic needs of modern people. It combines two phenomena: the amazing popularity of selfies and ‘Instagrammable’ interior design. This chair helps people to take an ironic look at themselves. The back is a backdrop that can be easily replaced using chroma-key technology, through an app; the chair also has an adjustable lamp to shine light on the face of the user.”

Vladimir Alexeenko
Vladimir Alexeenko

Vladimir Alexeenko
“This year I am showing the Viktory project, a functional art object. Its purpose lies in two components: mental and physical. From a physical standpoint it is clearly a freestanding coat rack. But in mental terms, it responds to a very timely question: life puts us to the test every day, and every difficulty we solve, large or small, is a victory; so – imagine the situation – a man, before crossing the threshold of the house, going out to meet new challenges, approaches the coat rack, takes down his jacket and sees a symbol (of past and future victories). When he returns, he puts his garments on the same hanger, in the awareness that he has come to grips with everything that had to be done in order to be where he is today. I decided to present this particular project because I believe people lack objects with a meaning, that trigger thought and motivation.”

Daria Ljaskovets
Vladimir Alexeenko

Daria Ljaskovets
“This is my first time at the SaloneSatellite, and Goldmine is my first real project, as a student. I am showing this freestanding coat rack in Art Deco style, which suggests the epoch of the Great Gatsby. I believe that the symbiosis between modernity and a return to the past is fundamental in a project. Also, I think design needs to focus on environmental issues, because today the world is full of inspirations in this sense: people are getting involved in recycling, and they now make increasing efforts to safeguard nature.”

Egor Bondarenko
Egor Bondarenko

Egor Bondarenko
“At the SaloneSatellite I am presenting the Abstract Chair. I decided to develop a model everyone can modify, to find the one that is ‘right’ for them. But to stay within reasonable limits, I have restricted two parts: the tracks and plates. Apart from those parts, the user can alter almost everything: proportions, form and softness of the seat, the back, the armrests, changing the shape and the number of the legs, changing the angle of the seat and back, the type of wood, the consistency and color. The chair is ready to change completely, to respond to the needs of people. I am an architect, so I like buildings and cities: this is why the first four chairs have an accentuated architectural approach, and are dedicated to the Bauhaus centenary.”