Downtown Design
redazione 17/01/2024

Narrating ideas

The Talks at Maison&Objet: a cycle of 23 encounters and lectures with outstanding figures in the world of design. To discuss trends, lifestyle, architecture, the digital realm, merchandising, marketing and retail

This year Maison&Objet celebrates an important milestone: 30 years of existence. One of its most distinctive features is the breadth of the sectors it addresses, making it a sort of “one-stop-shop” for professionals.

Patrick Jouin & Sanjit Manku

Patrick Jouin & Sanjit Manku

Formafantasma - Photo © Claudia Zalla

Formafantasma – Photo © Claudia Zalla

This characteristic can be explained by looking back in time: the fair began, in fact, with the merger of seven separate initiatives, each focusing on a precise sector. In the 1990s the world of distribution was changing, and the single events opened the way for discussion, reaching the decision to try an edition that would bring them all together in a single place. The collective event took place in September 1994, and it was such a success that the focus shifted to one single name: Maison&Objet.

Amy Chow

Amy Chow

Nelly Rodi

Nelly Rodi

Today the mission of this fair is organized in five points: Connecting people, Inspiring business, Promoting talents, Giving more, Living Paris. A happening whose goal is to create, edition after edition, a community and a culture.

Jacques Bertholon

Jacques Bertholon

Cristiano Benzoni & Sophie Thuillier

Cristiano Benzoni & Sophie Thuillier

Culture is above all the communication of ideas. This is why Maison&Objet organizes a calendar of encounters over its five-day span (18-22 January). A total of 23 informal conferences moderated by sector journalists, to explore a wide range of themes: trends, lifestyle, architecture, the digital world, merchandising, marketing, retail.

Jordane Arrivetz - Photo © Romain Ricard

Jordane Arrivetz – Photo © Romain Ricard

Martyn Lawrence Bullard

Martyn Lawrence Bullard

Among the people invited for this iteration: Tristan Auer and Jordane Arrivetz, outstanding names in interior design, will talk about “how to reinvent a legendary hotel” (Sunday 21, 16.00); Martyn Lawrence Bullard, an interior architect based in Los Angeles, will narrate his “Hollywood Stories” (Saturday 20, 16.00).

Pierre Marie

Pierre Marie

Martin Brudnizki

Martin Brudnizki

The artist-designer Pierre Marie and the fashion designer Charles de Vilmorin will converse about fabrics in a versatile perspective, from fashion to design (Saturday 20, 13.00); while Andrea Trimarchi, co-founder of the studio Formafantasma, and Marie-Ange Brayer, conservator of the Design section of Centre Pompidou, will focus on the design of tomorrow, which will be virtuous and engaged (Friday 19, 15.00).

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