Designer Luca Nichetto

Designer Luca Nichetto: Ever wonder why we are sometimes drawn to certain objects? Often without a relevant theme or obvious brand, color or any clue as to how they might be related? Well, as I was researching topics related to Milan Design Week, I came across designer Luca Nichetto (he was prolific at Salone this year) and realized that I own or covet many of his designs produced across different brand collaborations. He is the common link! He designed them all. Which gets me excited because that means my choices are NOT random, but in fact very specific. You may recall from a previous post, I’ve had this same experience with Antonio Citterio, no matter what brand he is designing for.

Italian born Luca Nichetto founded his studio in Venice in 2006, focusing on object design, industrial design, and as a design consultancy. His studio expanded organically, and in 2011 he opened a second office in Stockholm, in partnership with Francesco Dompieri. To date, he has worked with Ginori, Skultana, &Tradition, Bernhardt Design, Cassina, De La Espada, De Padova, Established & Sons, Foscarini, Hem, Hermès, Land Rover, Molteni, Moooi,  Pepsi, Rolf Benz, Rubelli, Svenskt Tenn, Venini, Wittmann.

At Milan Design Week 2023, Luca had many projects to present, but I was drawn most to his work with Ginori. Domus is Ginori’s foray into the home furnishings collection, and they tapped Luca Nichetto for the designs. He did not disappoint with his chairs and poufs, covered in Rubelli fabric. I think the lines are beautiful and obviously, Rubelli fabrics are the best in the industry, used by Casa Armani, among many others. So this pairing is obviously a winning combination.

What I notice about these chairs and poufs, is that they are very sculptural in quality. The silhouette is enticing, particularly along with the pouf. I can really imagine these chairs adding a lot to rectangular rooms with rectangular sofas, where you really need a curve to add some warmth, and these chairs do just that. Particularly in combination with the Rubelli fabrics. Love them. I can’t wait to see how designers use them in their projects.

I also love his previous collection for Ginori porcelain. I have this piece. Again, I think his objects have a very sculptural quality to them, and that is most likely why I am drawn to them. I also love the clash of antiquity and modernity, and that is what a piece like this provides. A modern take on an antique classic.

I covet his designs for Skultana, and didn’t realize they were his until after the fact.

Same here. Taking the natural material of marble, adding the brass in a new way, making it a sculpture as well as a votive, is my idea of ingenuity. I find it interesting that Luca Nichetto began by designing objects, and then later expanded into other furnishings, but it is his objects that I am most drawn to. You must check out his website to see his other projects and collaborations. I particularly like his collaborations with Steinway, Arflex, Salvatori, and Rolf Benz. He is certainly one of the most prolific and well known designers of his time. I’m sure there are lots of more great projects to come.