the refined style of Agustina Bottoni, from Buenos Aires to Milan: top-quality artisanal interior design products with harmonious and elegant forms. Triennale Milano selected Agustina as one of the most influential women in Italian design and Marie Claire Maison as top 50 best designers of the year
Many contemporary artists and designers have chosen Italy as their base, country renowned for its bond with beauty and art, a place where it is still possible to find handicraft of the highest level. Eleven years ago, Argentinian designer Agustina Bottoni decided to move to Milan where she found fertile ground for furthering her career in the world of design.
After graduating in Fashion Design from the University of Buenos Aires, Agustina took her first steps in the local fashion industry, but then, in 2012, she decided to attend a Master’s Degree in Design at the New Academy of Fine Arts in Milan where she later decided to settle and open her own studio.
Her career includes key collaborations with brands such as Coin Casa, Campari, Ikea, Abet Laminati, Colé, moreover, she was part of major projects for her Galerie Chevalier, Gallerie Philia , Amelie Maison d’Art and Building Gallery.
Career
Agustina collaborates with international companies and galleries, dealing with product development, furniture and installations.
The products she develops are conceived as top-quality artisanal objects, made by the best Italian craftsmen.They can be considered “furniture sculptures” with unique elegance and contemporary sensibility. The designer’s works emphasize the emotional value of objects and spaces. The objects she creates have a
strong connection to ‘materiality’, harmonious shapes and light colors.
Exhibitions and awards
Agustina’s works have been exhibited in international institutions dedicated to art and design, such as Salone del Mobile (https://www.we-wealth.com/news/pleasure-assets/design/salone-del-mobile-2022-design-sostenibilita-e-futuro ), Design Miami, and Maison & Objet.
In 2016, she was also selected by Triennale Milano (https://www.we-wealth.com/news/pleasure-assets/Arte/amici-triennale-mecenatismo-riapre-giardino ) as one of the most influential women in Italian design for the “Women in Design” exhibition. Dwell Magazine also nominated her Emerging Designer of 2018 and, in 2021, she was also nominated as top 50 best designers of the year by Marie Claire Maison.
Agustina is also a co-founder of the design collective The Ladies’ Room – founded in 2016 together with designers Ilaria Bianchi, Astrid Luglio and Sara Ricciardi – a project that analyzes contemporary design by focusing on the renewed need for sensory involvement.
Below is my interview with Agustina Bottoni
How long have you been living in Italy and what made you choose this country?
I have been living in Italy for 11 years. When I was in Buenos Aires, I worked as a designer in the local fashion industry, but I always dreamed of more. I was interested in product design and working with materials I had never used before.
I was young and eager to learn, ready for a challenge and I had the opportunity to move to Italy to pursue a Master’s degree in Design. I had never visited Italy but I still chose it, as the history of this country is so rich in art and design.
Where did you first come into contact with the world of design and what made you so passionate about it?
Ever since I was a child, I have always shown an inclination toward creative projects. I used to build houses for my pets, design sets inspired by the fairy tales I read, as well as rearrange furniture and decorate my room according to my own personal visions of extravagant style. When I discovered that creating beautiful things
could become a real job, I decided to study design.
What is design for you?
The act of designing is an essentially human reality, a way of creating culture and shaping our world.
What is the spark that lights your creative fire, the acorn from which your poetics and work develops, as Hillman would say?
The essence of my inspiration is the possibility of creating beauty in this world, something that can even move me. In my creations, I embrace a positive and optimistic vision, without ignoring the enormous complexity of our world. And it is precisely for this reason that I want to give my contribution: to create beautiful and meaningful objects that can be considered ‘great companions’.
What is your relationship with the design market and collectors?
I collaborate with several international galleries making sculptures and collectible design objects such as lamps and carpets. It is an honor for me to see my works in people’s homes or included in interior projects. I have produced a line of glasses and glass objects handcrafted in Italy. They are all very popular, especially abroad.
These kinds of everyday objects are capable of reaching a wider market quite quickly. Often, my clients give me very useful and positive feedback, asking me to expand my collections or simply purchasing my new creations. This makes me very happy.
Of all the projects you have realized, which is the one that is closest to your heart?
Every project has a bit of me in it, each one carries a special quest, so I cannot choose one in particular. I am always happy when people truly appreciate my works. Having a special and emotional connection with the viewer, sometimes in unexpected ways, can be incredibly fulfilling. Some objects, such as my Melodicware
sound sculptures, want to be touched and do create very special interactions.
Another example: my line of handcrafted glasses and goblets includes very simple objects, but they are part of celebrations and special moments in people’s lives, which gives them unique value. It is nice to know that I am somehow part of these moments through my design objects.
If you were a material what would you be?
I would be everything that can be woven: a material that can take different forms, simple and complex at the same time.
Where do you get your inspiration from?
Inspiration comes from a vast mental archive that starts from my extremely curious nature, which has been enriched over the years by several international life experiences. I am interested in the forms I find in architecture, sculpture, vernacular objects. I am also often inspired by nature, especially the balance in which
each part complements the other, hidden geometries, botany and the beauty of natural materials.
What do you think the design industry can do to protect the planet?
Every contemporary design product should take into account its environmental impact, and if this is to happen, there will need to be profound structural changes. Unlimited growth is unthinkable in a world with finite resources. Setting change in motion is an arduous but necessary task that must involve designers, industry and
consumers.
I am currently furthering my education in sustainable design and working on projects with companies that share this approach and interest. I believe it is crucial for the future of the industry. Talking to companies that like to combine my skills and sensitivity with their needs is always very stimulating. That’s how impactful projects are born.
From Buenos Aires to Italy
Many contemporary artists and designers have chosen Italy as their base, country renowned for its bond with beauty and art, a place where it is still possible to find handicraft of the highest level. Eleven years ago, Argentinian designer Agustina Bottoni decided to move …
Many contemporary artists and designers have chosen Italy as their base, country renowned for its bond with beauty and art, a place where it is still possible to find handicraft of the highest level. Eleven years ago, Argentinian designer Agustina Bottoni decided to move to Milan where she found fertile ground for furthering her career in the world of design.
After graduating in Fashion Design from the University of Buenos Aires, Agustina took her first steps in the local fashion industry, but then, in 2012, she decided to attend a Master’s Degree in Design at the New Academy of Fine Arts in Milan where she later decided to settle and open her own studio.
Her career includes key collaborations with brands such as Coin Casa, Campari, Ikea, Abet Laminati, Colé, moreover, she was part of major projects for her Galerie Chevalier, Gallerie Philia , Amelie Maison d’Art and Building Gallery.
Career
Agustina collaborates with international companies and galleries, dealing with product development, furniture and installations.
The products she develops are conceived as top-quality artisanal objects, made by the best Italian craftsmen.They can be considered “furniture sculptures” with unique elegance and contemporary sensibility. The designer’s works emphasize the emotional value of objects and spaces. The objects she creates have a
strong connection to ‘materiality’, harmonious shapes and light colors.
Exhibitions and awards
Agustina’s works have been exhibited in international institutions dedicated to art and design, such as Salone del Mobile (https://www.we-wealth.com/news/pleasure-assets/design/salone-del-mobile-2022-design-sostenibilita-e-futuro ), Design Miami, and Maison & Objet.
In 2016, she was also selected by Triennale Milano (https://www.we-wealth.com/news/pleasure-assets/Arte/amici-triennale-mecenatismo-riapre-giardino ) as one of the most influential women in Italian design for the “Women in Design” exhibition. Dwell Magazine also nominated her Emerging Designer of 2018 and, in 2021, she was also nominated as top 50 best designers of the year by Marie Claire Maison.
Agustina is also a co-founder of the design collective The Ladies’ Room – founded in 2016 together with designers Ilaria Bianchi, Astrid Luglio and Sara Ricciardi – a project that analyzes contemporary design by focusing on the renewed need for sensory involvement.
Below is my interview with Agustina Bottoni
How long have you been living in Italy and what made you choose this country?
I have been living in Italy for 11 years. When I was in Buenos Aires, I worked as a designer in the local fashion industry, but I always dreamed of more. I was interested in product design and working with materials I had never used before.
I was young and eager to learn, ready for a challenge and I had the opportunity to move to Italy to pursue a Master’s degree in Design. I had never visited Italy but I still chose it, as the history of this country is so rich in art and design.
Where did you first come into contact with the world of design and what made you so passionate about it?
Ever since I was a child, I have always shown an inclination toward creative projects. I used to build houses for my pets, design sets inspired by the fairy tales I read, as well as rearrange furniture and decorate my room according to my own personal visions of extravagant style. When I discovered that creating beautiful things
could become a real job, I decided to study design.
What is design for you?
The act of designing is an essentially human reality, a way of creating culture and shaping our world.
What is the spark that lights your creative fire, the acorn from which your poetics and work develops, as Hillman would say?
The essence of my inspiration is the possibility of creating beauty in this world, something that can even move me. In my creations, I embrace a positive and optimistic vision, without ignoring the enormous complexity of our world. And it is precisely for this reason that I want to give my contribution: to create beautiful and meaningful objects that can be considered ‘great companions’.
What is your relationship with the design market and collectors?
I collaborate with several international galleries making sculptures and collectible design objects such as lamps and carpets. It is an honor for me to see my works in people’s homes or included in interior projects. I have produced a line of glasses and glass objects handcrafted in Italy. They are all very popular, especially abroad.
These kinds of everyday objects are capable of reaching a wider market quite quickly. Often, my clients give me very useful and positive feedback, asking me to expand my collections or simply purchasing my new creations. This makes me very happy.
Of all the projects you have realized, which is the one that is closest to your heart?
Every project has a bit of me in it, each one carries a special quest, so I cannot choose one in particular. I am always happy when people truly appreciate my works. Having a special and emotional connection with the viewer, sometimes in unexpected ways, can be incredibly fulfilling. Some objects, such as my Melodicware
sound sculptures, want to be touched and do create very special interactions.
Another example: my line of handcrafted glasses and goblets includes very simple objects, but they are part of celebrations and special moments in people’s lives, which gives them unique value. It is nice to know that I am somehow part of these moments through my design objects.
If you were a material what would you be?
I would be everything that can be woven: a material that can take different forms, simple and complex at the same time.
Where do you get your inspiration from?
Inspiration comes from a vast mental archive that starts from my extremely curious nature, which has been enriched over the years by several international life experiences. I am interested in the forms I find in architecture, sculpture, vernacular objects. I am also often inspired by nature, especially the balance in which
each part complements the other, hidden geometries, botany and the beauty of natural materials.
What do you think the design industry can do to protect the planet?
Every contemporary design product should take into account its environmental impact, and if this is to happen, there will need to be profound structural changes. Unlimited growth is unthinkable in a world with finite resources. Setting change in motion is an arduous but necessary task that must involve designers, industry and
consumers.
I am currently furthering my education in sustainable design and working on projects with companies that share this approach and interest. I believe it is crucial for the future of the industry. Talking to companies that like to combine my skills and sensitivity with their needs is always very stimulating. That’s how impactful projects are born.
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