interview with protagonists of the international design scene. we met the italian designer aldo cibic ...............................................................................
......................... shop .................. competitions .............. education ................ interviews ................... snapshots ................... history .......... contemporary ---
aldo cibic he was born in schio in 1955, moved to milan in 1979 to work with ettore sottsass with whom he became partner in 1980, together with matteo thun and marco zanini. "memphis" was founded in the same year, always under the direction of sottsass, and cibic is one of the designers and founders. the language of his work is more orientated towards harmonious ideas, balance of proportions than towards the typical "memphis" language of breaking. the activity of the office cibic & partner starts in 1989. among the works for the different customers, aldo cibic designs and manufactures furniture and things with the "standard" trademark: everyday products, the definition of a personal standard (in the meaning of taking care of yourself). cibic operates in the fields of architecture, interior design and industrial design. furthermore, he teaches at the "domus academy" in milan and the "royal college of art" in london . besides the showed works, we can mention the big stores "selfridges" in manchester, the department stores "beymen" in Istanbul, the shop system "esprit", some stores in italy and england of the "habitat" chain. http;//www.cibicdesign.com the design work of aldo cibic is part of following manufacturer's collections : http://www.bisazza.com http://www.mazzega.com	aldo cibic © designboom
--- we met aldo cibic in his studio in milan the 06.06.2000 what is your best moment of the day? late afternoon. what kind of music do you listen to at the moment? neil young, prince. do you listen to the radio? in the car. what books do you have on your bedside table? books about wisdom. do you read design magazines? not many. newspapers? where do you get news from? in italian I read "la repubblica" and "Internazionale" do you notice how women are dressing? do you have any preferences? yes, I prefer women, who are somewhat sexy dressed and interesting. what kind of clothes do you avoid wearing? well, I really don’t like a vest. do you have any pets? yes, a black cat. where do you work on your designs and projects? most of the times at home on the dining table. who would you like to design something for? for someone who really wants something very nice, who shares my dreams, but also the risks, the responsibility. when you are working, do you discuss or exchange ideas with your colleagues? yes, but not much. mainly with the designers of my studio. describe your style, like a good friend of yours would describe it. harmonious and …… solid. can you outline an evolution of thought and professionality from "memphis" with sottsass associated to "standard" till the most recent works? concerning my personal way I’m always looking for less professional plans and more poetical ones. I have an office that expresses a satisfying professional level thanks to the help of my partner, who manages and organizes everything and my smart collaborators. is there any architect or designer from past you appreciate a lot? charles eames, wright. what about colleagues, are there any particular ones you appreciate? herzog e de meuron (tate modern). what do you think about information diffusion through internet? do you appreciate "sharing knowledge" or do you agree with the pessimistic view of the "big brother is watching you"? it’s a useful means, I appreciate mainly the free exchange of information, even if I have some perplexity. on the news they said that italians are afraid of unemployment, criminality and pollution. what are you afraid of regarding the future? that there won’t be creativity enough to face this kind of problems.	'standard' collection, 1991 sofa for 'standard', 1991 antalya, 1995 chair for bisazza
the questionaire of marcel proust (1871 - 1922) .................................................................................................................................................... (in age of fourteen proust was given an english album "confessions : an album to record thoughts, feelings". seven years later marcel proust published this questionaire) in the literary salons in nineteenth century paris, this parlour game was a popular amusement. for designboom aldo cibic has answered these 'old fashioned' questions...................................................................................................................
the main lineaments of my character. I like staying and working with other people. a quality I desire in a man. self-mockery. a quality I desire in a woman. lightness. what I appreciate most among my friends. generosity. my principal defect. laziness. my favourite occupation. to act without feeling guilty. my dream of felicity. relaxing while reading and thinking. what would for me be the biggest misfortune. loosing people I love. whom I would like to be. a genius, brilliant. the country were I would like to live. at the seaside with a dry climate. the colour I prefer. lively colors. the flower I love. daisies. the bird I prefer. the pelican. my favourite authors. cervantes. my favourite poets. homer. my heroes in fiction. popeye. my heroines in fiction. barbarella. my favourite composers. mozart. my favourite artists. matisse. my heroes in real life. who does well. my heroines in history. mata hari. my favourite names. - what I hate most. meanness. the historic characters I dislike most. those who let people suffer useless, the liberticides. the military enterprise I like the most. I have no idea. the reformation I appreciate the most. I have no idea.. nature’s gift I would like to have. being able to do things you like. how I would like to die. not alone, in peace. my soul's present condition. restless. the faults I can bear. the ones due to passion. my motto. you need to be brave. ------- monthly designboom newsletter ------- ------- ? comments and contact us ? -------	glasses,1999 for paola c. cascata, 1996 lamp for mazzega multiplex cinemas, work in progress for medusa 'spizzico', work in progress fast food outlets architecture and interiors