Maria Paola Stola manages the special edition of the Fiat 500 Diabolika.

During one of my transits in Italy at the end of July I had the pleasure to participate in an interesting encounter with the designer Maria Paola Stola (the clever and beautiful wife of Alfredo Stola, founder of Studiotorino) at the Salt laboratory. There I got to know, appreciate and touch with my own hands the Diabolika (before it even came out): the captivating personalization of the new Fiat 500 – presented officially on September 12^th as a part of the Torino World Design Capital – unexpected union between the famous comic book of the Giussani sisters and one of the timeless Fiat myths, recently re-launched and splendidly renewed. More details below the cut.

Digital Printing Automotive Leather (DPAL) on the front seats

A limited edition that distinguishes itself by the sensual mat black of the body, embellished with red details – typical of Studiotorino – and by the magnetic, or should I say diabolic, scowl of the character engraved on the special Pirelli tyres. On the inside, the unmistakably sinister and intriguing atmospheres created ad hoc by Astorina (the lucky editor of Diabolik) are reproduced on the high quality and extremely resistant leather of the seats: it is an original application of digital stamping on the automotive leather that gives the result a distinguished finish. Considering the different experimentations personally conducted by Maria Paola in collaboration with Mycrom, the none too few troubles associated with color branding and the rejects due to the natural imperfections of leather, this Diabolika turned out pretty fabulous indeed.

naturali della pelle stessa. Only 50 units of this irresistible little gem (and not just for the Diabolik fans!) will be produced, with a final price that is still to be determined. It will be displayed for the international audience during the Motor Show in Paris in October.

Translated by Silvia — Lately at the Furniture Fair in Milan we have been able to admire the urban trendy touch on one of the most famous pieces in the history of design: a piercing applied on the sensual lips of DARK LADY, the new tainted black version of the Bocca sofa.

The original model in red created by Studio 65 in Turin in 1975 in homage to Salvador Dalì has become so famous as to be included in the permanent collection of New York’s MoMA, Paris’ Louvre, Milan’s Permanent Design Collection of Italian design and Denver’s Museum of Modern Art.

Strong piece in the “I Multipli” collection of about180 pieces, Bocca is indeed one of the most famous along with Pratone, Cactus and Capitello. Made from cold-expanded polyurethane a dressed in stretchy material, Bocca and its new version DARK LADY, produced in limited edition of only 1000 pieces, are produces by Gufram, the historical Italian company which is now a part of the Charme group (with Cappellini, Poltrona Frau and Gebruder Thonet).

Strangely though… in the States, this mythical and sexy sofa is known as MARILYN, a love seat, so-called by Eleanore Stendig from Stendig, Inc. in New York, the first importer of Bocca on American soil. The reference is clear!
More images in the cut below.

Translated by Silvia — We bring you the following news that came to us from the Doppiospazio design studio on what you will be seeing in a few weeks at the Milan Fuori Salone at Furniture Fair of 2008 (N.d.DB):

Oppure is a line of contemporary objects and furniture made from cardboard and to be used and lived in: produced by unique and unmistakeable design, all perfectly coordinated between them.

Oppure gives modernity to an already current material, such as cardboard, visibly lightweight but decidedly resistant, the use of which gives multiform creations a complete skill of constructive perfection.

The furniture and objects of the Oppure line distinguish themselves, emerge, surprise: whilst the essentiality of the volumes liberates fantasy, the elegance of the geometric shapes interprets the constant dialogue between art and design, with a definite touch of eclectic energy and affective technique.

Translated by Silvia – After the preview held on February 7^th 2008 at the Secondome design gallery in Rome, the 300 Sudoku bookcases, numbered and signed, designed by Arch. Mario Bellini for Italian company Horm will be the protagonists of the official “Horm for Unicef” event that will be held on the evening of March 13^th at Milan’s Spazio Pontaccio. The audience will be able to buy the pieces of this special edition dedicated to solidarity for African children in Unicef’s “Schools for Africa” project and contribute in a personal way, even through the purchase of the pouch designed by the same Mario Bellini and made with the same materials as the bookcase, black and white wood, polished leather and a mirrored interior.