Italian Designer Paola Navone Meets ASEAN Master Craft Designers In Milan

A delegation of master craft designers from Southeast Asia descended on Milan to observe artisans and designers from all over the world who are participating in various trade shows and exhibits during the city’s world renowned Design Week.
The visit is part of an Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) project aimed at strengthening and enhancing the use of design in reinforcing cultural identity in design development, merchandising, packaging and marketing of ASEAN products by supporting and sustaining the master craftsmen in the region. ASEAN Deputy Secretary-General for ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community Vongthep Aarthakalvalvatee participated in the visit.

Dubbed “Improving the Current Status of ASEAN Master Craft Designers”, the project was initiated and developed by the Philippine Small and Medium Business Development Foundation (PHILSMED) from ASEAN-Republic of Korea Cooperation Project Fund.

According to PHILSMED President Mrs. Mina Gabor of the Philippines, former Secretary of Tourism and CITEM Head, the project will train and expose selected craftsmen in the 10 ASEAN countries in furniture, furnishings, gifts and houseware, and fashion and lifestyle accessories through a series of modules to equip them with current world designs.

“The master craftsmen will apply these perspectives to their individual styles and train junior master craftsmen to enhance design as a tool in strengthening cultural identity and improving the quality of life with world-class and environmentally-sustainable products thus creating more job opportunities in the communities”, Mrs. Gabor explained.

The first phase of the project will involve the first five ASEAN countries, namely, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand and Viet Nam. The Observation Trip to Milan during Design Week is the third module of the first phase of the project.

World famous Italian designer and architect Paola Navone guided the delegation during their observation trip. Ms. Navone is a luminary of the design world and one of the very few women in the otherwise male-dominated Italian design scene. The ASEAN designers observed and learn from the best practices and activities of Italian master craft designers like Ms. Navone.

Ms. Navone extolled the richness of Southeast Asian culture and advised the designers to absorb everything. “A designer’s mind must be one big garbage bin from which new ideas and inspirations spring from”, she said.

Consul General Marichu Mauro of the Philippine Consulate General in Milan hosted a dinner for all the delegates which afforded them a forum to discuss what they have observed and learned during the trip.

Consul General Mauro reiterated the importance of the city of Milan as a global design center saying “I am confident that our ASEAN designers would come away from this visit with a host of new and very innovative ideas. I am sure that it would fire up your imaginations and allow you to bring home to our beloved region a new love for design and a zest to incorporate these ideas and influences into your own work.” (DFA)