Studio

Studio

Formafantasma [ˈɛf-əʊ-ɑːr-ɛm-eɪ-ɛf-eɪ-ɛntiː-eɪ-ɛs-ɛm-eɪ listen], is a research-based design studio investigating the ecological, historical, political and social forces shaping the discipline of design today.

Profile

Since founding the studio in 2009, Italians Andrea Trimarchi and Simone Farresin have championed the need for value – laden advocacy merged with holistic design thinking. Their aim is to facilitate a deeper understanding of both our natural and built environments and to propose transformative interventions through design and its material, technical, social, and discursive possibilities.

Working from their studio in Milan (Italy) and Rotterdam (The Netherlands), the practice embraces a broad spectrum of typologies and methods, from product design through spatial design, strategic planning and design consultancy. Whether designing to a client's brief or developing self – initiated projects, the studio applies the same rigorous attention to context, process and detail. As a result, Formafantasma's entire portfolio is characterised by a coherent visual language and meticulously researched outcomes.

For Formafantasma, this crossflow of knowledge and experience taken from both their commercial contracts and their more autonomous projects has benefitted and informed the respective other. It has also given them a unique perspective of the design industry, allowing them to acknowledge the legacy of industrial production as the fundamental source for the designer's expertise and agency in contemporary society while also addressing its historic contribution to environmental instability.

Clients

The studio’s prescient insight into the challenges facing design, culture, the environment and society has earned them the patronage of an array of international clients such as Lexus, Flos, Fendi, Max Mara, Hermes, Droog, J&L Lobmeyr, Cassina, Bitossi, Established and Sons, La Biennale di Venezia, Rijks Museum, Dzek, Ginori, Hem, Maison Matisse, Bulgari, Samsung, Rado, Roll and Hill, Galleria Giustini / Stagetti, La Rinascente, Gallery Libby Sellers, Prada, Fondation Cartier, Nasjonalmuseet Oslo, Galleria Massimo Minini, Loro PianaJil Sander, Tiffany, Vitra Design MuseumTacchiniSalone del Mobile, Cc-tapis, and Artek among others.

Acquisitions

Alongside works for clients, their projects have been presented, published and acquired in the permanent collection of international museums including New York’s MoMA and Metropolitan Museum, Art Institute Chicago, Minneapolis' Walker Art Center, London’s Victoria and Albert, Paris’ Musée National d'Art Moderne, Musée des Arts Décoratifs, CNAP, Fondation Cartier and Centre Pompidou, the Amsterdam’s Stedelijk Museum, the Vienna’s MAK Museum , Utrecht’s Centraal Museum, Mudac Lausanne, North Carolina’s Mint Museum of Craft and Design, Rome’s Museo Maxxi, Vitra Design Museum, Melbourne’s National Gallery of Victoria, Triennale di Milano, LACMA, Tilburg’s Textiel Museum and others.

In March 2020 Serpentine Galleries dedicated a solo exhibition to Formafantasma and their in – depth investigation into the governance of the timber industry.


Education

From September 2020 Trimarchi and Farresin have overseen the GEO–Design department at Design Academy in Eindhoven to further explorations into the social, economic, territorial and geopolitical forces shaping design today. 

Nominations and Awards

Formafantasma is an award-winning studio: 2021 Wallpaper* Awards Designers of the Year/Winner, 2020 Dezeen Designer of the Year/Winner, 2019 Milano Design Award/Winner, 2019 Beazley Designs of the Year/Nomination, 2018 Beazley Designs of the Year/Nomination, 2018 Hublot Award/Winner, 2018 Dezeen Awards Year/Nomination, 2018 Elle Decoration International Design Awards Designer of the Year/Winner, 2017 Limburg Design Award/Winner, 2017 Milano Design Award/Winner Press Choice and Best Technology, 2016 Elle Decoration International Design Awards Designer of the Year/Nomination, 2015 Wallpaper* Awards Top 20 under 40 Year/Winner, 2014 Wallpaper* Awards Designer of the Year/Nomination, 2014 Elle Decoration Japan Designer of the Year/Winner, 2014 TL Magazine Designer of the Year/Winner, 2013 Elle Decoration International Award/Nomination, 2012 ICON design Awards Emerging Designers of the Year/Winner, 2012 Dutch design Awards Talent Design Award/Nomination, 2012 Fast Company Innovation by Design Awards/Winner, 2012 Brit Insurance Design of the Year/Nomination, 2011 INDEX Award/Nomination.

Collaborators

Jeroen Van De Gruiter, Gabriele Milanese, Hannah Segerkrantz, Gregorio Gonella, Ibrahim Kombarji, Alessandro Celli, Marlou Rutten, Veronica Camera, Riccardo Badano, Lenn Gerlach, Daniele Misso, Simon Ballen Botero, Johanna Seelemann, Federico Floriani, Martin Gaillard, Peter Sorg, Bettina Madita Böhm, Ruben Op De Haar, Cha Wei Wang, Jenny Hier, Emile Kirsch, Francesco Pace, Livia Rossi, Tamara Orjola, Michele Santomarco, Nicola Lorini, Agata Karolina Niemkiewicz, Lorenzo Caparucci, Francesco Zorzi, Tijmen Smeulders, Sarah Kaiser, Ricard Serasols, Thomas Misse, Luisa Zanzani, Nicolas Verschave, Federica Pellazza, Elsa Lagunas, Johan Viladrich, Emilie Pallard, Felix Lenz, Eliott Tsaramaro, Sara Barilli, Elena Kayser, Marco Ortis, Alva Cederbygd.

Contact

Infos and Press

Formafantasma Milan
Heads: Andrea Trimarchi, Simone Farresin
Via Privata Assab 1, 20132,
Milan, Italy
EmailPress Email

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Formafantasma Rotterdam
Head: Jeroen Van De Gruiter
Willem Buytewechstraat 45, 3024BK,
Rotterdam, The Netherlands
EmailPress Email

Job opportunities


-Internship - 6months, paid (students only) - From October/November 2024:

We are looking for a highly motivated and passionate intern in Milan to assist us with a range of new projects. The emphasis will lie on visual research, image and video editing, and exhibition design.

Required skills include:
- 3D skills with knowledge of 3D and rendering software (Solidworks, Rhino, Maya etc.)
- good Photoshop and Adobe Suite skills - strong visual communication skills
- good timekeeping and work ethic - good spoken and written English

To apply, please send a CV, portfolio (no larger than 10MB) and cover letter to: info@formafantasma.com