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.
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:
In March 2020 Serpentine Galleries dedicated a solo exhibition to Formafantasma and their in – depth investigation into the governance of the timber industry.
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.
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:
Cultural institutions and galleries
La Biennale, Rijksmuseum, Serpentine Galleries, Triennale, Fondation Cartier, Nasjonalmuseet Oslo, Vitra Design Museum, FAI, Centro Pecci, MAK, MoMA, QATAR Museum, Diriyah Biennale Foundation, Admaf Abu Dhabi, MaXXI, Moderna Museet, Salone del Mobile, Palazzo delle esposizioni, National Gallery of Victoria, Galleria Giustini / Stagetti, Galleria Massimo Minini and Marc Benda among others.Luxury, Automotive and Tech Companies
Prada, Fendi, Max Mara, Hermes, Bulgari, Loro Piana, Jil Sander, Tiffany, Ferrari, Marni, Lexus, Samsung and Perrier-Jouët among others.Industrial Design Companies
Artek, Flos, J&L Lobmeyr, Cassina, Ginori, Maharam, Knoll, B&B, Manteco and Rubelli 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 to June 2023 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: AD100 2026, Art Basel Awards 2025, AD100 2025, AD100 2024, AD100 2023, 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.Current collaborators
Sara Barilli, Leonardo Bettini, Giulia Brembilla, Veronica Camera, Alessandro Celli, Lorenzo Cellini, Gregorio Gonella, Gabriele Milanese, Jeroen Van De Gruiter.Past collaborators
Riccardo Badano, Simon Ballen Botero, Bettina Madita Böhm, Lorenzo Caparucci, Alva Cederbygd, Federico Floriani, Martin Gaillard, Lenn Gerlach, Jenny Hier, Sarah Kaiser, Elena Kayser, Emile Kirsch, Ibrahim Kombarji, Elsa Lagunas, Felix Lenz, Nicola Lorini, Bettina Madita Böhm, Marco Ortis, Tamara Orjola, Francesco Pace, Emilie Pallard, Federica Pellazza, Giulia Pucciarelli, Livia Rossi, Marlou Rutten, Michele Santomarco, Johanna Seelemann, Hannah Segerkrantz, Ricard Serasols, Tijmen Smeulders, Peter Sorg, Eliott Tsaramaro, Johan Viladrich, Nicolas Verschave, Cha Wei Wang, Francesco Zorzi, Luisa ZanzaniContact
Infos and Press
Formafantasma MilanHeads: Andrea Trimarchi, Simone Farresin
Via Privata Assab 1, 20132,
Milan, Italy
Email – Press Email
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Formafantasma Rotterdam
Head: Jeroen Van De Gruiter
Willem Buytewechstraat 45, 3024BK,
Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Email – Press Email
Job opportunities
-Internship - 6months, paid (students only) - From February 2026:
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 (Rhino, Cinema4d, Keyshot, Blender, 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: work@formafantasma.com