Agustina Bottoni ~ Design Portfolio

designer ~ milano

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Melodicware 

Melodicware is an exploration on the auditory experience of objects.

The collection consists of a series of sound sculptures and a hand-knotted curtain, which contain brass chimes of different lengths that play musical notes when set in motion.

The lush fringes of the delicate pieces invite to be touched by passersby, becoming thus an unexpected musical instrument. A gentle touch swings the brass chimes, releasing casual melodies that remain unique and ephemeral.

Melodicware embellishes a space with its sculptural presence, and the possibility to interact with it brings it to life for a fleeting moment.

In current times of discordance, these gentle objects convey a message of hospitality and joy.

Presented during Milano Design Week 2017 as part of the exhibition Fenomena, an interactive sensorial installation curated by The Ladies’ Room and co-produced by 5Vie.

Year: 2017 Photo: Roberto Nino Betancourt Video: Sirio Vanelli

[agustinabottoni]

Melodicware

Melodicware is an exploration on the auditory experience of objects.

The collection consists of a series of sound sculptures and a hand-knotted curtain, which contain brass chimes of different lengths that play musical notes when set in motion.

The lush fringes of the delicate pieces invite to be touched by passersby, becoming thus an unexpected musical instrument. A gentle touch swings the brass chimes, releasing casual melodies that remain unique and ephemeral.

Melodicware embellishes a space with its sculptural presence, and the possibility to interact with it brings it to life for a fleeting moment.

In current times of discordance, these gentle objects convey a message of hospitality and joy.

Presented during Milano Design Week 2017 as part of the exhibition Fenomena, an interactive sensorial installation curated by The Ladies’ Room and co-produced by 5Vie.

Year: 2017 Photo: Roberto Nino Betancourt Video: Sirio Vanelli

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Eden

Eden is a pair of kinetic sculptures, composed by small floating vases that celebrate natural beauty and balance.

The project is inspired by the delicate harmony found in nature, where each part needs of the other in order to be balanced.

The pieces are constructed of glass tubes and handcrafted solid brass components. The weight comes form a raw piece of marble in the base. The lightness of these simple elements highlights the beauty of the flowers and leaves, which truly complete the design. Gently swinged by air currents, Eden becomes a gracious presence in a room.

This work is born from a reflection on the necessity of design to create thoughtful pieces that interact with us and our environment, losing the superfluous, searching to bring joy through essential elements.

Year: 2016 Presented during Operae in Turin Photo: Roberto Nino Betancourt

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Texere

Texere is a contemporary tapestry evoking ancient forms of expression through hi-tech production methods. 

Inspired by knitted fabrics and handmade processes, it is composed of geometrical concatenated modules made from wool felt. A textile structure that allows a continuous piece to be formed without any limitation in length.

The result illustrates the rigorous precision of Atom cutting machines, through a light and delicate modular configuration. Combining ancient wisdom with modern technologies.

Year: 2016 Photo: Miro Zagnoli

Project commissioned for the exhibition "Atom: The Cutting Factory", taking place at La Triennale di Milano from 11-30 November 2016 

In a new story, 12 designers will emphasise in 12 individual works the industrial and production technologies of Atom, the Italian company that is the world leader in the production of cutting systems for flexible and semi-rigid materials. The exhibition, celebrating the first 70 years of Atom activity, will show a clear dialogue between industry and design, combining technology and creativity: all the projects explore the creative process of product design, and look at the materials and the interaction between them. All within a scenario that combines art, fashion, design and technology with aesthetics, to show the comprehensive production potential of Atom systems.

Atom S.p.A

Curators Giulio Iacchetti Francesca Molteni

Set-up Matteo Ragni Studio

Graphic design Leonardo Sonnoli (Tassinari/Vetta)

Exhibition organization and coordination, communication and press office Diomedea

Designers 4P1B Design Studio Federico Angi Alessandra Baldereschi Denise Bonapace Agustina Bottoni Giulio Iacchetti Joe Velluto Lanzavecchia + Wai Chiara Moreschi Lorenzo Palmeri Studio Sovrappensiero Martinelli Venezia Studio

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Torre

Torre is a ceramic tealight holder with a sculptural silhouette. The two-piece structure raises elegantly the flame while concealing spare candles inside its base. Torre was developed for Il Coccio Design Edition, a collection of ceramic products created by a team of designers under the creative direction of Giulio Iacchetti.

Year: 2017 Client: Il Coccio Design Edition Presented at Ambiente Fair -  Frankfurt Photo: Max Rommel

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Caminos

Caminos is a rug with a rigorous graphic showing a play between shapes and contrasts. It is made of natural and black jute fibres and comes with a cotton trim.

Year: 2017 Client: Alsina Alfombras 

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Eden

Eden is a pair of kinetic sculptures, composed by small floating vases that celebrate natural beauty and balance.

The project is inspired by the delicate harmony found in nature, where each part needs of the other in order to be balanced. 

The pieces are constructed of glass tubes and handcrafted solid brass components. The lightness of these simple elements highlights the beauty of the flowers and leaves, which truly complete the design. Gently swinged by air currents, Eden becomes a gracious presence in a room.

This work is born from a reflection on the necessity of design to create thoughtful pieces that interact with us and our environment, losing the superfluous, searching to bring joy through essential elements.

Year: 2016 Presented during Operae in Turin Photo: Roberto Nino Betancourt

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Plateau

for Bosisio Mobili

Plateau is a collection of low cabinets intended for different uses, with a simple and rigorous aesthetic that emphasises the quality of craftsmanship and materials.

The common element of the whole Plateau collection is its basic structure, designed to be equipped with a series of modules that can be rearranged freely to create a small landscape composition according to personal taste and functionality. Alternating compartments such as drawers or small containers with flap doors, provides a flexible modular system: TV stand, cabinet, small bookshelf or sitting area.

A refined play of colours is created by the combination of the base light oak or brushed walnut wood structure, with opaque lacquer matte white, ecru, steel grey, blue or anthracite modules.

Plateau was presented at the Salone del Mobile 2016.

Year: 2016 bosisiomobili.it

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Mate Craft

Tableware collection inspired by the South American tradition of mate, an infusion drank from a calabash gourd container, usually covered in leather.

The project explores the potential of traditional craftsmanship and iconic forms to develop a collection of tableware objects with a recognisable identity.

The function of the objects, is, however, universal: a carafe, a teapot, a cup, a vase and a bowl. The pieces have been handcrafted in ceramic and cold-shaped natural leather, which provides a strong structure. 

The product evolves as it ages: the leather gets darker and develops a protective patina, which enhances its uniqueness through use.

2015 Photo: Roberto Nino Betancourt

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Memory Vessels

Personal photographs have the power of transporting the viewer back in time and space. People treasure them for the memories they keep, they are important to their emotional lives. However, with digital technology many pictures are taken but sometimes they never get printed or even looked at.

This collection of objects give materiality to digital photographs taken during a visit to the designer’s hometown Buenos Aires after a long absence. A tabletop mirror and two trays are handcrafted from copper plates using a photographic acid-etching technique. Images of natural environments are translated into the metal surface and shaped into basic geometric pieces.

These simple everyday objects act as a window to distant places, and through use and interaction with them, they aid recollection. 

Each piece acts as a vessel that supports and displays memorabilia objects (photos, postcards, stones, etc.) to forge a stronger connection with them, instead of having them lost or hidden in a drawer.

Memory Vessels exists from the need to encourage meaningful relationships with objects.

2014 Photos by Roberto Nino Betancourt

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Post-Industrial Totem

Totems are ornamental figures with symbolic value and through ancient times have represented an emblem or reminder of diverse cultures.

Our contemporary industrial culture may vanish one day. Waste will remain. Considering that the materials of choice of a given era are a defining point of it, the aim of the project is to create an archaeology piece that gives value to the materials that fostered the Industrial Age.

Each piece is handcrafted as a precious jewel in common materials used by industry: steel, plastic, vulcanised  rubber, concrete, anthracite coal and aluminium. Basic commodities that we discard very easily, but at the same time are a vital part of our time.

All pieces have different shapes, texture and weight, in order to stimulate the tactile sense, which is essentially human. A simple and primitive type of interaction with the future.

2013 photos by Roberto Niño Betancourt

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Picque-Nique

A backpack for enjoying meals outdoors. It consists of a bag that carries stackable cork containers that help keeping food fresh.

This project merges different materials and technologies such as CNC milling, waterjet cutting and traditional metallic components, as a reinterpretation of the classic picnic basket. The combination of PVC, cork and metal details bring a peculiar, unexpected aesthetic to the rustic experience of sharing food al fresco. 

2013 Project in collaboration with YuHsuan Hsu

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Glow

Glow celebrates tea preparation and the drinking ceremony while showcasing it through a light effect. It becomes a decorative object which brings a pleasant moment of contemplation.

The spherical shape of the glass bottle acts as a lens, magnifying the light of a small candle, and showcasing the beauty of the tea. 

Glow is used to maintain tea hot at the table, or even to brew infusions very slowly. The flask rotates in every direction for serving the tea. The strainer fits the cup, which has cork as thermal insulation.

All pieces of the set were carefully handcrafted combining borosilicate glass, turned wood and cork.

2013 photos by Roberto Niño Betancourt

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Mate Craft

A carafe made of ceramic covered in natural leather. It combines traditional craft with a sleek and contemporary design.

The product is inspired in the Mate, a cup specially made to drink yerba mate infusion in South America. It is usually made from dried calabash, a fruit capable of storing liquids. 

A simple self-standing structure and handle is generated by shaping natural leather around the rounded contour of the ceramic, and then reinforced by stitching.

 2013 photos by Roberto Niño Betancourt

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Villa Cariño

An adaptative, portable piece of furniture inspired in simple, nomadic ways of living. It is a response to the redundancy and over-saturation of current times.

Recliner, tent, daybed, rug, a place for friends & lovers, or one to indulge into solitary reading.

A basic wooden frame combined with the softness and comfort of textile, that leaned against a wall offers different options for enjoying and sharing the space in a simple way, reducing clutter.

Villa Cariño provides a sitting area for four people, and when turned, creates a quiet private space with room for storing books, toys, and other belongings. The lamp can be hanged from the rope hammock, or placed in the inner pockets, creating diverse lighting features and ambient.

The function of the furniture becomes flexible, creating a continuos dialogue between the user and product. At the same time, it can be dismantled and transported with a carrier strap.

Materials: ramin wood 40mm diameter sticks rubber stoppers 100%cotton canvas - polyester fiber fill Accesories: nylon rope, lamp

2013

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Gold Ratio

A bottle for celebrating and enjoying those special homemade spirits. It is made of borosilicate glass and cork, with details in metallic enamel and a capacity of  70cl, or twelve shot glasses. 

On the surface, golden graduation marks show the standard measure for a 2 oz glass of liqueur. The long angled lines help to visualize the amount of liqueur while pouring it into the glass.

After a few drinks, it is possible to know how many of the twelve servings are left, to continue this ritual of sharing a delicious drink with friends.

2013 photos by Roberto Niño Betancourt

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Imaginary Ordinary

A collection developed using 3d printing technology to upcycle empty domestic jars into design pieces, as a way of rethinking a common waste through functionality. 

The collection consists of four geometric objects to be fully printed in food-safe PLA plastic. Each typology: vase, tea strainer, lamp, and bird feeder, can be adjusted to be screwed on a jar during the 3d modeling process. The vase uses a jar to contain water and a geometric wireframe to support flowers. Another jar can brew and filter tea through its new design lid. The lampshade adopts different positions to diffuse or direct light, while the bird feeder contains seeds and can be hanged through strings.

This homeware collection brings joy and character to something trivial, as a second opportunity to have a new life as protagonists in the house.

2013 Project in collaboration with YuHsuan Hsu Photos by Roberto Niño Betancourt