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 PROJECT AND RESEARCH
 Interview with Marco Migliari


Architect, interested in the methodology of planning in the field of industrial design, works as consultant for the research, the production and the development of new products typologies.
He works for Alessi and Candy.
Since 1994 he teaches planning in the ISIA of Rome. Some questions for him concerning the topic of research in the small firm.


Small firms and innovation...
The designer's task has to be more and more addressed to giving shape to innovation, trying to keep in mind the opportunities offered by technology, marketing, sociology of uses and to link them in a plan project.
Therefore, even small firms have to realise that to ask for the work of a designer doesn't mean only to make the aspect of products more pleasant, but also to start a course of research for the production that will take to a renewal.


Small firms and new technologies...
The threat to the existence of small firms doesn't come from new technologies, but from the fact they're unknown and, consequently, we can't even know whether we can take advantage from them...
The real problem of small enterprises is updating and training. Since they're not provided with a large and complex structure, they're often obliged to give the task of updating to people who usually have also other tasks and consequently can't attend to it full time. The solution to the problem can be found in the creation of service centres, supported by Category Associations, able to work out projects for single firms and to provide consultations and courses on technologic evolution and on the benefits coming from its application.


Designer and innovation...
The designer's task is to do research with the firm, first of all taking part in deciding what to produce. According to his traditional role, the designer is generally involved in how to make a product: with what shape, what materials, through which production processes, and finally through which means of communication to present it. The innovation also calls for the designer's presence during the phase of planning the firm strategy, in order to understand how both typological and technological innovation can change the presence of the firm on the market.

From the product to the system - product...
Even before the product, the firm, and especially small firms, should have a systemic view, that is they should try to know all the opportunities that the survey of society and of use of objects offers them. First of all, we need to think of the context where products are used and in what way they will interact with the goods of other types. The world of every day life and work is not a "mono-brand" environment, but it is a complex context of products that has to be examined carefully. So the knowledge not only of what we do but also of what the others do gives the opportunity of thinking of more competitive products, because they better handle the relation with the user and with the other things the user knows.

Alessi
Via privata Alessi, 6 - 28023 - Crusinallo - Verbania
Tel. +39/0323868611
Fax +39/0323641709
www.alessi.it
comunic.alessi@alessi.it
Text by:
Angelo Minisci

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In cooperation with:
Maria Angeles
Fernandez Alvarez
Elena Granchi
Sonia Morini





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