The GenD initiative, which stands for Generation Designers, was created specifically by Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana to express their forward-thinking nature, a fundamental component of the business since its inception, in the area of furniture design.
A journey meant to continue over time with the intention of building cultural bridges between the company’s rich innovation and its connection to Italy and the rest of the world.
Ahryun Lee
Chris Wolston
Sayar&Garibeh
Lucia Massari
Atelier Malak
Bradley Bowers
Sara Ricciardi
Antonio Aricò
Rio Kobayashi
At its core, GenD is an artist residency project—or rather, a project of designers—that has given these 10 up-and-coming designers the chance to learn about some of the most important Italian artisanal crafts in the name of the vitality, explosion of colors, and sarcastic elegance that characterizes Dolce&Gabbana.
The designers were given the opportunity to experiment with Murano blown glass, Sicilian ceramics, metal carpentry, cabinet-making, terracotta craftsmanship, wicker, fine wrought iron, metal castings, and the extremely rare technique of metal enameling, in accordance with their knowledge and personal preferences.
These are unrestricted projects that have allowed the designers to engage in a creative dialogue with the company’s DNA, the wealth of Italian ingenuity, and the value of manual expertise.
The end products are incredibly intricate and sophisticated pieces, often using cutting-edge production techniques which have allowed these young designers to experiment first-hand its manual creation. With their unique approach and styles each piece represents just how they have been able to interpret the company’s key elements.
Cultural connections that give a nod to the way we live today and that bring items that may be considered jewels into our homes: triumphant lemons and embellished floor sweepers, memento souvenirs and light-emitting cacti, sensory curtains and kaleidoscopic vases…
More is more and more to come.
