Shaping the extraordinary : the art of collectible design today
Saturday 17 January —
16:00
- 16:45
The Talks — Hall 3
Description
What defines collectible design today, and how do concept, process and authorship contribute to its value? Designers Ini Archibong and Marco Campardo join gallerist Sophie Pearce of Béton Brut to explore the evolving landscape of contemporary collecting, from material experimentation to narrative and visibility. Moderated by Romain Casella Founder & Director of Creative Agency, MAY Concepts Ltd.
Nos partenaires : ITALIAN TRADE AGENCY
Participants
Ini ArchibongDesigner
Marco Campardo Designer
Sophie PearceFounder & Director - Béton Brut
Romain CasellaFounder & Director of Creative Agency, MAY Concepts Ltd
Ini Archibong
Designer
Renowned Nigerian-American designer Ini Archibong is a leading voice in contemporary design, blending master craftsmanship with cutting-edge technology to create works that are both visually striking and deeply meaningful. Drawing inspiration from architecture, philosophy, spirituality, and mathematics, his practice spans furniture, objects, and installations. Archibong has collaborated with prestigious brands including Hermès, Bernhardt Design, and Vacheron Constantin, and his work features in the permanent collections of the Dallas Museum of Art, the Vitra Design Museum, and The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Recipient of numerous international awards, including the Best Design Medal at the London Design Biennale 2021, he is also the founder of the multidisciplinary collective L.M.N.O. Based in Neuchâtel, Switzerland, he works globally across design, teaching, and research.
Marco Campardo
Designer
Marco Campardo is a London-based process-driven designer motivated by a curiosity to understand the world through making. With a focus on production research and teaching he embraces a praxis–theory framework dedicating much of his time to experimenting with diverse materials and production techniques. He approaches making and material exploration as a form of critical practice using them to investigate broader narratives around culture materiality and authenticity—exploring what makes a design or material “genuine” and true. His work includes both commissioned and self-initiated projects ranging from collectible furniture produced via Galerie kreo to industrial pieces. Founded in London in 2020 his practice reflects a hands-on engagement with materials and processes in unexpected and unorthodox ways. His mindset isto use design as a way to offer new perspectives — expressing not just objects but ideas and reflections shaped through making. Marco Campardo has been recognized with the Ralph Saltzman Prize (2023) and the Apple Designers of Tomorrow Award (2025) for his innovative contributions to contemporary design.
Sophie Pearce
Founder & Director - Béton Brut
Design dealer Sophie Pearce is the Founder / Director of Béton Brut, a London-based gallery and prop house specialising in rare and collectible furniture from Europe and Japan. Although ever-evolving, her aesthetic sensibility aligns with the principles of Modernism, with an honest, rational and organic approach to material and geometry. This philosophy is evident in Béton Brut’s carefully curated collections, which cohere around functional art and sculptural forms.
Romain Casella
Founder & Director of Creative Agency, MAY Concepts Ltd
With over 15 years of experience in the creative industry, working with leading organisations such as Publicis Groupe and WGSN, Romain Casella founded the creative agency MAY Concepts Ltd in London in 2012. Collaborating with institutions and public organisations (Swiss Arts Council, City of Porto) and lifestyle, fashion, and design brands (Cappellini, Business of Fashion, Panter & Tourron), MAY provides branding, creative consulting, as well as end-to-end communications and public relations services. Romain also acts as a lecturer, speaker, and coach (ECAL, Westminster University, London College of Fashion), helping creatives develop impactful marketing and communications strategies.