Need to Know
09 : 06 : 22

Italy – Interior specialist Cleaf has collaborated with Portuguese architects Campos Costa Arquitetos on Cleaf Club – a project intended to emphasise the importance of nightclubs as epicentres of youth and contemporary culture.

Cleaf has redesigned the features and spaces of classic nightclub interiors – such as the dance floor, bar, lounge and bathrooms – with new materials and finishes from its interiors range. The result is a stripped-back, aesthetics-first interior. The bar, for example, will be made with wood-effect materials that subvert tradition, while the lounge will feature fabrics that amplify the feeling of relaxation. The spaces can be viewed at Cleaf’s stand-installation at Salone Del Mobile Milano or the company’s corporate showroom in Lissone, which has been transformed into an entire club experience.

Here, Cleaf is considering the visually driven minds of young people by placing emphasis on the aesthetic cues in destinations such as nightclubs – spaces that have previously obtained little design innovation. We further explore how brands and businesses are re-imagining the nightlife industry in our dedicated Market.

Milan – Industrial firm Fabita and Turin-based studio Andriano Design are exploring the future of more flexible, small-scale living at this year’s Salone Del Mobile Milano 2022.

Through their collaborative Unsuspected Futures exhibition, they are drawing attention to the ways domestic spaces and social behaviours are becoming smaller and more nomadic, spotlighting premium induction cooktops for a future of hybrid living environments.

Having first launched The Ordine induction hob, which consists of a wall-mounted control unit and two hobs that users can store with ease, Fabita is now expanding into the realm of furniture with discreet induction hobs that take the form of side tables and mounted wall hangings. One such product is The Sorpresa – three individual hobs stored on a wooden plate rack, which users can operate via their phones or tablet.

As explored in our microtrend Discreet Tech, consumers are seeking a more balanced relationship with devices and technology, through strategically designed appliances. Combining luxury design cues and functionality, Fabita’s Unsuspected Futures exhibition explores product design that could develop everyday items into functional and decorative displays.

People with disabilities are hesitant to share their difficulties at work for fear of being judged, stereotyped or stalling career progression. According to research by Samsung, more than half of people with disabilities in the UK have tried to conceal their challenges from their co-workers.

Although 20% of people in the UK have a hidden or visible disability, workplaces are still not doing enough to empower employees with a range of health requirements. According to the findings, workplaces are failing to provide adequate accessible infrastructure as well as critical social support. Respondents cited things as simple as bathroom access and availability (30%) and even just getting into an office building (29%) as challenges they face. Aside from accessibility concerns, 41% of respondents said that disclosing a disability would make them feel like an outsider or prevent them from attaining a promotion (45%).

These dismal results indicate that more must be done to empower disabled staff, both in terms of office accessibility and social support. For a start, companies should consider integrating inclusive tech solutions to cater for all.