FORMAFANTASMA
FORMAFANTASMA

Andrea Trimarchi (1983) and Simone Farresin (1980) are Formafantasma, an Italian design duo based in Milano. Their interest in product design developed on the IM master course at Design Academy Eindovhen, where they graduated in July 2009.

Since then, Formafantasma’s practice has been characterised by experimental material investigations and detailed explorations of the history, context and implications of the transformation of natural resources into commodities. In perceiving their role as a bridge between craft, industry, object and user, they are interested in forging links between their research-based practice and a wider design industry. As a result, works by Formafantasma have been commisioned by a variety of partners including Fendi, Max Mara – Sportmax, Hermès, Droog, Nudus rug, J&L Lobmeyr, Gallery Libby Sellers, Established and Sons, Lexus, Krizia International and Flos., Gallery Giustini / Stagetti Roma.

Wheter designing for a client or investigating alternative applications of materials, Formafantasma apply the same rigouros attention to context, process and detail to every project the undertake. The added nuance for the duo is that they do so with an eye to the historical, political and social forces that have shaped their environments.

Their work has been presented and published internationally and museums such as New York’s MoMA, London’s Victoria and Albert, New York’s Metropolitan Museum, the Chicago Art Institute, Paris’s Centre Georges Pompidou, the TextielMuseum in Tilburg, the Stedelijk’s-Hertogenbosch, the Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam, Mudac Lausanne, the Mint Museum of Craft and Design in North Carolina and the MAK Museum in Vienna have all acquired Formafantasma’s designs for their permanent collections.

In March 2011 Paola Antonelli of the Museum of Modern Art in New York and esteemed design critic Alice Rawsthorn listed their studio amongst a handful of practices that would shape the future of design. Andrea and Simone are lecturing and heading workshops in various Universities and Institutions. Currently they are teaching at the “Well Being” and “Contextual Design” Departments of the Design Academy Eindhoven. This exhibition will become the foundation of the new Masters programme that Formafantasma are leading from autumn 2020 at the design Academy Eindhoven, titled “GEODESIGN”. Since October 2016, they have been at the head of the Design bachelor at MADE Program in Siracusa, Italy. 

Formafantasma has been awarded Wallpaper* Designer of the Year 2021.