Design Connection from Novità, featuring Armando Cafiero

Novità is an award-winning PR, marketing, digital and social media agency, driven by our passion for design, architecture, real estate, art, technology, and culinary excellence and led by our core values of sustainability, wellness, equality and diversity. We are creative connectors, strategists and activators. We are a national team of 27 people in New York, California, Texas, Georgia, and Louisiana. In addition to architecture, design and culture, we love good food, globe trotting, and curling up with a magazine or book.

Welcome to this edition of Design Connection. We’re making some changes to the newsletter. Going forward, you’ll continue to see a headlining interview from an influential figure, this time an interview with Armando Cafiero, representing the Italian tile industry, looking ahead to Cersaie. We’ll also begin to share unique experiences from members of our team that reveal insights about our work, our passions, our projects, and the inner-workings of our team. This month we hear from Giuseppe Cardia.?

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A Conversation Between Novità Founder and CEO Chris Abbate and Armando Cafiero, Managing Director of Confindustria Ceramica

I’ve had the pleasure of working with the Italian ceramic tile industry, Confindustria Ceramica,? for more than thirty years. My work with them led to the formation and growth of Novità, and it’s a joy to still work so closely with them today. Armando Cafiero joined Ceramics of Italy as Director General of Confindustria Ceramica in 2008 and it’s been a delight to collaborate with him as we share our enthusiasm for the art, craftsmanship ,and technical excellence of Italian ceramic tile. This month we’re preparing for Cersaie, the annual International Exhibition of Ceramic Tile and Bathroom Furnishings.

CA: I can’t wait to get back to Bologna and this is a particularly special year as it marks the 40th anniversary of Cersaie. What is the show’s legacy and how does that overlap with the legacy of Ceramics of Italy?

AC: Since its founding in 1983, Cersaie has established itself as the preeminent, international exhibition for ceramic tile and bathroom furnishings. With over 1.5 million square feet of exhibition space, a robust conference program with Pritzker prize-winning speakers, live tile demonstrations, and special installations, the show has become a go-to global event that attracts nearly 100,000 visitors every year. As organizers of the show, the Italian ceramics industry is naturally intertwined with Cersaie and has played an integral role in the show’s international success and status. Everyone looks to Italy for design and innovation and Cersaie is the place where Italian manufacturers launch the latest designs and technological advancements in tile, offering new solutions for the built environment and helping redefine the concept of architectural design.?

CA: What can we expect to see from Ceramics of Italy in Bologna this year?

AC: Each year at Cersaie, Ceramics of Italy manufacturers debut new collections that push the boundaries of ceramic design and experimentation, and this year will be no different. Visitors at Cersaie 2023 can expect to see a wide variety of ceramic and porcelain tile products that honor the growth and innovations made in the industry over the past forty years, from major advancements like monocottura and gauged porcelain tile panels to 2cm pavers and invisible porcelain induction cooktops. In addition, to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the show, the exhibition space will feature “Route 40,” a fascinating journey highlighting Cersaie’s evolution and defining moments in the industry, focusing on design, technology, products, and companies that have made history. The show will once again offer extraordinary learning opportunities to design professionals with its wide lineup of programs, including “Top Star” and “Bologna Arte Architettura,” the keynote lectures held as part of the “Building, Dwelling, Thinking” program, the Press Café conversations, and the hands-on experience offered by the “Tiling Town” workshops.?

CA: Sustainability has been a significant driving force for Ceramics of Italy. Can you speak to this mission and how it influences the direction and your long-term vision for Ceramics of Italy?

AC: Sustainability is one of the most important values amongst Ceramics of Italy brands and a distinguishing factor separating them from other tile producers. For decades, Italian ceramic manufacturers have been paving the way toward a future of eco-forward production practices and products, by implementing sustainable measures - such as reduced consumption of natural resources by reusing and recycling 100% of waste products in production - that aid in reducing impact on the environment. To further this sustainable mission and establish goals for the future, the industry introduced the first global ISO standard (ISO 17889 – first part), certifying the requirements for sustainable ceramic tiles according to environmental, economic, and social criteria, and launched the new campaign, “Ceramics of Italy for Sustainability,” with the intent to help consumers, designers, and architects make informed decisions when specifying environmentally-responsible products.

This year’s Cersaie will take place in Bologna, Italy from September 25 - 29, 2023.

From the Team: Giuseppe Cardia shares his experience translating for Roberto Lazzeroni

At Novità, we are lucky to have many experiences that bring opportunities to learn and contribute in meaningful ways. One recent experience left a profound impact on me, both personally and professionally. I was asked to translate for the renowned Italian designer, Roberto Lazzeroni, a major figure in the realm of international design. He was in New York to promote a new collection designed for Poltrona Frau, in partnership with Cecotti Collezione. As a translator, I had the honor of helping Lazzeroni articulate his vision to journalists, sharing his unique design approach, and fostering an understanding of the underlying philosophy of the collection. Through this process, I realized that my work in social media with Novità and my background in translation complement each other. They both involve conveying a message accurately and engagingly, connecting diverse people, and promoting mutual understanding. The experience of translating for Roberto Lazzeroni was rewarding on so many levels. It was a professional challenge that enabled me to utilize my skills in interpreting and translation. Moreover, it was a personal journey, a chance to bring a slice of my Italian heritage to my new home in New York.