In creative and life projects, we all follow a line that, day after day, shapes our identity. Even today, often a design idea begins with a line drawn on a sheet of paper. Nothing embodies design quite like a well-sketched line.
At Desalto, this line path leans toward a material: the metal. A defining feature of the Italian brand, it is advocated in pieces intended for comfort and free from any industrial connotation. Its particular style book defines the sinuosity of metal with one term, Upholstered, under which lie, among others, the collections designed by Francesco Rota: Clip, Roller, and Unlimited.
As a designer, Francesco Rota (Milan, 1966) understands that the blend of clean, stylized strokes in the right proportions turns a merely aesthetic work into a functional object. Inserted in a three-dimensional space, the Clip seating system highlights the precision of that line. The emptiness present in the piece plays as prominent a role as the spaces occupied by the material: a shape that, viewed from different angles, shifts, resulting in a dynamic and immersive visual experience.
True to its name, Unlimited presents itself as a design with infinite possibilities. Here, the line is drawn by the user, who becomes the architect of a section of the collection that best fits their needs. Mounted on oval metal guides, the seats appear to float, emphasizing the visual lightness and quality of the metal. Perhaps the boldest aspect in Rota’s collaboration, Unlimited combines square shapes, allowing for customization in materials, colors, and designs—where creativity is the only limit.
Desalto seamlessly integrates metal with expert craftsmanship in Roller. Two tubes running the length of the design serve as a base, creating the illusion that the seats are floating in space, as if the graphic design itself comes alive. Crafted by Rota using round and oval geometric shapes, the Roller pieces cradle and conform to the bodies that rest upon them, offering a sanctuary of comfort and tranquility.
The designs Rota has created for Desalto possess their own personality, making them shine in their uniqueness while also standing out in dialogue with the rest. The elegance and harmony of their shapes, combined with the friendly upholstery present in all of them, result in a perfect blend of aesthetics, comfort, and innovation.
The line walked uniting the paths of the Italian brand and designer has a firm stroke that merges aesthetics, technology, and utility—an exemplary case of design in capital letters.
