Satelliet Originals was at home at queen of all fairs: Salone del Mobile in Milano and we did very well at Clerkenwell Design festival in London and Design District in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. Behind the appealing design of the Satelliet Originals stand is a thoughtful vision that designer Melanie explains: ‘The design stemmed from what Satelliet Originals stands for: unique and versatile with its own, recognisable signature. The orange and pink colours exude confidence and warmth, while the blue gives a sense of professionalism. This mix ensures that the stand radiates what we want to transmit: Be an original’.
Milan Design Week highlights
The Milan Design Week – the world’s largest design fair – has been important to us on numerous aspects. Besides gaining pure inspiration – from a mighty fine Originals stand – ties with existing relations were strengthened and new connections were made with valuable international contacts. The fair generated a boost for awareness of the Satelliet Originals collection and the designers behind the items. Also Design Insider features Satelliet Originals in their online leading design magazine. Overall, it has been a fun, fruitful and successful week that was given a royal touch by meeting HRH Maxima, Queen of the Netherlands, herself a design lover.
Outstanding
The invitation from the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the Consulate-General in Italy to meet our queen, we owe to the fact that we, the year before, caught the Dutch consulate’s eye. Satelliet Originals was noticed because of our ‘typical Dutch character’ and our ‘important NL content’. Dutch designers stand out internationally for the quality of their innovative designs, but also for their ability to pursue social impact through their work. It is a great honour and acknowledgement to be invited. Our majesty wore a much-discussed, bold garment by another royal: design king Claes Iversen, when Satelliet’s owner Christan Brouwers, in good company with other leading Dutch companies such as Piet Boon, Brand van Egmond, Artifort, Eichholtz and Leolux, was photographed with her.
Facts & Figures
The Originals stand radiates what we want to convey: Be an original. That Salone de Mobile Milano and Satelliet Originals form a successful alliance is clear from the figures:
More than 2,000 exhibiting brands took part in 2023, 34% of them from 37 different countries, including 550 young designers from 31 countries and 28 design schools and universities from 18 countries. In terms of visitor turnout, there were 307,418 registered visitors in six days, 15% more than in 2022, from 181 countries. Especially telling is the 65% foreign buyers and industry operators. China is back in first place after Italy, followed by Germany, France, the United States, Spain with Brazil, and India at par. More than 5,400 accredited journalists visited the fair, 47% of them from abroad. Specifically for Satelliet Originals, this week meant 300 valuable leads to follow up.
Design District
The leading trade event for interior design in the Netherlands – Design District – is a wrap and we, as Satelliet Originals, look back on a wonderful, inspiring edition. In our well-attended and – due to the attractive use of colour and a rotating stage – frequently photographed stand, we had hundreds of great conversations with interested parties. We also gave an animated trend speech in the lecture hall and organised a meet & greet with our designers over drinks and bites. ‘For me, the mix of young professionals, students and renowned brands makes Design District the trade event in the Netherlands for interior design enthusiasts and gives us a great opportunity for networking,’ says Maico Pheninckx, Creative Consultant at Satelliet hospitality furniture. ‘There is no barrier, no fuss or over-the-top commerce but rather a very cool, relaxed vibe.’
Designers make the difference
The UNESCO World Heritage Van Nelle Factory – a monument of Dutch modernism – is the perfect location for an introduction to Satelliet Originals. Laure Mes – Harbers, Dealer Manager experienced Design District as a feast of recognition. ‘Our brand is becoming better known and I don’t have to explain our vision as often. The ‘Wall of Fame’ (our trade fair presentation according to a visiting interior designer) caught the public’s eye. Nice to see a face to the designer’s name.’ Because the designers behind the items make the collection original. With their eye for detail, the hand of the master and their design heart, Satelliet Originals makes all the difference. Everything is about feeling, about emotion.
Extraordinary interest
‘There is a lot of interest in Originals,’ shares Chris Montijn – Spiering, Designer for Studio Satelliet. ‘The collective of designers – all from various disciplines – ensures a broad and idiosyncratic collection. There is a good response from visitors to all the products and a lot of attention for the Code designed by Studio Satelliet, our sustainability ambition in general and the story behind this model. People like the fact that a company like Satelliet has partnered with a small initiative. A company that started making products from recycled plastic out of idealism. Several product designers – precisely because of these sustainable initiatives – have expressed an interest in working together.’ Who knows what great initiatives and designs this could lead to? This is also what Design District is for: getting to know each other, getting inspired and finding motivation to collaborate.
Clerkenwell
‘The mood at design festival Clerkenwell in London has been just as effusive’, Harvey Ockrim, director Satelliet UK shares his findings. ‘Overall, we have received very positive comments and keen interest in Still Usable Materials (SUM). The visitors’ reactions to the look and feel of the Satelliet Originals brand has been very good. Especially the response to the models Biscuit and the fringed Reunited. Those were the stars after of course Code, which was the main interest. Especially the story behind this item is appealing to the public. A small, female owned and operated factory in Indonesia, using waste from the west. Turning Fanta bottle caps into a yellow seat and back, being placed on a sustainably painted recycled aluminium, frame and shipped in low carbon footprint vessels.
Impressed
Visitors were impressed with our offerings. They loved the designs and variety and thought the booth looked very professional. It has given them a very good impression of our business. The event overall had a great vibe. The good weather ensured an extra dimension: the visitors were extremely upbeat.’
Luciana Markey, Marketing Executive agrees. ‘The feedback is excellent and the standout product for its look, feel and story was unanimously CODE’.