Piero Lissoni has designed products & exhibition stands for many prestigious companies including Alessi, Audi, B&B Italia, Knoll International, and others. His architecture and design work is recognized worldwide and has earned him a series of international awards. Have a look at this incredible interview that CovetED had with Piero Lissoni in Milan during Salone Del Mobile.

Have a look at this incredible interview with Piero Lissoni — All photo credits belong to Piero Lissoni

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Lissoni is a very versatile professional, with his portfolio stretching across architecture, furniture, interiors and even graphic design. According to the designer, “it’s a tradition in Milan to be versatile”. This is also a result of his education at the Politecnico di Milano, where he was taught to take on everything.

The designer has a very simplistic approach to his career, living day by day. Always eager of the discovery of something new, Lissoni doesn’t disclose any new expectations for the future. “I never expect to do something. I’m very lucky but I also work a lot. You need to be a worker, that’s the secret. And you need a bit of luck”, he says. During his creative process, the designer prefers to be completely inside of it, meaning it is a long discussion with a team of workers, that sometimes takes years to complete.

Regarding his collaboration with Knoll, they have been working together for over 15 years, so it has become some kind of “love affair”, as the designer described it. Lissoni has been in love with the company since the beginning, so it has remained a positive and thriving relationship.

“For me, it is impossible to do anything if I don’t like people. I need people, I don’t need a name or a brand. It’s all about the people.”

When it comes to the future of craftsmanship, the designer states that it will be a combination of incredible craftsmen and amazing technology, considering that’s the secret of the Italian life of design. Lissoni thinks that the fundamental thing for the designers of tomorrow is the respect of traditions and their cultures, adding that they must know their history in order to improve it.

“You need to offer a long life to your products because that’s the best way of saving resources. We need to be more responsible, purer and cleaner.”