A dining table, fenders beautified with leather, tablecloths that keep plates and silverware secure, cocktail and wine tasting trays these are only some of the proposals that emerged during the 'Timona' workshop held last December at the tourist port of Cala de' Medici in Rosignano.
The workshop's goal was to examine the possibility of integrating Tuscan furniture companies and the nautical sector. Forty new graduates and students of the Industrial Design department at the University of Florence took part in the workshop, which was financed by regional funds.
Also on hand were industry experts, designers and companies.
The students guided by visiting professors Simone Micheli and Guido Spadolini worked to create projects that combined furniture building and the nautical industry.
The ideas that best corresponded to the principles of innovation and market potential were selected by the participating companies. Prototypes of these projects are currently being made.
Mobilificio Valdichiana is working on a series of container/wardrobes that offer a 'handless' opening in place of traditional door handles that can be opened with a touch of a shoulder.
Crestitavoli and Vetrolandia are creating a wooden dining room table with glass graphic inlays with lighted led inserts that allow it to be seen in the dark.
Bruscoli Pelletteria will present a series of fenders beautified with leather, tablecloths that keep plates and silverware secure, and containers for shoes and tools.
Selezioni Domus, in keeping with their traditional metal working, chose a project to create cocktail and wine tasting trays.
Foglia Argenteria will create an ice bucket, bottles and wine glasses to hang on the table.
Berti takes their stone inlay craftsmanship to create a built-in illuminated object that emits light and at the same time allows being held like a door handle.
