Luca Nichetto was born in 1976 in Venice, where he studied at the Art Institute. Afterwards he attended the University Institute of Architecture of Venice (IUAV), where he earned a degree in Industrial Design. He began his professional career in 1999 by designing his first projects in Murano glass for Salviati. That same year he began his collaboration with Foscarini, for whom he not only designed products, but also worked as a consultant on new materials research and product development (2001–2003).

In 2006 he launched his own design firm, Nichetto & Partners, which specializes in industrial design and offers its services as a design consultancy. In 2011 he also opened another professional office in Stockholm, Sweden. Over the course of his career, Nichetto has been awarded a number of international prizes, including the Gran Design Award (2008), the Chicago Atheneum Museum of Architecture’s, Good Design Award (2008), the IF Product Design Award (2008) and the Elle Decoration International Design Awards’ (EDIDA) Designer of the Year award in the Young Designer Talent category (2009).

Apart from participating in various design exhibitions in Europe, the U.S and Japan, Nichetto has also been the subject of important retrospective shows mounted in prominent European cities, including Venice, London, Paris and Stockholm, and he has served as art director for a number of international design events. In addition, he has been invited to sit on prestigious juries for a variety of design competitions held both in Italy and abroad.

Today, Nichetto collaborates with a wide variety of Italian and international companies, including Bosa, Casamania, Cassina, David Design, De Padova, Discipline, Established & Sons, Fornasarig, Foscarini, Fratelli Guzzini, Gallotti & Radice, Glass, Globo, Italesse, La Chance, King’s, Kristalia, Mabeo, MG Lab, Moroso, Offecct, Ogeborg, Petite Friture, Salviati, Skitsch, Skultuna, Tacchini and Venini.

 

INTERVIEW

What does design mean for you? What is design in your life?

Design is an important part of my life, I feel very privileged to practice a work that it also my hobby.

Please describe the changes in design over the last 20 years.

Over the past 20 years production technologies, in the design world, have seen an evolution. This led the designer to have the opportunity to experiment with new forms and materials and place on the market an excessive amount of products.

I believe that with the economy, environment problems and with the crisis that is invested the world, design should try to find answers to both of these, in the creation of objects that are durable and sustainable. It's not easy, but we should start from this point.

Which designers/architects have influenced your work the most?

There are so many that is difficult to list them all.

What item have you envied because of its design?

I have item's that I admire but I do not have any item that I envied.

Do you believe that design assists in the creation of a “better” world?

I believe that with a good balance of functionality, aesthetics and research the Design can help to make every day life, a little bit better.

Should design be more inexpensive or does it deserve to be paid for at a high price?

I think design need's to have good balance between quality and price.

What led you to become involved in design?

I grew up in Murano, an island near Venice, where my grandfather was a Glass Master and my mother was a glass decorator. Having grown up in this type of environment it was quite spontaneous to create something.

If you were not a designer, what other profession would you have chosen?

Well is difficult to say but for sure something creative or may be a basketball player; who knows!