M.E. Talks to Thonet about the upcoming Milan Salone...

What have you been working on recently? Would you be able to give us any sneak previews of new projects you might be showing at Milan this year?

A new barstool/high table by Stefan Diez, a new barstoool/high table by James Irvine and table Rand by Naoto Fukasawa - a special variation of the coffee house chair No 14 (on the occasion of its 150th birthday). Also, there's a variation of the tubular steel classic S 43 by Mart Stam created on the occasion of 90 years of Bauhaus.

What does exhibiting at the Salone del Mobile mean for you? How would you describe the positives (and maybe negatives?) of the experience?

Salone is the focal point of the furniture world; all major companies and designers present exciting novelties; and it is spring in Milano!

We're sorry, it has to be asked - How do you think the current economic situation will affect the climate in the design world, and particularly this year's Milan Salone? Do you foresee any positive or negative knock on effects or adaptations that might happen as a result?

Good design, and value-holding classics like Thonet that produce them will always be requested. So I think that people will appreciate these core values of Thonet.

Do you have any predictions for trends in design this year?

Difficult to say. I think there is a trend towards mass individualization, so we will notice of parallel trends and everyone will be able to mix his own style.

Is there anything you're especially looking forward to at this year's Salone? Can you let us in on the stands you'll be checking out for yourself/selves or new names to watch?

As we are working with Stefan Diez, keep an eye on him and Germany´s Konstantin Grcic who will present a office chair at Magis - still setting trends.

And of course, its not all work! Where do you think this year's best Salone party will be?

Definitely Renzo Rosso´s "Successful Living from Diesel" (the Launch of a Diesel home Collection with Foscarini and Moroso) event will be one of THE events,

and it's always a late night at Bar Basso...