M.E. asks Arch. Guido Benedetti, Product Manager for Industrial furnishings and furnishing complements about Metalmobil and their upcoming Milan Salone Internazionale del Mobile plans to find out what they've got up their sleeves for this year's edition.

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?
This year Metalmobil will show 4 new products, as well as 2 product line expansions.
The new products are: ECHO - Design Metalmobil Concept, SYT – Design Francesco Geraci, TALIA – Design Francesco Geraci and AQUA – Designed by Marco Valerio Agretti. The product line expansions are IBIS: sled frame – Design Francesco Geraci and PUPA: Stool version – Design Marco Valerio Agretti.

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

Exhibiting at the Salone has only positives. The Salone has no equals around the world, and it’s a unique opportunity to show products and learn a lot about new trends and design. You can’t miss it.

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?

Almost all of the exhibitors have confirmed their participation. Some of them have reduced the exhibiting surface. Products showing in the 2009 edition were conceived and created before the explosion of this economic situation, so the picture we’ll see in Milan will not mirror exactly the economic climate. Anyway, design has always survived economic crises, and we think that this will happen again. Let’s see in the future.

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

Difficult to say… let’s look through the Salone, and we’ll understand more. For sure, price politics will affect a little bit more the industry.

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?

24 hours a day would not be enough to see everything. So one needs to focus on some items, according to what he or she is interested in. I’d suggest to visit the major companies’ stands, the big names and… our one, of course. I also recommend the “Fuorisalone” events, in the city of Milan.

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

I hope to discover it myself!