“Listen, I was born in a country famous for its ice cream,” Piero Lissoni tells us about Milan, “But when I’m in New York, I like to try the local ice cream and the Italian gelato made in the USA. It’s horrible but I like to discover new things!” At first glance, this might seem like an innocuous anecdote about the uncertain state of ice cream culture around the world but it’s a window into the maverick mind of Piero. For the multihyphenated Italian architect, art director and designer, there is always a new horizon to explore. While his genius in the art of making is no secret, you might be surprised to discover how his curiosity also ranges outside the bounds of design. From trying a strangely blue Smurf dessert to travelling to Africa to “capture the special light, animals, dimension and the blue sky”, Piero is whom you’d describe as a man of the world with a voracious appetite for life. Even as a young student at Politecnico di Milano, he spent his time learning and honing his craft at different studios in Milan and beyond. He speaks about his time in the company of great architects like Richard Meier and Peter Eisenman, “I was a young student without any real qualities to be in such important studios. But I was incredibly passionate.” He muses, “The most important thing I learned was the discipline you need to be an architect.” In 1986, Piero started his own studio. With decades of practice now behind him, he stresses the importance of balancing discipline and breaking the rules: “You need to be a little anarchic and you need to be a little bit of a military person.”
Design to him, is akin to a cocktail of ideas. Where there is anarchy and discipline, there is also humanism, science, mathematics and poetry. And it all comes together in a practised staccato Piero has mastered over the years. “I still like to work with pencils and brain and arms,” he adds, expanding on his stance of why electronic media does not offer the same ideological control. Piero believes creativity cannot be synthesised. However, in an age where you cannot go a day without news on dystopian developments in artificial intelligence, it is difficult not to ponder on the future of design. “I was born in another century which in my time was considered quite fast. But the new century is much faster,” Piero contemplates. Yet he is quick to add, “But if we use AI correctly, perhaps, we can get more time to study, read or think.” Surrounded by divisive opinions of lauders and naysayers, perhaps there is a case to be made for an outlook on technology that considers all odds and the winds of change.
“Culture is the key word in my life. I like Bach but I also follow the Ramones and Rolling Stones. It's an interesting attitude to be open-minded" — Piero Lissoni
