OPERAE self-produced design exhibition

Operae is a trade exhibition dedicated to the self-made design. A real marketplace with an original view on the world of design and aimed at favouring a direct approach between designers from all over the world and the public, dealers, distributors and journalists. At Operae, items belonging to quite different commodity classes are on display and can be purchased on the spot. These items have been conceived by design professionals directly controlling the whole production process (from the original concept down to communication and distribution) and constantly oriented at developing new solutions for small batch productions. Fully integrated in the design and artistic identity of Turin, Operae is held within different locations, all in the town centre and close to each other, simultaneously to Artissima, one of the major international fair of contemporary art. The self-made design is basically aimed at getting back to experimentation on materials through direct processing or with the support of small handicraft centres, thus favouring a small batch production characterized by an extremely innovative potential. Within the frame of a lost-and-found desire for man-made production and on a design approach free from any constraint, this is what Operae means for self-made design. And what makes these items the ultimate trend in design, combining functional design with sustainability. At the successful conclusion of the first Edition, from 4th to 6th November, 2011, in Turin, Operae will explore again this new world of design trend: the trade exhibition will in fact be backed by several workshops and meetings with the aim of thinking and discussing about this self-made production system, and about the peculiarities of small batch production and distribution patterns.