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The designer’s recent projects include the interior of the Hermès store in Hong Kong and the portable rechargeable Lucerna outdoor lamp for Ethimo
in the display windows. He has an intimate experience of the world of high-end products, and holds interesting views on the nature of luxury design. “To me, luxury is closely linked to high-quality manufacture and artisanality, which I think are vital assets for Italy’s success. Italian craftmanship has close ties to a luxury I regard as sustainable, for two reasons, above all because as a designer I work with artisans whose skills would otherwise disappear. Secondly, in a world so dazzled by the idea of a flaunted, photographed beauty that’s often fake, really beautiful, high-quality objects also have an educational value”. The designer could be said to have been born on the water, and naval design exerts a pull that can’t be ignored. “As a native of Murano, this sector has a strong attraction for me. When I was young I helped produce lamps for cruise ships, I worked on the creation of a yacht cabin concept and I was brought in to advise on sail yacht interiors. I think that I’ve acquired, as a designer and as a studio, the maturity to take on a range of yacht design projects”. Meanwhile, Nichetto divides his time between his studio in Stockholm and his base in Venice, where he returns once a month to handle work that comes in from all over the world. As well as working for Hermes, he has recently created a special seam-less sofa upholstery for the Spanish company Sancal, which will be seen at the next Milan furniture show. He will soon be involved with a prestigious American piano-making company. Luca Nichetto is a designer who loves working in high-quality manufacture, and the industry has responded with enthusiasm.
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