Milano's younger, more trendy faction has recently gravitated toward spending their evenings in any of a number of intimate and "alternative" salons established by emerging designers in the Porta Romana district.The atmosphere of the various venues is set aglow by a delightful series of after-hour shows spotlighting the versatility and power of Italian creativity.

Alterpoint in Milano's Via Cadore 2 pools the talents and resources of several associations and design studios, organizing various night-time events. In Via Friuli 26, the Zeta design studio opens its doors to those looking to soak up a little creative atmosphere. In a combination of design and refreshments, the Circolo della Comunità Eritrea offers billiards, drinks and snacks on the first floor, while the floor above houses Lo Studio, a fashion design studio which erupts every June and July into a swirling whirl of fashion. Number 26 constitutes a one-stop shop for a well-rounded evening: good conversation, more than a hint of art, great clothes and, well, just the right place!

What characterizes these designer-entrepreneurs? An all-Italian creative spirit, a gift for enterprise, healthy instincts and the willingness to take chances! This is the driving force behind the young artists' explorations of form, color and materials which have taken them beyond established design, now often bogged down by repetitive projects. A central figure on the new edge is Dennis Santachiara, winner of a compasso d'oro for his "Pisoḷ", an inflatable mattress stored in a colorful hassock.


The immediate relationship between objects and their function has long-since been resolved. It remains to the young creative spirit to let the essentially practical run a little bit wild! Warm and vivacious colors are now on. Capricious designs now draw attention to even the least significant accessories in an increasingly whimsical domestic
environment.

This "tactic" is justified in view of the fact that most of the articles in question have been around for a long time, studied and reevaluated by the best minds in design. What is left for emerging designers today is to adorn the technology; to explore the aesthetic. However fanciful the appearance, the underlying practicality behind these objects comes through loud and clear in actually using them, as exemplified by Stark's citrus squeezer for Alessi, the Newson doorstop, the Gurioli umbrella stand and the brilliant lighter by Giovannoni.