La Mamma Marva

Davide Groppi
Participation: 1998

"The SaloneSatellite has been a very important moment for me. It was already clear for me the idea to build a company and to design, produce and sell my lamps. SaloneSatellite was the first occasion in which I participated in a trade fair event. I met people who turned out to be important for the development of my project, including the extraordinary Marva."

Patrick Jouin
Participation: 1998

"I would like to express my deepest gratitude to SaloneSatellite and Marva Griffin for their unwavering passion for creation, youth, and their courage to provide such an exceptional space as that of the Salone. Their initiative has changed the lives of many designers, including myself, by offering us the opportunity to showcase and expose our work. The truth is, not all of us have the chance to meet the right people on our path. Design is, after all, a story of encounters, and SaloneSatellite has proven to be an accelerator of these crucial meetings. For me, it was a pivotal moment, a crucial turning point in my career. And it is important to highlight that this opportunity was not offered just to me, but to thousands of other designers. This generosity and commitment to the design community are gestures for which I will never be able to thank them enough.

But there's more. This act of faith towards youth and innovation is also a celebration of Italian passion and the unique way design is intertwined with the DNA of Italian culture. This deep-rooted passion, cultivated over millennia and supported by a culture rich in entrepreneurship, is what sets Italy apart on the global design stage. The country’s reputation for exquisite craftsmanship, a willingness to embrace artistic risks, and a fervent love for debate and dialogue exemplify this passion. It is this profound and passionate connection to design that ensures SaloneSatellite remains a guiding light in the world of design. In recognizing the significance of this initiative and the impact of Marva Griffin Wilshire and SaloneSatellite, I honor their priceless contribution to my career and to those of thousands of designers worldwide.”

matali crasset
Participation: 1998

"To think that we could develop furniture differently and think about new typologies, to propose alternatives. 'Jim' belongs to the 'friends of matali', a range not of objects that are friends, but objects by or for my friends. At the time, I was rather reticent about the idea of creating furniture. We presented Jim at the Milan furniture fair, as part of the first salonesatellite, in April 1998; I accompanied Jim with Bruno Domeau and Philippe Pérès by Domeau & Pérès. I stayed the whole week in Milan. It was very exhilarating. I saw people coming and going, arriving, thinking and then smiling as a sign of understanding and support. It was a very warm atmosphere. Jim was widely published in the press. The public really understood the idea of Jim as a space affirmed by the lamp and the alarm clock, and not as a banal extra bed. And the term 'hospitality column', to which I'm very attached, was an obvious choice. As soon as we presented the prototype, we received enough orders from Italy, Germany, Portugal and the United States to launch our first production run."

Satyendra Pakhalé
Participation: 2001

"I recall my first and memorable meeting with Marva Griffin Wilshire. Marva was very kind and decisive, a majestic personality, I could intuitively feel her real passion to create opportunity for young aspirants. I was selected to present my works at the SaloneSatellite 2001. I am humbled and honored to get to know Marva and to have her support from the outset of my design journey. I remember, naming my show “Work ‘n’ Play”, presenting few pieces such as ‘Bird Chaise’ to take a nap during a busy working day. It is a chaise that can slide under the working desk; ‘H-off-man Desk’ a home office desk; ‘Global Table-Lamp’ with a globe based on emotional geographies; ‘Fish Chair’ prototype and ‘Surya Sundial’ an analogue object in the digital world. Surya Sundial was taken by Alessi to develop; Bird Chaise went into permanent collection of Stedelijk Museum of Modern Art, Amsterdam, the Netherlands and Fish Chair was spotted by Giulio Cappellini and subsequently launched by Cappellini. I very much appreciate the opportunity to present my early works at such a seminal venue.

I cannot think of a global ambassador like Marva Griffin Wilshire who is full of energy and continues to have wonderful new ideas and projects with worldwide impact. Over a quarter century now SaloneSatellite has been a ‘not-to-be-missed’ international event that helped me and so many aspiring designers from all around the world and put us on international design scene. Marva is that alluring mind behind the SaloneSatellite that I am personally grateful to. Over all these years she has been my consistent supporter, closely following my works with a great interest and critical view, which is so precious for me that words cannot express my sincere gratitude. Wish you Happy Silver Jubilee Marva and the mother of all Saloni – ‘SaloneSatellite’! Long live Marva and long live SaloneSatellite! Muchas gracias Marva! Big hug!"

Stefan Diez & Christophe de la Fontaine
Participation: 2002

Stefan Diez:
At the turn of the millennium, Christophe and I studied industrial design at the Academy of Fine Arts in Stuttgart, where Klaus Lehmann and Richard Sapper were our teachers. After half-time, in 1999, Christophe went to Piero Lissoni in Milan and I went to Konstantin Grcic in Munich to learn the practice. We stayed there for three years, but agreed to do our final project together. Looking for a theme to work on, we hoped that we could convince Marva and her SaloneSatellite to show our ideas in Milan. What we have to thank Marva for is that she offered young designers a stage that was financially viable and at the same time attracted the attention of the press, manufacturers and established designers. The SaloneSatellite provided a must-attend event for them all. In 2002, Christophe and I actually won the SaloneSatellite Award with our ideas, were drunk with happiness and got a cover story in the Design Report and other publications. For me (us), that was the starting signal that gave me the confidence to open my own studio shortly afterwards, in 2003. It was indeed a catapult launch... and the beginning of a long journey that was much more arduous than we could have imagined at the time. But maybe that's exactly what it takes to get started: a mixture of naivety and confidence... and someone to see it happen. Viva il Satellite, brava Marva! And Grazie mille :)

Christophe de la Fontaine:

The opportunities for emerging designers to present themselves in the early 2000s cannot be compared with those of today. The SaloneSatellite offered a real alternative within the Salone del Mobile to present new design positions to the public. This show was already highly anticipated by journalists and designers as well as company owners and a professional audience. Marva's vision of offering non-established creatives a platform that would lead to the credibility they needed in order to present themselves positively to the outside world was successful. The list of those who have exhibited here for the first time and were able to use it as a springboard for their careers is truly impressive! Nevertheless, there were also dissenting voices, those who knew only one ideal – the idea that a good product can only be created if the idea is realised jointly by designers and companies. Tempi passati, even back then. This industry, just like most sectors of the economy, is unable to predict the market. The contradictory requirements, the changing demands and the constant uncertainty are too great for unconcerned decision-makers to be able to face current challenges productively or grasp new opportunities. Unless they rehash what has worked before, copy what is making money elsewhere or give in to general trends. In other words, exactly the opposite of what you find in young, daring and sensitive people who bring their visions into the world with dedication and humility. You just have to trust them to do it! Viva il Satellite, brava Marva! Grazie mille ;)

nendo
Participation: 2003, 2004

"It was the first and only door, to the world of design for me. Grazie, Marva."

BIG-GAME (Augustin Scott de Martinville, Elric Petit and Grégoire Jeanmonod)
Participation: 2005

"Our first project as a team was our participation in the SaloneSatellite in 2005. For this exhibition we chose a name for our studio and started our collaboration. We met our first clients in Milan and 20 years later we are still working together based on what we started back then. We are incredibly grateful to Marva Griffin for giving us a chance and almost feel like her children, because SaloneSatellite is where it all started for us."

Mia Cullin
Participation: 2006

"I suppose I was quite fortunate when exhibiting at SaloneSatellite in 2006. The participation gave me a lot of press, the Design Report Award and last but not least some really good contacts as the Finnish company Woodnotes and British Habitat, which I started to collaborate with. Marva was very friendly, supportive, and committed to us exhibitors at Satellite. After a couple of years, she contacted me – an encouraging letter, enclosed where a few articles from different magazines about my work. During the years she has arranged anniversary exhibitions which I believe has been of importance for many of us."

Form Us With Love (Jonas Pettersson, John Löfgren)
Teilnahme: 2006

"For us at Form Us With Love the SaloneSatellite was the obvious (and only, back then) international platform, with its tremendous reach. Satellite’s position as a platform within one of the biggest and most relevant furniture fairs in the world, made it an easy descision when we decided to exhibit outside of Sweden. It was a natural step because of the geographic position, the heart of Italy, furniture production, Milan. Also the sheer size of the fair and the kind of crowd that was attracted, brands, skilled people, and press. Most and formost it was and is the welcoming approach from everyone involved with the fair and SaloneSatellite. Thank you to the warm and service minded people at SaloneSatellite!"

Folkform (Anna Holmquist and Chandra Ahlsell)
Participation: 2007

"We would like to thank Marva for introducing our artistic work with the Masonite boards to an international audience outside of Scandinavia for the first time. She also encouraged us to continue making explorative exhibitions and to show how production processes and knowledge about industrial heritage can be shaped and documented by design."

GamFratesi (Stine Gam, Enrico Fratesi)
Participation: 2008

"Marva Griffin and her Salone Satellite have always been a reference and a unique platform for young designers.
Her work was undoubtedly a generous gesture for a generation of young talents and an act of dedication to design based on research and experimentation."

Daniel Rybakken
Participation: 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011

"Marva Griffin and her work with the SaloneSatellite has been absolutely pivotal for me and my design career. Everything started when I went to exhibit at the Satellite as a student just about to graduate back in 2008. The most important thing with the Satellite is that everyone goes to see the show. If you present something interesting, people will notice. Marva is the reason I’m at the position and working with the types of companies I do today. Thank you!"

Mark Braun
Teilnahme: 2009

"I owe the SaloneSatellite platform and Marva Griffin as curator valuable contacts and visibility for my work as a designer. You could say Salone Satellite and Marva Griffin are a pretty big brick in the building of my career. Some of the clients I was able to find back then I still have today, for example Bonacina1889 for whom I designed the 'HELIUM' luminaire, which will be shown for the first time this year during the Salone del Mobile and also in the 25th anniversary exhibition of SaloneSatellite. I exhibited at the SaloneSatellite in 2009 and received the Design Report Award / Special Mention with my work for my 'PYRUS' pendant lamp series made of papier-mâché. The other product, the 'Ö' series of porcelain cans, is still on the market today and was also honoured with the SaloneSatelllite Award. The visibility on the Saline Satellite a year later in a limited edition at the wallpaper handmade exhibition in 2010. Not to forget the network of journalists and designers that still exists today."

Sebastian Herkner
Participation: 2009

"I have her to thank for the large network that I got to know through my participation in the SaloneSatellite, from the other participants to journalists and contacts to manufacturers."

MUT Design
Participation: 2010, 2011, 2012

"We will always be grateful to SaloneSatellite because it helped us to make our dream come true: SaloneSatellite was our gateway to the world of design. It guided our first steps as a young studio and gave us the opportunity to meet other professionals, companies and specialized press. It was our first contact with the industry, as we did not come from a family of architects or interior designers. We didn't have any sponsors. Marva would play that role. Our designer mother. We have no words to thank her. For three years we attended SaloneSatellite 2010, 2011 and 2012. It was our launching pad. In fact, our first project as a studio was bought by the Spanish company Expormim. We treasure so many beautiful memories of those exhibitions, moments, anecdotes, images that are now part of MUT Design's history."

Daniel Lorch
Participation: 2011, 2012

"Participating in the Salone Satellite was always an outstanding opportunity for young designers to present their furniture and product concepts to a global audience. Personally, I always associated my exhibition at the Satellite with anticipation, commitment and fun, which ultimately marked the start of my professional career as a designer. A big thank you to Marva for her tireless commitment in creating and maintaining this valuable platform for many years!"

Kaschkasch (Florian Kallus, Sebastian Schneider)
Participation: 2012, 2013, 2014

"We owe a lot to Marva, the Satellite Platform made it possible for us to start our work. There is no better platform for young designers who are looking for manufacturers. :) It gave us our first contact with the industry, for example for the "ZET shelf" (Audo, formerly Menu) and the "CAP lamp" (Normann Copenhagen).

Uli Budde
Participation:2012

"The SaloneSatellite format offers young designers – or perhaps even more importantly – young people a forum to show their work, their materialised ideas and their thoughts. The Satellite is a place where ideas manifest themselves and where people meet on both a professional and personal level. Marva Griffin Wilshire has developed a forum where people meet, people with a common interest but different perspectives: young and old, starting and established, creating and producing. Many professional and private contacts have been made here and have developed into a network over the years. Thank you, Marva, for your energy and perseverance in realising a project like this for so long!"

Karoline Fesser
Participation: 2013, 2014

"Shortly after graduating, taking part in the SaloneSatellite was like jumping in at the deep end for me – after all, I was showing my products to a broad international trade audience for the first time. The response solidified my work and I made important contacts with manufacturers, galleries, the press and colleagues, which opened up many opportunities for me and are still relevant today. Marva is a unique personality and her interest and commitment are formative for young design!"

From Industrial Design/ From Lighting (Daniele Klausas, Tobias Nitsche, Cesare Bizzotto)
Participation: 2014

"After the studies we found with the format of SaloneSatellite the first window to showcase our work to a wide professional audience. We are thankful to have gotten the chance to contribute to the event in 2014 where we made friends and professional contacts that are part of our network still 10 years later. We had the luck to win the Satellite award back then. A moment we will never forget as the award was literally the first money we earned as a newborn design studio. But moreover this was an important initial motivation to keep pushing for a career in the seemingly impossible field of furniture and lighting design. We met Marva a few times in the last years since we exhibited at Satellite and were always impressed by her warm character and the fact that she seemed constantly well informed about what her young talents were doing."

Frank Chou
Participation: 2016

"I believe that only those who are passionate about both design and designers could achieve what Marva has been doing. Similarly, I am dedicated to pursuing a similar endeavor in China, aiming to establish not just an exhibition platform, but a comprehensive ecosystem that nurtures the growth of young designers. Throughout this journey, I have encountered numerous challenges and obstacles, with the possibility of little to no immediate rewards. Without the contributions of Marva and Salone Satellite, the career progression of many designers would have been significantly delayed, possibly at least five years. Finally, many thanks to Marva! And Salone Satellite, happy 25th anniversary!"

Joa Herrenknecht
Participation: 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2023

"Milan has a very special place in my heart. I owe the SaloneSatellite and Marva close friendships with other designers who once exhibited at the SaloneSatellite as students & young design studios; I met some of my best friends that way. I also got to know good clients who saw my work back then and subsequently produced it – such as Bolia or Design Within Reach. In short, many valuable and personal contacts that you need as a young designer. The promotion of young talent is super important and far-sighted, Marva is a real luminary in this field. This year, together with others, I was asked to help this year's participants as a mentor under the motto: '25 years of SaloneSatellite'. In my case, it's a young studio (Felix Sidharta from Indonesia) who is exhibiting at SaloneSatellite for the first time. It's an honour of course – I've learned a lot over the last 10 years and it makes sense to pass that on."

Pedro Franco
Participation: 2010, 2011, 2012

"In fact, I owe eternal gratitude to Marva and her creation, the satellite salon. For everything I learned to become a professional, what design really means; and so I owe eternal gratitude for what I have become. Furthermore, I conquered a person for whom I have affection equivalent to that of a mother, la Mamma Marva".

Thomas Schnur
Participation: 2012, 2013, 2014

"I have Marva Griffin Wilshire to thank for giving me the opportunity to present myself on the world stage of design. I also owe her very heartfelt moments when I introduced myself to her again and again at the beginning: 'Hi I'm Thomas Schnur. I presented the Rubber Table at SaloneSatellite. Do you remember ?'. She laughed heartily and said: 'Thomas! Of course I remember!'. I got to know you as a very warm personality. With a great passion for design and the people behind things. I owe countless contacts with manufacturers and designers in the design world to the SaloneSatellite."

Taijiro Ishiko
Participation: 2017

"First of all, congratulations on the 25th anniversary. I am grateful for the opportunity you have given me a chance to communicate directly with people worldwide through my work. It was the biggest inspiration in my life. That experience broadened my horizons. Thank you again from the bottom of my heart."

Anna Arpa
Participation: 2022

"SaloneSatellite afforded me a remarkable chance to connect with a vast number of individuals intrigued by my work, an accomplishment that would have otherwise required a full year to achieve. I express my gratitude to Marva Griffin Wilshire for providing young designers with the unique spotlight within the esteemed setting of Salone di Milano."

Simon Schmitz
Participation: 2018, 2019, 2022

"In my opinion, the SaloneSatellite format itself is one of the best opportunities for young designers to position themselves in the competitive world of design. I know from many designers that the SaloneSatellite, and of course the original development of this exhibition concept by Marva, made it possible for them to get into design in the first place. In addition to the pioneering work itself, I also remember Marva's support during the trade fair and during the construction work beforehand. Her matriarchal energy as she wanders between the rows of exhibitors and says a brief "all good?" or "nice to have you here" gives the participants a feeling of familiarity beyond the possibility of showing themselves and thus a little more confidence on their way. Personally, I have the impression that Marva has given me a chance – and I am very grateful to her for that."

Lani Adeoye
Participation: 2022

"Marva’s foresight and relentless efforts have provided a platform for countless designers like myself to showcase our work on an international stage. As a designer fortunate enough to have participated in SaloneSatellite, I am very grateful to Marva Griffin Wilshire for her dedication to fostering emerging talent within the design community. I’m incredibly thankful for her belief in the future of design and her enduring commitment. Here's to Marva! and to many more years of SaloneSatellite!"

Atelier Ferraro (Emanuele Ferraro)
Participation: 2022, 2023

"I would like to sincerely thank Marva Griffin Wilshire for her confidence in the idea of young design and for giving us the opportunity to present ourselves on an international stage. Preparing for my submission to the Salone Satellite Award was a particularly exciting time for me from a creative point of view, allowing me to design experimental objects with the idea of presenting them to a worldwide audience in order to receive valuable feedback on my work. Through their generous support and participation in the Salone Satellite, I was able to make important contacts with industry experts from all over the world.
Without a doubt, the Salone Satellite marks the starting point of my design career."

Honoka
Participation: 2023

"Dear Marva, I want to express my sincere gratitude for the amazing opportunity at Salone Satellite. Your warm hospitality and constant smile made us feel not just welcome but truly at home in a new and unfamiliar country. Showcasing the "TATAMI ReFAB PROJECT" at Salone Satellite and winning 1st prize opened doors to exhibitions worldwide, including in Hong Kong, Saudi Arabia, and the United States. This success has allowed us to connect with diverse clients and embark on exciting new design projects. Your support has been crucial to our journey, and we are deeply thankful for the positive impact you've had on our work and experiences. Warm regards from team Honoka"