— MENO / DIVISO. The exhibition and events on May 10, 17, and 24

Subtraction and Division. Two symbols that draw from the eloquence of Maths to express Bellissimo’s approach to communication design: selecting, shortening, and simplifying to highlight what makes each story unique.

These two signs also give their name to the exhibition celebrating the studio’s 25th anniversary, — MENO / DIVISO. A retrospective on Bellissimo, opening Friday, May 10 at Dorado, the new community hub in Lungo Dora. The exhibition traces the studio’s evolution through a selection of its most significant projects, reinterpreted and presented anew, alongside an anthology of paraphernalia and “confessions” to reveal the less visible, more personal, evocative, surreal, and ironic corners of Bellissimo’s work from 1998 to 2023.

The exhibition — MENO / DIVISO. A retrospective on Bellissimo (1998–2023) will remain on view until the end of July. Contact us here to schedule a visit.

Alongside the exhibition, the following two Fridays, May 17 and 24, will feature a series of talks with Italian and international designers —part of the Graphic Days® – In the City program— exploring challenges, opportunities, and changes in the design world, offering a chance for dialogue on graphic design, branding, and communication. The format: a keynote speech from the guest, followed by a multi-voice conversation on the future of the profession with the Bellissimo team and questions from the audience.

The lineup of Friday, May 17 includes Federico Galvani from our “peers” at Happycentro, another studio founded in 1998 like Bellissimo, with a proven ability to explore multiple creative directions.

The conversation continues with Luisa Milano and Walter Molteni, founders of the graphic design studio La Tigre, who will share how a contemporary graphic and visual design studio is born and grows.

We’ll close with the renowned type designer Peter Biľak, founder of Typotheque, for a discussion on the evolution of graphic design over the past 20 years — How can design stay relevant today? What does “good design” really mean?

Register here.

On Friday, May 24, Bellissimo will welcome Marco Tortoioli Ricci, design director of Bcpt, a visual communication studio that approaches design as a “complete” ecosystem involving creatives and communities.

Also on the Dorado “stage” will be Michael Horsham, copywriter and designer at Tomato, the internationally renowned art/design collective, and author of Hello Human: A History of Visual Communication (Thames & Hudson, 2022). Challenging the myth of creative individualism, Michael will explain how his multidisciplinary approach has always relied on conversation and collaboration.

The conversation will close with the legendary Studio Dumbar, the visual branding agency from Rotterdam. Lisa Enebeis, partner and creative director, and Sóldís Finnbogadóttir, visual designer, will talk about the power of collaboration, overcoming adversity, and growing while remaining independent.

Register here.

Participation in all — MENO / DIVISO events is free, but registration is required.

If this is your first visit to Dorado, you can get a “Friend of Dorado” card (€5) that will grant you access to all cultural events at the new community hub in Aurora, including the two Fridays of talks curated by Bellissimo alongside the retrospective, as part of Graphic Days® – In The City.

Published: May 20, 2024