Luca Nichetto Interview

The hallmark of Luca Nichetto’s designs is the combination of his meticulous attention to detail and the space he always leaves for intuition, emotion, and brilliance. Each of the designer’s projects is a deep dive into a new universe in which he explores and feeds his passion for fusing industrial processes with artisanal techniques. We chatted to him about his particular way of understanding luxury and gaming.

How do you integrate luxury into your creative process to design timeless pieces?

Luca Nichetto: I think luxury is a term used in many different ways, but my idea of luxury involves creating products that are aesthetically pleasing, functional, and durable—items that you want to keep for a long time. These values are at the root of everything I do; it’s not just about the cost or complexity of crafting the product. So, as I see it, even a product that costs five euros can be considered luxurious.

During the process of creating a piece, what questions do you ask yourself?

Luca Nichetto: Most of the time, I’m thinking about the target audience I want to reach, how I can improve what already exists, how my design can innovate a certain typology, what the company needs, environmental considerations, craftsmanship, and what aspects I want to highlight and evaluate throughout the process. So, there aren’t just a few questions; there are multiple questions that depend on the project. Sometimes, there may be a hundred questions, other times three hundred, and sometimes just ten. It all depends on who my partner in crime is.

What factors influence the creation of your designs?

Luca Nichetto: Another factor is definitely what I want to communicate through the product. It’s about the angle I want the product to present to both the client and the market. It also involves what might be missing from the customer’s viewpoint and providing a solution. These factors are always connected to social, economic, and ethical views, along with a focus on innovation.

Your work has left a significant mark on the design scene. What values do you feel your approach brings to the design community today?

Luca Nichetto: My values now, at this particular time, are very focused on emphasizing the need – the absolute need – to bring together craftsmanship and industry. I’ve recently noticed a split between the two: craftsmanship is often associated with limited editions, while industry focuses on mass production. I think it’s important to reconnect these approaches because combining them can lead to innovation and new opportunities. My values in design center around recognizing the value of traditional methods, while adapting them to today’s needs. It’s about helping consumers understand that there’s value in merging old and new techniques.

With a focus on sustainability, how do you emphasize luxury and creativity in your creations?

Luca Nichetto: The answer is longevity.

Reflecting on your journey as a designer, how would you define your career so far?

Luca Nichetto: Looking back on my journey as a designer, it’s been quite natural. There weren’t any plans or strategies written down; I built my career through relationships and chance meetings. What I’ve achieved is thanks to the community I’ve found, where people with similar values support and appreciate each other’s work. My career has grown from these connections rather than by following a set plan.

What do you think are the biggest challenges you face in your work?

Luca Nichetto: The biggest challenge I face is the shift from relying on personal connections to dealing with organizations. While organizations are made up of people, their decision-making processes can be more complex and less flexible. Also, from a financial point of view, there’s pressure to produce immediate results, which can weaken projects that need more time to digest. This focus on short-term success means cool but short-lived products flooding the market. To overcome this challenge, I think it’s important to remain true to my own vision; otherwise, this turbulence can disturb the trajectory that you’ve built over many years.

How do you incorporate the concept of play into your creative process?

Luca Nichetto: When you engage in play, it’s essential to have someone who values it. In my view, a good design is about having fun; it’s about capturing that joyful moment in the physical object being created, like preserving a fossil of that exact moment. If the designer’s passion and joy aren’t seen in the process, it can prevent the connection between the object and its user. Infusing playfulness into my design process is crucial to me. Without it, I may still produce results, but they might lack the same strength and impact.