We are not makers of history. We are made by history,” said Martin Luther King, Jr. And what Emanuela Frattini Magnusson has made is an expression of her own personal history.
Momentum’s Blueprint Collection—nine upholstery patterns in 56 color combinations—was designed in collaboration with Magnusson, a true artist influenced by the design life she has experienced. Moments of her life are conveyed gracefully in this collection.
“Inspiration comes from ideas which gather in our subconscious, from views and experiences that have struck an emotional cord and stay with us,” Magnusson said.
Her vision for Momentum featured dramatic graphics translated into fine woven constructions, rendered in exceptionally vivid colors. Each design makes a bold statement that adds vibrancy and a relentlessly modern aesthetic to any environment. The collection has universal appeal because of the emotion it evokes.
“When thinking about ideas for the Blueprint collection, I went back to my love of art and architecture, and to archetypical grids and dots,” explained Magnusson. “The collection is a variation on patterns that have a strong geometric foundation that is then loosened up.”
Magnusson was born in Milan and became immersed in the world of design at a young age. Her father was the famous architect and designer Gianfranco Frattini, a leading member of the elite Italian modernist movement. Throughout her youth and education she worked in her father’s studio among collaborators including legendary designers Gio Ponti and Cesare Cassina.
The A&D community will recognize a nod to the great artists and architects who inspire Emanuela in the pattern names: Lucio (Fontana), Ludwig (Mies van der Rohe), and Lella (Vignelli). Indeed there are many parallels between the creativity of Magnusson’s muses and the triumph of her own prolific career.
“My designs differ greatly from one another but share a common thread and form a family of individuals that have their own characteristics but are clearly related,” said Magnusson. “The color palette is the other unifying factor—clear, vibrant hues in unexpected combinations that challenge conventions of what is appropriate.”
To bring her vision to life, Magnusson worked closely with the Momentum design team. Each yarn, weave, and color was vetted and realized through a sense of synergy and interdependence. Each pattern has a unique graphic interest. From the classic check of Lella to the bold woven velvet of Lucio, the collection is both fresh and classic.
“When you look for ideas or inspiration, you go back to the things that have created some memorable experience for you,” Magnusson explained. “Most of the memories for me have to do with my upbringing, the land, modernist architecture, and Italian painting. All of these influences merge and form patterns and associations.”
