Book: ‘Design Talks: Contemporary Creatives on Architecture and Design’ by Massimo de Conti

If you have ever wondered what inspires the world’s leading designers and architects in their work, this book will offer an intriguing insight. Produced by Images Publishing, ‘Design Talks: Contemporary Creatives on Architecture and Design’ is an engaging collection of interviews that delves into the creative minds of the design and architecture movers and shakers of today.
Written and compiled over two years by architecture pundit Massimo de Conti, the book features a stellar cast of industry luminaries, from John Pawson to Zaha Hadid, Steven Holl and Philippe Starck. ‘I realized that the interviews I had done – some of which were published in BMM magazine – were very powerful, so I started to come up with the idea of a book,’ explains de Conti.
‘They are architects and designers who I admire and that I actually wanted to talk to and discover more about, ‘ says de Conti, who spent nearly a decade developing the press office for London-based architecture firm Claudio Silvestrin.
A journey through the vision behind what has informed some of the design world’s most outstanding projects, this book of conversations features a selection of charismatic portrait shots and photographs of the iconic works. Each interview is accompanied with a personal quote about the designer by de Conti. ‘I wanted a format that allowed me to find out more about the man or woman behind some great projects,’ says de Conti. ‘Not only from a professional, but also a personal point of view,’
Currently available as an eBook, with the print version to be released at a later date, the compendium is an earnest and refreshing approach into the compelling world of the design elite. ‘I like the idea that people might discover something more about somebody they admire, and maybe laugh!’ concludes de Conti.
Revealing the vision behind what has informed some of the design world’s most outstanding projects, 'Design Talks' features a selection of charismatic portrait shots and photographs of the iconic works. Pictured here is a portrait of Spanish architect Alberto Campo Baeza
'Andalucia's Museum of Memory' by Alberto Campo Baeza. Photography: Javier Calleja
The book is essentially a collection of interviews with the 'architects and designers who I admire and that I actually wanted to talk to and discover more about', says de Conti. Pictured here is a portrait of architect Zaha Hadid.
A photograph taken from the book featuring the 'MAXXI Museum in Rome', by Zaha Hadid. Photography: Helene Binet
An excerpt from ‘Design Talks: Contemporary Creatives on Architecture and Design’, feauring an interview with product and furniture designer Michael Young
A portrait of design duo Edward Barber and Jay Osgerby
'Lanterne Marine' by Barber Osgerby for Venini. Photograph courtesy: Barber Osgerby
An interview with design entrepreneur Alasdhair Willis, with a personal note from de Conti
An excerpt featuring an interview with French designer Philippe Starck
A portrait of Australian architect Sean Godsell.
A photograph taken from the book featuring 'Andrew's Beach House', by Sean Godsell.
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Lauren Ho is the Travel Director of Wallpaper*, roaming the globe, writing extensively about luxury travel, architecture and design for both the magazine and the website. Lauren serves as the European Academy Chair for the World's 50 Best Hotels.
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