To celebrate Issue 2 of Anima, we gathered at The Cadogan in London’s Sloane Square. Surrounded by friends, new and old, guests enjoyed an evening filled with conversation, inspiration and the opportunity to delve into the latest edition of our magazine. This issue is a deep dive into the world of design, featuring the work and insights of Nathalie du Pasquier, Mami Wata, Otl Aicher, Barbara Kruger, Samuel Ross, Alessandro Mendini, Dieter Rams and Ferran Adrià.
Throughout the pages of Anima, we explore the divergent yet intersecting paths of two iconic designers, Dieter Rams and Alessandro Mendini. Born within a year of each other, Rams and Mendini represent two vastly different approaches to design. Rams, with his focus on purity and functionality, and Mendini, embracing bold and expressive aesthetics, both resisted the cruder aspects of commercialism in their own ways. The parameters of the world of design that their two positions established continue to shape the environment in which another generation operates.
Our interview with Samuel Ross highlights his unique ability to draw from the legacy of designers like Rams and Mendini, crafting his own direction that spans mass-produced objects, art and design with a cultural purpose.
We also turn our lens on the students of the London School of Architecture, capturing their pioneering approach to education. We went to Milan to explore a newly invigorated Triennale and its archives, looked back on places to eat and forward to the menus of the future. We also dig into the history of pictograms and how they’re used as a communicative tool, which inspired Anima’s new identity and bespoke suite of icons for the issue, designed by Fran Méndez and Maria Vioque Nguyen of Hondo studio.
Anima stands out in an age of fleeting attention spans and rapid news cycles by providing a thoughtful and reflective perspective on design. This issue continues our mission to offer a platform for in-depth exploration and conversation about what makes design truly relevant today.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who joined us at The Cadogan and to our wonderful contributors and supporters. Here’s to many more evenings of celebration and inspiration.
To subscribe and purchase a copy of Anima, please follow the link here.
Photography c/o Cadogan a Belmond Hotel, and special thanks to Tanqueray no 10 and Cadogan a Belmond Hotel
