February 26, 2026 | vol 17
INSIDE ELENA’s WORLD
words Maria Chiara Antonini
photos Courtesy of Elena Salmistraro
Known worldwide for her playful and imaginative creativity, Elena Salmistraro has become one of the most sought-after collaborators among design companies today. The Italian product designer and artist studied art at the Brera Academy before graduating first in Fashion Design and later in Industrial Design. I met her in her Milanese studio—and here’s what she told me.
I’VE NEVER TRIED TO BUILD A PERSONA—I’VE ALWAYS REMAINED TRUE TO MYSELF
Your creativity ranges from furniture for Busnelli, Driade and Cappellini to ceramics for Bosa and Lithae, from a piano for Steinway and Disney to installations for Guglielmi. How do you express your ideas through so many different projects?
What I try to do is play on that subtle boundary that both unites and separates different disciplines—the same one that can exist between a sofa, a fabric, or a vase. In design, thanks to my artistic background, I’ve always been fascinated by language and authorship, because these are the elements that allow you to move across different fields without appearing forced or out of context. Consistency, genuineness, and authenticity are the foundations of my journey.
Today you are famous for your recognizable and unique stylistic signature. How long did it take you to achieve the success you have today?
There are no shortcuts. Everything I’ve achieved is the result of years of hard work, invaluable failures, and many sleepless nights. I believe the appreciation and affection I receive stems from my personality. I’ve never tried to build a persona—I’ve always remained true to myself.
WORKING WITH ALESSI WAS A GREAT HONOUR FOR ME
How do you choose the companies you collaborate with?
Harmony comes first. Having a good product isn’t enough, nor is a good story. What I consider fundamental is the energy we create, the feeling of moving in the same direction. I deeply respect a company’s language and identity, because a collaboration is always a mutual dialogue, a journey together—never just a matter of working side by side.
You designed a jewellery line for Alessi. What did you like most?
Working with Alessi was a great honour for me. During my visit to the company and their museum, I discovered that the true heart of their expertise lies in the crafting of steel. I realised the potential of a material often considered poor or ordinary, and with Alessi it could be transformed into something surprising. From this intuition, the collection was born—designed to create a physical and intimate bond with the wearer.
COLOUR IS A TRUE LANGUAGE—NOT SIMPLY A DECORATIVE ORNAMENT
With the Tai Ping rugs you brought colour and modernity. How important is the choice of colour?
For me, colour is a true language—not simply a decorative ornament, but a way to express feelings and emotions. For that specific collection, I wanted to work as if they were real paintings, not just decorative rugs. The goal was to create pieces capable of transforming the atmosphere of an entire space. Finding the right colours was like tuning a musical instrument.
Three adjectives to define your style. And a piece of valuable advice you were given when you were starting out?
Imperfect, Emotional, Material. “They’ll try to take away that childlike look from you. Don’t let them.” Alessandro Mendini told me.
- The full story is featured in Vol.17 -
