Where did the idea for the exhibition come from? Why choose examples of Italian and German design? “We could probably have equally made a comparison of Japanese and British design. However, travelling around the world it becomes evident that in many countries, above all in Asia and the United States, German and Italian design are held in high consideration. (…) However we also know that these two countries have very different approaches to design, as such they signify two different poles in terms of the nature of their work. (…) The present reality is undergoing great change: Italians work for German companies and vice versa and all of a sudden the media comes along take part in the discussion. I think that the differences between Italian design and German cannot last much longer, something that also has a positive result. So in a certain sense things are stabilising; now we can invent a new history.”