A symbol of the strand of playful design based on the use of affective codes, an excellent example of being rooted in childhood memory, the little man motif debuted by decorating perhaps the most traditional object for Alessi, the tray, and then expanded into the catalog. The choice of the fretwork design was a hard-fought one: from a variety of possible anthropomorphic outlines, the final shape emerged thanks in part to the inadvertent advice of Giovannoni's trusted stationer who, when confronted with three alternatives, clearly pointed to the one that would later become the iconic little man.
Girotondo
The cartoon men created by the King-Kong team are a symbol and icon of mirror polished design based on the use of "affective codes", so much so that they are one of its most oft-cited examples. The "standing men" have appeared on objects from the farthest corners of Alessi tradition, like trays and baskets, and then they multiplied, invaded and conquered other groups of objects - and not just in the kitchen and at the table.
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King-Kong
From 1985 up to 1989, this has been the name adopted by the architects Stefano Giovannoni and Guido Venturini, creators of an elementary, playful cartoon language which made its mark on design in the early 90s.
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