ELLI TRANSFORMS OUR OYSTER INTO ART

At Smart Materials 3D, we believe that innovation goes hand in hand with responsible design. That’s why we collaborate with brands and design studios that share this vision. Today, we are pleased to present an exclusive interview with Alessio Elli, ffounder of Elli with Alessio Frigeri, an Italian firm that is redefining contemporary furniture through sustainability, circularity, and the value of Made in Italy.

In this conversation, Alessio opens the doors to Elli creative philosophy, explains how they integrate eco-friendly materials like ECO Oyster into their processes, and introduces us to one of his most emblematic projects: the design of the Bcc Milano Lounge at Arcimboldi Theater lobby in Milan.

We invite you to immerse yourself in his universe of ideas, forms, and shared values. Discover how the future is designed—today!

Company Origins 

Elli is not just a project: it is an ecosystem made up of people, ideas, and shared values. In Alessio’s own words:

“We’re not just talking about our team, but also about suppliers, collaborators, and all those who believe in our vision. Elli represents passion, courage, and the desire to build a better future.”

Guided by technological innovation and the strength of Made in Italy, they combine tradition and avant-garde to create designs that meet the needs of both today and tomorrow. They feel fortunate to be “standing on the shoulders of giants”—masters who taught them to blend beauty, ingenuity, and craftsmanship. This is the starting point for pushing past traditional boundaries and turning innovation into authenticity.

With Elli, design is never just about aesthetics: it is emotion, function, and vision. Each creation is designed to improve the lives of those who choose it, through fluid, dynamic, and customizable forms that reflect and enhance the new paradigms of contemporary living.

“Our ambition? To reimagine space, transforming it into a place of beauty, innovation, and sustainability. For us, furniture is not just decoration, but a genuine tool for interaction and well-being. Elli is the bridge between past and future, between tradition and innovation, with a single mission: to boldly and consciously redefine everyday life.”

Design Philosophy

 At Elli, designing for circularity is an extraordinary challenge—not merely an exercise in minimalism, but a radically new design approach. It means:

• Simplifying to facilitate

• Rethinking to reuse

• Designing to disassemble and reassemble

• Replacing and repairing

Beauty and excellence are fundamental to their work. They believe these values are what drive the cultural shift from a linear to a circular model.

Sustainability is the core of their philosophy. From the very first stages of the creative process, every decision is guided by the principle of Design for Circularity. This approach pushes them to consider the entire product lifecycle from the start: its ability to regenerate, reduce waste, and preserve the value of resources.

“That’s how we transform an idea into a tangible project that responds to present needs without compromising the future. We blend vision, responsibility, and innovation. Every design celebrates a visionary aesthetic, deeply rooted in the craftsmanship that defines our legacy.”

Each piece is created with a user-centered approach, where form follows the habits, needs, personality, and values of those who live in the space.

Experience with ECO Oyster and Eco Materials

ECO Oyster, and eco-friendly materials from Smart Materials 3D in general, play a crucial role in Elli’s design decisions. Beyond their sustainable nature, these materials offer:

• Significant material strength

• Refined aesthetic qualities

• Alignment with the standards of Made in Italy

At Elli, they believe such materials amplify their purpose of taking Italian design into a new dimension. Without a doubt, these materials will be increasingly central to the development of future products and projects. 

Featured Project: Bcc Milano Lounge at Arcimboldi Theater in Milan.

What was the design concept behind the theater lounge furniture? 

The goal was to create an elegant but not aristocratic atmosphere—a contemporary space reflecting:

• Values of innovation and sustainability

• A modern, inclusive city

• Milan’s creative spirit

This lounge is a tailor-made intervention, shaping the space in harmony with its context and the products, going beyond object design to connect with the soul of Bcc Milano and the spirit of the theater.

Inspired by the Tork table, designed for Elli by Karim Rashid the design draws from the world of theater: its lines evoke a ballerina’s pirouette—symbolizing lightness, grace, and strength. The concept embodies the symbiosis between:

• Human movement (dance)

• Nature (the vortex)

Like a solitary dancer spinning through space, an organic form enters the orbit of the Arcimboldi Theater’s inviting lobby—a seed of movement, transformation, and aesthetic expression.

The Role of ECO Oyster

How did ECO Oyster contribute to the project?

The choice of this material was essential to achieving the refined and elegant character they aimed for. It brings aesthetic consistency, sophistication, and functionality—perfectly aligned with the visual and conceptual language of the designed space.

Final Thoughts 

The interview with Alessio left us with a valuable lesson: design can—and should—serve as a bridge between tradition, innovation, and sustainability. His people-centered approach, commitment to circularity, and use of eco-materials like ECO Oyster from Smart Materials 3D show that it’s possible to create beauty with consciousness.

At Smart Materials 3D, we remain committed to collaborations that inspire and materials that not only meet the highest technical standards—but also tell a meaningful story.

Thank you for reading!

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