On the parvis of the Church of Santa Maria Incoronata, ‘Tell Me’ is born: a secular confessional where young talents meet the masters
In the heart of the Brera Design District, amidst the creative fervor of Milan Design Week 2026, something unexpected is happening. It is not a mere exhibition, but an act of trust. Orografie, the Sicilian brand that has been rewriting design geometries since 2021, presents “Tell Me”, a relational device that transforms the parvis at Corso Garibaldi 116 into a place of profound listening.
Under the creative direction of Vincenzo Castellana and the vision of founder Giorgia Bartolini, design stops being just an object to look at and becomes a space for human dialogue.
A Purple Confessional for the Future of Design
“Tell Me” is the ninth edition of Emersivi, the platform Orografie dedicates to the growth of young designers. This year, the challenge is spiritual: an octagonal confessional (a symbol of rebirth) dyed in deep purple will welcome talents under 35.
Here, young designers can confess their doubts, ambitions, and uncertainties to nine “spiritual fathers” of international design. Among the names granting audience, we find stars of the caliber of:
- Elena Salmistraro and Giulio Iacchetti
- Matteo Ragni and Francesca Lanzavecchia
- Francesco Faccin and Lorenzo Palmeri
- Gianni Cinti, Tiziano Guardini and Martinelli Venezia.
The meeting is a “blind” encounter: the young designers know when to show up, but they do not know who they will find behind the grate—a pure gesture of entrustment that recalls the very nature of a project.
Triple Compasso d’Oro Nomination: The Success of Emersivi
While dialogue is celebrated in Brera, institutional excellence is toasted at the ADI Design Museum. Orografie arrives at Milan Design Week 2026 with an impressive three nominations for the XXIX Compasso d’Oro.
The Emersivi platform was selected for the ADI Design Index in the “Business Research” category, confirming its status as a solid bridge between academia and the manufacturing world. This recognition rewards the brand’s ability to sow the visions we will inhabit tomorrow.
Pocopiano and Trespolo: The Objects Competing for the Prize
In addition to the research platform, the ADI Permanent Design Observatory has selected two iconic products that showcase Orografie‘s functional aesthetic:
- Pocopiano (designed by Paolo Stefano Gentile): A sculptural ceramic plate born directly from an edition of Emersivi. It blends the gestures of eating with a perfect circular base.
- Trespolo (designed by Giulio Iacchetti): A multi-tasking, two-tiered stool. Seat, workstation, or small table: a fluid object that interprets the new rhythms of contemporary living.
How to Participate in “Tell Me”
If you are a young designer seeking guidance, the Orografie confessional will be active on April 22, 23, and 24, 2026, from 3:30 PM to 7:30 PM. To receive an audience, pre-registration is required here.
