Design as expression: Elena Salmistraro’s World
DesignWanted meets Elena Salmistraro in her studio to explore how mythology, nature, and street culture fuel a process rooted in research, expression, and the desire to create meaningful, emotionally charged objects.
In the vibrant heart of Milan, where architecture, fashion, and design meet in a daily dialogue, Elena Salmistraro has carved out a distinctive space for herself, both literally and conceptually. From her studio, she brings to life a multidisciplinary practice that moves fluidly across product design, art, illustration, and installations. In this new episode of Behind, DesignWanted visits her studio to discover what fuels the imagination of one of Italy’s most expressive design voices.
“I’ve always lived in Milan,” Elena begins. “At one point, staying in the same place felt limiting, but in recent years, especially as my studio has grown, I’ve started to experience the city fully. Milan offers me constant stimuli—I’m immersed in it.”
Her work, unmistakable for its vivid visual language and narrative richness, is driven by an instinctive connection to form and story. While product design is the primary focus of the studio, her output extends to fashion, graphics, and art installations. One area she hasn’t yet ventured into—but keeps in her sights—is interior design. “It’s not that I haven’t had opportunities,” she says, “but I didn’t feel ready. I’m waiting for the right moment, the right project that lets me express myself fully.”
Expression is, in fact, central to Salmistraro’s approach. Her creative process often begins with obsessive observation. “I draw what attracts me, whatever it is—a story, a film, a book, or just something I see during research. I redraw it, again and again, to visualize it better,” she explains. From there, a flood of sketches follows. “We vote on them in the studio,” she adds with a smile. “It sounds funny, but it helps us decide which ones to develop further.”
What sets her work apart is not just the stylistic identity, but the thoughtfulness behind it. “Storytelling is fundamental to what I do,” she affirms. “Even if it’s become a bit of a buzzword lately, for me it’s real. I spend hours researching images and concepts. The story comes first, and the object follows. That way, the meaning is always genuine.”
Salmistraro’s sources of inspiration are diverse, yet all rooted in her sensitivity to the world around her. From nature and mythology to street art and urban scenes, she draws from visual cultures and symbolic references that span both ancient tradition and contemporary life. A clear example is her well-known series of vases inspired by primates. “I was watching a documentary and was struck by these vibrant creatures,” she recalls. “Then I visited Sicily and saw the traditional Teste di Moro—suddenly, I imagined them as monkey heads. That connection became the concept.”
It’s this ability to translate impressions into tactile, expressive forms that defines her method. For Salmistraro, drawing is more than a step in the design process—it’s an act of visualization, of giving structure to emotions and impressions. Her drawings, rich in detail and visual texture, are both tools and artworks in themselves.
When asked about the age-old dichotomy of form versus function, her answer is firm: “That duality feels outdated. Contemporary objects need to address so much more. Beyond aesthetic and function, there’s emotion, inclusivity, and responsiveness to societal needs. An object must resonate on many levels.”
And therein lies the essence of her design philosophy: a commitment to authenticity, cultural sensitivity, and emotional resonance. “Unlike artists, who may focus solely on personal expression, designers must also respond to the needs of society,” she notes. “We have to understand what’s happening around us—what people feel, what they seek—and only then create.”
In her world, objects are more than tools or decorations. They are carriers of meaning, bridges between imagination and experience. Whether it’s a vase, a mask, or a piece of furniture, each creation is infused with layers of thought and visual storytelling.
Elena Salmistraro’s practice reminds us that design can be deeply personal yet profoundly universal. It can be playful and poetic, yet attentive to the realities of the world. In a time when the boundaries between disciplines continue to dissolve, her work stands as a testament to design’s power to express, engage, and evolve.
Through Behind, we step into her process, and in doing so, witness how inspiration—when filtered through creativity, research, and intuition—can transform everyday materials into objects of wonder.