DIP, the umbrella stand that decorates the corners of your home
Michela Brescia’s proposal is crafted from a single sheet of steel, folded and cut at strategic points. An essential object designed down to the last detail and capable of defining and enhancing any modern home entrance.
One of the lessons of design is that any well-designed functional object can make a difference both within a space and in the consumer’s choice. The third call for Ideas for Business by DesignWanted focuses precisely on a product category that is often underestimated, the umbrella stand. It is a fundamental container object in a domestic environment that not only serves to hold our umbrellas but also to collect excess water, prevent stagnation and mold, and enhance the home’s entrance, the first space one encounters.
Through Dip, one of the three winning projects of the Call, Michela Brescia proposes an elegant solution designed for modern interiors, in which every detail blends aesthetics with functionality. Inspired by the essential design language of Artek 115 by Alvar Aalto and Poppins by Barber & Osgerby for Magis, Dip stands out for its sculptural presence and transforms an everyday object into an element of architectural design.
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The product features a triangular plan with rounded corners that minimizes bulk and maximizes capacity, fitting perfectly into the corner between two walls. It is made from a single material, steel, whose qualities provide the product with durability, ease of maintenance, functionality, and aesthetic value. The satin chrome finish with a sandblasted effect ensures water resistance and enhances the material.
The designer also considered the production process: Dip is made from a single metal sheet that is bent and cut at strategic points, creating precise structural details designed both to emphasize its uniqueness and to ensure greater usability. On the front, the umbrella stand features a vertical slit designed to facilitate water evaporation. A curvature at the top conceals a folded metal section that forms a hook for small umbrellas, preventing them from slipping to the bottom.
At the base, a removable tray in a different color from the upper volume features a perforated metal plate that collects excess water, keeping the interior clean and dry. A cutout with a recess at the bottom of the main element reveals the tray underneath and allows for easy disassembly of the parts, while also visually lightening the visual impact of the product. The same cut is present on the back of the umbrella stand and functions as a handle for transport. All connection points and details have been designed to maximize structural strength and maintain formal coherence.
Another design choice lies in the name itself, Dip: it not only refers to the sound produced by a drop of water falling onto a surface but also directly connects with the aesthetic design of the project. Each letter recalls a specific detail: the “D” represents the triangular shape of the base, the “I” suggests the front view of the volume, while the “P” symbolizes the cut on the product’s front.
Thanks to a project that expresses an original and coherent creative approach – balancing aesthetics and functionality – Michela Brescia has introduced a new umbrella stand that adds value to the category: not a product to be hidden, but an original solution capable of defining our spaces. Through material choices and proportion, the piece conveys an idea of design that values presence as much as purpose, highlighting how even the most ordinary objects can embody intention, refinement, and a quiet sense of character within a space.
