The Italian radio station for design and innovation: RDS Radio

RDS Radio is the 2nd most popular radio station in Italy, with headquarters in Rome and another office in our lovely Milan.

Started in 1978 and today counting over 5 million listeners per day, this broadcaster is growing its presence in the design sector supporting and promoting a series of events that every designer should be aware of.

Joining DesignWanted at Milan Design Week 2019, RDS Radio supported the first edition of ExpoWanted, the largest product design contest ever launched on Instagram.
After gathering over 500 project submissions, involving 15’000 people to vote for their favourite product and engaging 6 professional jurors for the selection process, 10 winners were picked to exhibit at Ventura Projects @ Base in Tortona Design District.

Curious to meet the winners of ExpoWanted?

Milan Design Week 2019 saw RDS Radio involved in two other important events taking place in the city.
Located right in the center of Milan, in front of the medieval Sforza Castle, DDN PHUTURA hosted a full program around the themes of technology and innovation applied to the relationship between human beings and nature. Installations and product showcases were accompanied by conferences from design professionals including many big names in the design and innovation field: Mario Trimarchi, winner of Compasso D’Oro with Ossidiana by Alessi, internationally renowned Architect Marco Piva, Milanese Archistar Stefano Boeri and Rossana Hu, Founding Partner of Neri&Hu Design and Research Office.

The involvement of RDS Radio at Milan Design Week 2019 is not stopping but deepening instead.

Supporting HiHack, the Italian radio station contributed to the first event about open innovation completely focused on the design and furniture industry.
The event hosted a public pitch session by 10 startups which are reshaping the way we experience living spaces.
Making the first step towards the creation of a Design Tech District in Milan, HiHack is a bold and determined player in the Milanese design scene.

As a matter of fact, RDS Radio is directly supporting innovation oriented activities throughout the whole country.

Web Marketing Festival will have RDS Radio involved as a media partner for the 2019 edition, where 400 delegates from the most prominent global tech companies will share their insights around the themes of Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, Circular Economy, Web Marketing, Open Innovation, Automotive, Aerospace and Esports.

Massimo Montefusco, General Manager at RDS, will join the event as part of the jury.

Massimo Montefusco further stimulates the involvement of RDS Radio with the technology and innovation participating to the 2019 edition of entrepreneurship docuseries B Heroes, awarding Mkers with the official RDS Prize.

Mkers is a based in Rome company working hard to create a successful eSport team of video game players able to compete on an international scale, as it was never done in Italy before.

Among the 20 startups participating to this edition, the DesignWanted very own honorable-design mention goes to:

• Enerbrain – Transforming energy-wasting non-residential buildings into smart, sustainable ones, through the use of sensors and innovative algorithms for Internet of Things.
• GoVolt – The Milanese e-scooter sharing company brings a city mobility solution reducing car traffic and eliminating CO2 emissions completely. The 24’000 GoVolt units are the world’s first scooters realised in Sheet Moulding Compound.
• PlayWood – An innovative modular furniture system that combines connectors and boards to create custom furniture.
• My Secret Case – Hitting €3 million of sales, the Milanese e-commerce is on a mission to remove the stigma around sex toys, one category of products which indeed needs proper, thoughtful design.