Giangi Razeto at Blue Design Summit: a multifaceted artist, from boating to sculpture

The Blue Design Summit is a major event dedicated to the design, planning and construction of everything related to the world of water. A must-attend event for Razeto & Casareto, a company specializing in designing a wide range of customizable complements and accessories for large yachts and cruise ships, which participated in the 2025 edition of the event, held last May in La Spezia. Specifically, designer Giangi Razeto spoke at the closing panel of the Blue Design Summit, dedicated to products and art forms that become part of the exclusive experience of the “superyacht way of life,” describing his career path between design and sculpture.

The session, moderated by Chiara Modica Donà dalle Rose, featured a number of important brands, artists and designers in addition to Razeto. Architect Matteo Fraschini recounted the experience of the general layout of Euroflora 2025 in Genoa, a work recently selected to represent our country in the Italian Pavilion at the Venice Biennale. “For Euroflora we imagined an itinerary that would help visitors orient themselves and succeed in enhancing and rediscovering the reborn Levante waterfront,” Fiaschini said, “working on a concept we called ‘Origami,’ with structures that act as landmarks and establish a dialogue between land, sea and sky.” Luciano Massari, sculptor and director of Litix spa, a company that combines art and technology by harnessing robotics for marble processing and the creation of sculptures and other works of art and design, talked about his own experience on Easter Island and the inspiration that led him to develop his own poetics of volumes, linked to water and light; while musician Elsa Guerci recounted the inspiration behind “88 Keys – Surrealist Concert Around Erik Satie,” one of the closing performances of the three-day La Spezia event. Finally, Giangi Razeto talked about the path that led him to become an accomplished designer and creator of innovative solutions for a seemingly simple and difficult-to-innovate element, such as shipboard handles. Explained Giangi Razeto, “Specifically, I talked about how, after graduating with a thesis in sociology on club cultures, I found myself designing handles for the nautical industry, combining the concepts resulting from my social research: ‘Patchwork generation’ (on contaminations in design) and ‘Tribes of unique among similar’ (on the sense of collective belonging, albeit claiming one’s uniqueness).” “I illustrated my functional approach to design,” Giangi Razeto continued. and I dwelt on the multifunctionality of the product. Handles, which have always served the sole function of opening doors, on board must also meet certain requirements to prevent them from becoming blunt objects, in the case, for example, of rough seas that might throw people off balance ”. In this direction, Razeto & Casareto developed “SoftHandles,” soft, springy handles that bend but allow ports to open. –I went on to describe my wireless data and power transmission systems from the frame to the door, which allow the handles to be illuminated to give safety-related information in emergencies such as blackouts, fires, general alarms, or abandoning ship“, reports Giangi Razeto, pointing out another peculiarity that distinguishes Razeto & Casareto in the market and has enabled the company to become an industry leader.”I finally went into detail about the OSSH system for fire doors: when these close due to a fire, the handles light up green on the fire side and red on the opposite side to create preferential paths to safe escape routes”. Finally, Giangi Razeto concluded his talk by discussing the Free Go interchangeable-grip handles, unique objects for special clients that have led the designer to approach sculpture, making him a well-rounded artist. Indeed, inside the theater hosting the Blue Design Summit, a number of Razeto’s installation works were also on display.