Piccantino created by LPWK et Jim Hannon-Tan is a Chili scruncher to use in the kitchen or on the table and brings to mind the famous red chili-shaped good luck charm from Naples. In delicate, biological design it unites two very different senses: the tender softness of transparent rubber and the hard elegance of polished steel. It was conceived to solve the problem this irritating spice presents of coming into direct contact with the skin and mucous membranes. When gentle pressure is applied on the rubber container, red pepper gets broken into small pieces without the fingers coming in contact. It can be a gift; a small, precious object for connoisseurs of spicy food… and like chili itself: it goes just about anywhere.

PRODUCT INFORMATION

Designer - LPWK - Jim Hannon-Tan
Dimensions -  9cm x 3cm 
Material - 18/10 stainless steel mirror polished and silicon rubber

ABOUT THE DESIGNER

Metaproject designer, LPWK graduated from DAMS in Bologna. In 1989 she wrote “L’officina Alessi. Alberto Alessi and Alessandro Mendini: ten years of projects, 1980-1990”. In 1990, with Alberto Alessi and Alessandro Mendini, she founded the Alessi Study Center (CSA), a place of experimentation that involves professionals and young creatives from various disciplines. There, she conducted workshops and created innovative collections proposing the concept of metaproject. Since 2000 she continued her collaboration by founding and directing the LPWK Design Studio. She’s currently a visiting associate professor at Domus Academy and NABA.

Paolo Gerosa graduated in Industrial Design in 2005 at Politecnico di Milano, began his career in the "Centro Ricerche Baleri Italia", thus coming in touch with some of the world's leading design and creativity exponents. Subsequently he collaborated with Laura Polinoro LPWK Studio, dealing with product design and meta-design mainly for Alessi spa. Since 2010 he has designed products for various international brands developing projects in various areas such as objects, furniture, accessories and lamps. In 2011 he opened his own studio that deals with product design and interior design.

ABOUT ALESSI

For over a century, Alessi has been creating extraordinary objects that make people dream, feel, think and experience poetry in their daily lives. By collaborating with the best creative minds from around the world, Alessi brings the most unexpected and contemporary expressions of design culture into people’s homes.

The Italian company was founded in 1921 by Giovanni Alessi and initially concentrated on metal kitchenware. His products and designs of coffee pots became so popular, that by 1924 the brand name ‘Alessi’ was well established.

By the 1950s the company broadened its approach, deciding to collaborate with well-known designers. The aim was to break away from modernism and even traditional designs and to try more unconventional design ideas, including those from groups such as Studio Alchima (Alessandro Mendini) and Memphis (Ettore Sottsass). Other designers associated with Alessi include Aldo Rossi, Philippe Starck and Michael Graves. The collaborative and creative approach they use has become the hallmark of the Alessi brand.

Alessi is now a B Corp, a company which strives to maximise the positive impact they have on their employees, the communities in which they operate and the environment, by using the business as a force for regeneration and sustainability.