AEDO: TOUCH-INSPIRED DESIGN BY DEBONADEMEO FOR ADRENALINA

Images and video courtesy of Adrenalina

Rethinking Furniture Through Feelings, Inclusion, and Senses

The Aedo collection, designed by Debonademeo for Adrenalina, is changing how we think about furniture design. At first glance, Aedo is a beautifully shaped, modular sofa designed for comfort, orientation, and social interaction. But its true story lies in the process—it was co-designed with blind and visually impaired individuals, not just for them. This makes it a radically inclusive piece, shaped by lived experience and a new idea of beauty that starts with the body.

What does it mean to design something without relying on sight? With AEDO, we found an unexpected answer: you design by listening. You design through trust, touch, and conversation. This was exemplified on October 15, 2025, when visually impaired participants guided blindfolded visitors through a tactile discovery of AEDO during a special event at Triennale Milano—shifting the focus from looking to feeling.

Presented by Magran Living

Luca de Bona from Debonademeo explained the project’s challenge: “How do you design a sofa without seeing its shape and color? How do you highlight its fundamental characteristics such as comfort, softness, [and] presence in space?” The collection features smooth yellow satin fabric and soft, rounded shapes that welcome and guide the user’s hands safely.

Raised Braille inscriptions along the sofa connect to its origins and enrich communication. Essential feedback came from Museo Omero, Italy’s first tactile museum, and the Istituto Cavazza, ensuring the design truly meets users’ needs.

Debonademeo’s art directors said the collection “adds more voices to the design conversation, creating for all, not just for some.” They view design as an experience shared through the senses and human connection, not simply visual aesthetics.

By focusing on touch, sound, and feeling, the  Aedo collection redefines beauty as accessible to everyone. It makes design inclusive, elegant, and relatable, deepening our understanding of furniture as a multisensory experience.

Aedo proves that human-centered design, born from listening and collaboration, opens new doors for empathy and creativity. It invites us to rethink how products are made and experienced—showing that true design speaks to all the senses and unites people through shared experience.