On Tuesday 27 May, Poliform’s Melbourne showroom hosted a select group of design aficionados for an evening of conversation between interior stylist Steve Cordony and Australian Design Review’s editor-at-large Jessica Agoston Cleary, celebrating the launch of Technogym’s partnership with Poliform.

Italian designers are renowned for their ability to fuse functionality and precision engineering with beauty – Giorgetto Giugiaro’s Giulia Sprint for Alfa Romeo to Alfonso Bialetti’s Moka Express and Antonio Citterio’s Run Personal Line for Technogym. 

From the first encounter with the range of award-winning Italian-designed machines – which look as much like sculptures as they do a treadmill or a cable machine – it’s clear that design and wellbeing are inseparable. 

The relationship between wellbeing and design has become a hot topic among the A&D community in recent years. After an acknowledgement to Country, Agoston Cleary reflected on the holistic, integrated approach to wellbeing held by First Nations peoples.

“What we’re talking about and thinking about now when we talk about wellbeing is not too far removed from traditional ways of thinking,” Agoston Cleary said. “Wellness is now about an integrated, holistic approach to living that goes far beyond how good we want to look poolside.” 

The scene was set for Cordony to share his personal wellness journey, his design philosophy and what it means to live well, as well as the highlights of being in Milan for Salone del Mobile. 

“My first encounter with Technogym was in hotels,” Cordony said. “I travel a lot and I’ve been lucky enough to stay at some great hotels all over the world. These hotel gyms didn’t feel like gyms. They were beautifully designed spaces and they were full of Technogym equipment which blended in seamlessly.”

Cordony’s approach to design has always been about blurring the boundaries between what’s design and what’s living. “Design for me is about capturing and reflecting a mood, creating an atmosphere through layers and textures,” he said. 

“It’s about creating a feeling – and beautiful design pieces, natural, high-quality materials, these all come together to create a feeling. Working out, exercise, are also about how you feel – mentally and physically.” 

The conversation then moved on to Milan and Salone del Mobile. “There were too many jaw-dropping moments to choose just one [favourite]” Cordony said. “What I love most about Milan is being able to see and experience so much inspiring and innovative design in one place. The energy of the city and just getting lost in it all is inspiring.”

Not one to let a question go unanswered, Agoston Cleary probed further. “There has to be at least one element, one ‘trend’ – as much as I hate the word – that you noticed?” she asked. 

Pausing for a moment, Cordony replied, “Art Deco. There was a really strong Art Deco thread coming through. I feel like there’s a reinterpretation of what made the period so iconic – clean lines and decadence, but not over the top. There’s an optimism coming through in design.”

The Art Deco period is one of the most influential and iconic design periods of Western design history. Few designers working today could deny its influence on their contemporary practice. Given the seismic technology-driven shifts we’re experiencing in 2025, it’s not surprising that aspects of Art Deco design are beginning to resurface. 

For the final question of the night, Agoston Cleary picked up on the idea of design icons. “What makes a design icon?” she asked. “A design icon is a design that endures,” Cordony replied. “It’s timeless. It makes you feel something that you can’t quite put your finger on.”

Which is exactly what Technogym and all the great Italian-designed pieces at Poliform do. In the case of Technogym, you might also feel a little sore, a little more energetic, and significantly more inspired to nurture mind, body and soul. 

For more on wellness and design, read Design’s power to increase health and wellness.