Two of a Kind | Alberto Bonaldo and Alain Gilles Rewrite the Rules of Design at Bonaldo

Amidst the design-forward backdrop of Bonaldo’s Malaysian showroom, the company’s CEO and his loyal design collaborator engage in a compelling dialogue, spanning the inner workings of their decades-long partnership to their philosophies, aspirations and everything else in between.

Text Monisha Sivanesan

Images courtesy of Forest Furniture

Some creative partnerships begin with booming fireworks; others with wordless intuition, that unspoken sense that something utterly extraordinary is about to unfold. For Italian furniture superstar Bonaldo, under the helm of its third-generation CEO Alberto Bonaldo, who was more than ready to take new risks, and Belgian designer Alain Gilles, whose head was already swirling with uber-ambitious ideas, it was probably a bit of both. Their story first began in 2007. “It was a time when we were still quite conservative in design but also searching for new designers who could bring something bold, something fresh to our company,” Alberto recalls. Fortunately for him, along came Alain with his prototype for the Tectonic table series made from simple tubes. It was a quiet success, but it set the stage for something seismic that would shake the design world and catapult the brand to the next level just a year later in 2009: the Big Table.

“Even I thought when I first saw it, maybe I went a bit too far,” Alain admits, grinning. “It was really different and out there; you could say that it was not exactly what the market was expecting.” Alberto, though also surprised at the unusualness of the design, to his credit, took the leap and backed his designer. After two years, especially with keen interest from the press, the Big Table slowly but surely became Bonaldo’s best-selling table. Still is, after 15 years. It stands as an icon of motion and balance, its intersecting angled legs now instantly recognisable. “It’s very important for a designer to have the chance to create some iconic products. Like a singer, we need a few hits that people remember,” he muses. Suffice to say, the monumental success of the Big Table laid an impregnable foundation of trust and understanding between both parties.

“When you truly trust each other, then it means you’re ready to take more risks and explore many different things. I’m not there just to do what satisfies the company; I’m also there to propose something slightly unexpected, yet makes perfect sense with what Bonaldo is doing,” injects the man who is often inspired by the unexpected or imperfect, relies on his gut feeling to make creative decisions and designs for people above all else. As for his champion, Alberto knows that in order to take those dare-to-be-different-but-not-just-for-the-sake-of-being-different risks as a brand leader, it is necessary to know the ins and outs of his company well, especially its needs, values and identity. To protect them, frequent and proper communication between them is essential. While disagreements inevitably occur between the two in their endless discussions, usually related to the budget, a fair compromise is always found.

Each recognises and respects the other’s skillset and responsibility, whereby the creative has the duty to push the envelope and ensure the design intent is never lost—and never boring in the first place—while the businessman is obligated to ensure the design aligns with the company’s vision and materialise them in the most efficient and sustainable way possible. So, what’s Alain’s secret weapon when Alberto says “no”? It’s shockingly simple. He never tries hard to persuade. He just presents an idea and [ardently] explains the ‘why’ because if it’s right, they’ll feel it. “Design shouldn’t be forced. It should be believed in from the start,” he argues. Alberto agrees, replying that “Sometimes we say no, but when we do say yes, we give it everything we’ve got—all our energy, all our heart. That’s how great things happen.”

However, not every masterpiece which both sides are deeply proud of can make the cash register sing—and that’s a fact of life they’ve come to accept because in their world, design is not merely about what sells or pleases the masses. The Eddy armchair found in the showroom is one such example, influenced by the complexity of bicycle engineering and even named after the legendary cyclist, Eddy Merckx. While he tries not to overflow his own home with Bonaldo pieces, Alberto cheekily admits that Eddy is an exception. He explains that sometimes the market doesn’t understand immediately and finds it difficult to accept certain products, but these very pieces which do not beg for approval evoke satisfaction just by existing unapologetically, adding that “we’re lucky to be solid enough as a company to create what we love, not only what we must.”

When you ask the designer and the CEO to name their favourite piece in the entire catalogue, you’re really asking them to choose between their children. So when the question is posed, shared laughter comes first. “It doesn’t have to be mine. Then again, if it’s not mine, I’m out of here!” quips Alain to Alberto. The latter smiles knowingly, recalling the lengthy period spent in research and development with the team. From learning how to improve prototypes to solving a myriad of problems, he’s familiar with the story behind each and every piece. But if there’s one product category Alberto adores, it’s the evergreen. It’s pieces like the Big Table that are still in the catalogue after decades, evolving gracefully to keep up with the times through alterations in the colours, materials and finishes, typically with the help of its original designers like Alain who goes a step further by contemplating the idea of simplifying and reinventing them at later stages to surprise people again.

As for Alain’s response, his Padiglioni dining table in the dramatic blackwood finish and Geometric console table with the brutalist clay-like finish spring to mind. Stepping outside the circle of his own creativity but still remaining within the realm of Bonaldo, Alain directs praise towards Fabrice Berrux’s Youpi chair which evokes the image of a stylised human figure from behind—so much so that he secretly wishes he’d designed it himself. He recalls a moment early on in his career when two-time Compasso d’Oro winner and famed Bonaldo collaborator Carlo Bartoli had expressed the same sentiment regarding his own designs. That story sparked a compliment from Alberto, one that articulates volumes about their partnership as well as the culture of joy and freedom that fuels it.

When the Italian informs the Belgian on what the company needs, be it an update of an old product or the invention of a new one, he never micromanages on how it should look or feel because the result will likely be a copy of an already existing item. “You have to give them the liberty to surprise you with originality.” Alain concurs that it’s the designer’s job to understand the DNA of the company—where it stands, where it wants to go—and then figure out how to play around with it. Yes, it’s about far more than just the prestige and direction of the brand that has pulled the designer in and kept him there; it’s about the people involved and the feeling of building together.

Alberto agrees, explaining that “You must have the same passion for detail. When we talk about an angle for hours, that’s when I know we’re lucky. There’s a unique kind of energy whenever my team works on Alain’s pieces. They’re more enthusiastic, more alive. They don’t feel like they’re just developing another product; it becomes personal to them almost.” That’s precisely why he credits the healthy synergy between his team and his designers for the past, present and future successes of Bonaldo. On that note, Alain inserts his appreciation for the brand’s affinity for forging long-term relationships with their designers. Instead of viewing them as just another name in the catalogue with a one-off collection, they truly become part of the Bonaldo family. Staying connected with each other via phone calls or FaceTime chats on a pretty regular basis, approximately every 15 days, Alain believes, “That’s the difference, nay, the beauty of working with family brands. You’re treated like family.”

So, after working together for so long, how do the pair who have become as thick as thieves keep their collaborations fresh and exciting? Answer: when society changes, they change with them. Surpassing trends or styles, it’s the ever-shifting way people live and think, like what visuals and materials they feel are ‘good’ as well as what they associate with quality or emotion, that keeps them both excited and propels their imaginations forward. These developments also make them reflective of previous items executed together. Alberto comments that “What we did 10 years ago, we wouldn’t do today because of all these new stimuli. Since we’ve recently entered a timeless era of design, we dabble more with marble and wood—things that feel more natural.”

Speaking of which, growth for Alain can be found directly in his work. Back then, it was purely about fashioning non-static furniture which plays on perspective, meaning the object “moves” or, more accurately, the impression of the object alters as you move around it. Traces of that can still be found in his newer work, but now, after several years, he has learnt to make something still and be completely at peace with that. Meanwhile, for Alberto’s, the company’s vision has pivoted from producing single items to curating an entire lifestyle filled with Bonaldo offerings. Since his job includes the tricky task of choosing and coordinating multiple global designers to birth multiple pieces of a collection that speak the same language, he’s grateful that the company now prefers to engage with a smaller group of designers to release a handful of meaningful items every year. Doing so makes it far easier to give every person and every product the attention they deserve.

When asked about the moment he knew he had finally become the boss of Bonaldo, Alberto burst into laughter. “Still not yet!” he insists with a gleam in his eye. After all, how could he be when his dedicated president—his father, Albino Bonaldo—still strolls into the office every morning at age 87, bright-eyed and ready to check in on the business operations? When his predecessor took a gentle step back and passed the torch over to him, more or less, it showed a father’s faith in his son’s readiness to lead the family’s life work and keep it thriving—and thrive it has. With his newly elected team, Bonaldo has expanded its mono-brand stores (soon to open in Kazakhstan and Riyadh), improved the quality of production, refined its image and amplified its name across continents. “I’m happy because the choices we made were the right ones, and I believe my grandfather would be proud to see how far the family name has risen and travelled,” he proclaims.

Seeing as how only about half of family businesses in Italy make it to the second generation, and less than a quarter manage to endure to the third, Bonaldo’s survival after what will soon be 90 years is nothing short of admirable—and luck has nothing to do with it, at least not completely. One winning ingredient linking him to good leaders like his father and grandfather, Founder Giovanni Vittorio, is profound passion for the profession and the industry. He learned early on that if you enjoy what you do, it’s not a sacrifice, it’s a pleasure. “You also need to have respect for all the effort and sacrifice your family has made,” Alberto insists. There is no room here for half-measures or easy wins, saying that “You need to take your job seriously. There’s no chance, no way to do less or simple work. Try to do the hardest job you can do—that way, you will never go wrong.” It’s advice delivered to the next generation of leaders in family-run enterprises with the kind of quiet conviction that only comes from those who perceive legacy as a privilege that needs to be cultivated instead of a burden that’s merely inherited.

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When Alberto was introduced to luxury furniture retailer Forest Furniture just a few years ago, an instant spark occurred. He saw a kindred spirit in the dynamic force propelling world-class artistry into our local design scene, both sharing the same level of zest, adoration and knowledge for good design. “Of course, we’re proud to be represented by Forest Furniture in Malaysia. It’s wonderful when you find and connect with people in other parts of the world who think the same way you do. We have an excellent, long-term relationship with all our store partners, and with this new generation of them, I’m confident that we will work together for many years to come,” he declares. Knowing a thing or two about being inducted as part of Bonaldo’s “family of furniture”, Alain affirms that the company treats its store partners with great care and respect, adding that “Bonaldo will always be there, standing alongside you to get through tough times together.”

And that’s a wrap! Now, you see, this insightful three-way conversation did not unfold in a vacuum on a random Tuesday evening but at Bonaldo’s expansive showroom, featuring its latest collection, at Forest Furniture in honour of the brand’s exclusive Our Journey in World Design Asia tour. Matter of fact, Kuala Lumpur was the first pit stop, before proceeding to Shanghai, Taichung and Manila—in that order. The tour’s goal was simple: connect global design leaders with each nation’s creative community to inspire a culture of design excellence. Having said that, Malaysia’s most discerning architects, interior designers and design aficionados gathered to celebrate the alluring power of Italian design and the brilliance of Bonaldo’s visionary craftsmanship which continues to shape contemporary living spaces everywhere. Apart from the duo, also in attendance was one personally recognisable face: Leonardo Grillo, Bonaldo’s Export Manager of the Asia Pacific Region.

After the interview, Alberto and Alain each led a brief but informative talking session with ample brevity and levity. The former recounted the company’s remarkable journey from its humble beginnings to its global acclaim as a symbol of contemporary elegance, also reflecting on its commitment to design that transforms furniture into timeless expressions of Italian artistry. On the other hand, the latter delved into his perspective on Bonaldo’s innovation process as a designer, going into the significance of emotion, human connection and storytelling in furniture-making principles that resonate deeply with the brand’s identity. Once that came to a close, the pair and Leonardo were presented with locally inspired tokens of appreciation by Logan and Kerrie from Forest Furniture. To cut an obviously long story short, this collaborative journey between Alberto and Alain, between Bonaldo and Forest Furniture, demonstrates that great things can indeed come from cleverly balancing intuition, evolution and vision with a great deal of heart.

BONALDO | www.bonaldo.com

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FOREST FURNITURE | www.forestfurniture.com.my