Wind-vane wayfinding for Festivaletteratura Mantova.
The new wayfinding system for Festivaletteratura Mantova 2026 stems from the idea of creating an infrastructure capable of accompanying the Festival throughout the urban space, guiding visitors and making its presence recognisable. Four principles guided the project: participation, sustainability, optimisation, and identity.
Festivaletteratura is an annual literary festival held in Mantua, Italy, usually in early September. Founded in 1997, it has grown into one of Europe's most important literary events, bringing together writers, poets, and thinkers from around the world for talks, readings, and discussions held throughout the historic city center.
Participation was understood as both a design and production method. The system emerged through a dialogue between designers, technical expertise, and local businesses, in a process where the companies involved became active partners in its development.
Beyond colour, the identity of the system is reinforced by a weather vane positioned at the top of each device. Moving with the wind, it becomes a recognisable and playful sign that accompanies visitors through the spaces of the Festival.
The collaboration with Graepel, Martinotti, Arche3D, and Giovanardi made it possible to transform design ideas into concrete solutions through an ongoing dialogue between design, materials, processes, and production.
Sustainability and optimisation also guided the choices made during production, assembly, and handling. The devices are conceived as open systems, designed to be durable, repairable, easy to transport, and easy to store, reducing complexity and, consequently, assembly time and handling operations.
A system designed not only to provide orientation, but also to establish the Festival’s presence within the urban space.
Studio GISTO
Alessandro Mason
Alice Fialà
Federico Zecca
Graepel
Martinotti
Arche3D
Giovanardi
Studio Pietro Corraini
Davide Galli
Yirong Wu