Something special happened in Rome: Our community came together, after three years without a full-scale Summit, in a burst of enthusiasm, warmth, and collegiality that reminded us again and again of the reason why we do what we do: You.
You are the DLN, and when we are all together, magic happens. We experienced that magic over long lunchtime conversations and laughter-filled discussions in the streets of Rome. We saw it when friends and colleagues reunited after years apart, and we felt it when new bonds were formed on a behind-the-scenes tour or dine-around dinner – or minibus!
Thank you for trusting us to design this experience for you, and thank you for making the most of it at every turn. When you combine openness, curiosity, and a spirit of connection with one of the world’s great cities, a once-in-a-lifetime experience offers itself. You embraced that opportunity, enriching our community in the process – and helping us fulfill our mission to educate, inspire, and connect.
Explore the full recap below:
The 2022 Design Leadership Summit has concluded! After landing in an unseasonably warm and blue-skied Rome, attendees started off their Summit experience with exclusive tours that transported them to some of the city’s most exciting ateliers, cultural sites, and more, from an intimate gathering at the home of Marella Caracciolo Chia to a private wine tasting with Marchesi Antinori. Later in the evening, guests clinked glasses at the celebrated Villa Medici, enjoying panoramic views of Rome and commemorating another year together with the DLN. Attendees then dispersed into the city for dine-around dinners, held within spaces testifying to the beauty and range of Roman style, from Baroque palaces to a historic apartment filled with contemporary art.
By Day 2 of the Design Leadership Summit, guests had started to get reacquainted with Rome, as they launched into another day of discovery and community. In the morning, author Marella Caracciolo Chia, style director Gianluca Longo of The World of Interiors, 26th-generation winemaker Alessia Antinori, and culinary icon Massimo Bottura addressed guests from the stage of the Auditorium della Conciliazione, a stone’s throw from St. Peter’s Basilica. Attendees later ventured out for another round of tours, seeing (and sometimes tasting) a side of Rome they had never experienced. By the evening, participants were ready to relax with a drink. They met up at the historic Palazzo Colonna for moonlit cocktails in a fountain-filled courtyard garden and a private tour, which included the Sala Grande (or Great Hall), a fresco-filled Baroque dreamscape rivaling Versailles, and an immense art collection featuring works by Tintoretto, Andrea del Sarto, and Paolo Veronese. The evening concluded with a celebration of landscape architect Janice Parker, winner of the 2022 Design Leadership Award, who consistently (and seemingly effortlessly) demonstrates her commitment to excellence in her renowned design practice, her extensive philanthropic work, and her many contributions to the DLN community. View Janice’s tribute video here.
On the final day, attendees returned to the Auditorium della Conciliazione to be inspired by the legendary architect Piero Lissoni, Cabana magazine founder and editor-in-chief Martina Mondadori, hotelier Antonio Sersale of Le Sirenuse fame, designer Britt Moran of Dimorestudio, and Ferrari’s design director Flavio Manzoni. As guests began to depart, others joined the DLN yet again for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to privately tour the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel. Attendees looked upward at Michelangelo’s famous frescoes within an otherwise empty chapel – the most visited interior on Earth, where each day typically sees 20,000 visitors. Although most attendees returned home or took off for further adventures in Italy, an intimate group joined the design-filled Milan Excursion.
Browse the image galleries below:
