There's a thin line that separates survival from safety, aesthetics from function, research from design. On that line, traced at 75°06' South latitude, a project is born that fills us with pride today: the Cooperation Suit 75°06'S has been selected to participate in the Compasso d'Oro ADI 2026, the most prestigious recognition of Italian design — and one of the most prestigious in the world.
An achievement that honors us, but above all pushes us to reflect on the profound value of design as a tool in service of life. Born in 1954 from an idea by Gio Ponti, the Compasso d'Oro is the award that, more than any other, has contributed to defining the identity of Italian design. Promoted by ADI – Association for Industrial Design, it selects every two years the projects that best represent excellence, innovation and responsibility of design in its multiple fields: from product to interaction, from research to services. It's not just an award: it's a cultural statement. Every awarded object becomes part of the Historic Collection of the Compasso d'Oro, a heritage recognized by the Ministry of Culture for its artistic and documentary value.
Being in the running for this recognition means being part of a collective narrative that tells the story of the evolution of industrial design and contemporary thought.
Our candidacy came through the Cooperation Suit 75°06'S, designed and developed by Alberto Piovesan and the Research & Development team at D-Air Lab. This suit is a technical garment designed to protect researchers operating at the Earth's poles, in environmental conditions that challenge every human limit: temperatures down to -80°C, forced isolation, difficult movements, constant monitoring of physical state.
Composed of a jacket and overalls, it integrates six differentiated layers of high-performance materials: natural and recycled fibers, graphene, thermal insulating layers and active localized heating systems. The heart of the project is an intelligent system of sensors and conductive yarns, which monitors the user's physiological state in real time and automatically activates heating where needed — especially in hands and feet, the areas most vulnerable to extreme cold.
Why this project is special
In a world that increasingly demands answers from design — not only formal, but ethical, environmental, functional — the Cooperation Suit 75°06'S is an example of responsible design:
• it reduces material use, exploiting air as insulation
• it uses recycled fibers and materials selected with environmental criteria
• it stems from medical and physiological studies, for real effectiveness
• it integrates invisible technologies, but profoundly vital In just under 3 kg, this suit encompasses engineering, vision and care. It's designed for those who work in solitude, but is born from cooperation between disciplines, companies and knowledge.
An achievement that is already a starting point
Being selected among the projects competing for the Compasso d'Oro 2026 is, for the entire 75°06'S and D-Air Lab team, an important recognition. It means that our work has been seen, heard and considered worthy of the international conversation on design. But it also means taking on a greater responsibility: that of continuing to design solutions that serve people, respect the environment and tell a new idea of innovation. An innovation that, more than ever today, needs human warmth.
The journey of 75°06'S began with the Cooperation Suit, but is already taking us far. Even beyond the ice.