“Everything can and must be designed” says Marc Sadler, four times winner of the “Compasso D’oro” award. When an object is commissioned it is important to think about what the request implies, the needs of the consumer. For this reason, Sadler believes his work is a better fit better in the European market, and the Italian one in particular. “American and Chinese entrepreneurs are often more focused on numbers - of sales and investments - than on the object itself.” Nonetheless, Sadler’s numbers are all but small. His entrepreneurial mindset shows in his words: “The industrial designer cannot help but deal with industry.”

When he started in the early 70’s, Sadler's only aim was building ski boots that would keep his ankles in place, as he had had a bad accident. He then proceeded to design protective gear for skiing and motorcycling. Despite revolutionary inventions he had to overcome many mistakes, including Valentino Rossi’s airbag bursting while he was speaking in a conference.

Marc Sadler’s love for materials is evident: he explains how his design ideas are often sparked by nature, by an insect wing, for example. He puts effort into finding exactly the right material for his inventions: rubber won’t protect a biker’s knee from the friction with the ground. Leather, he says, turned out to be the best solution. On the other hand, leather, so sensitive to temperature, would not work on ski boots. He was the first designed to use so much plastic in this piece of footwear. “We will never be able to do without plastic completely” - says Sadler - “what we must avoid is using it in the wrong places.”

Before becoming a designer, he was passionate about drawing, photography and painting. Today he prefers not to talk about these passions, as he says he had to leave them behind once he embraced the design world. “When I design I cannot put too much of myself into it: that scares me.”