February 9, 2026
Aria by Optimares enters the ADI Historical Collection
An international recognition for business class design
Optimares reaches a milestone of exceptional prestige in the field of aeronautical design. Aria, its next-generation business class seat, has been awarded the International Honorable Mention of the Compasso d’Oro.
Following this recognition, Aria has been officially donated to the permanent collection of the ADI Design Museum in Milan, becoming part of the ADI Historical Collection, which gathers the projects that have shaped the evolution of Italian and international industrial design.
The Compasso d’Oro as a cultural and industrial benchmark
In the world of design, the Compasso d’Oro is not merely an award, but a long-term indicator of value. Established in 1954 and curated by ADI – Associazione per il Disegno Industriale, it recognizes products capable of combining innovation, industrial quality, and cultural impact.
The ADI Historical Collection hosts objects and systems that have redefined the way we live, work, and move, created by brands such as Ferrari, Olivetti, Fiat, Kartell, Flos, and Alessi.
Aria’s inclusion within this context places Optimares inside a design tradition that looks to the future while maintaining deep historical relevance.
Aria: designing the business class experience
Today, business class design goes far beyond ergonomics alone.
Aircraft seating design has become a complex discipline in which comfort, personal space, sustainability, and industrial efficiency must coexist in a coherent vision.
Aria was born from this awareness, interpreting business class seating design as a holistic experience rather than a simple product.
The project is built around key principles:
- a strong focus on the individual and onboard well-being
- balance between privacy, social interaction, and freedom of movement
- integration of aesthetics, function, and sustainability
- a clear, measured, and recognizable Made in Italy identity
The result is a seat that moves beyond traditional configurations, introducing a new concept of space within the cabin.
ADI Design Museum: when aeronautical seating becomes cultural heritage
The ADI Design Museum preserves the most extensive collection of Italian design recognized as a national cultural asset. Being part of it means contributing to a narrative where design is not only form or technology, but an expression of industrial culture.
Aria’s presence in the permanent collection confirms that the aeronautical sector—and business class design in particular—can generate cultural value in addition to functional and commercial relevance.
Looking ahead: SoFab and the evolution of the premium cabin
While Aria consolidates its international recognition, Optimares continues to look forward.
The outcome of SoFab’s candidacy is currently pending. This business class sofa-bed concept explores new approaches to comfort, mechanical simplicity, and sustainability.
The direction is clear: to continue rethinking aircraft seating design as a synthesis of human experience, industrial efficiency, and design vision.
Optimares and the future of aircraft interiors
With Aria, Optimares reinforces its position in business class seating design and within the broader landscape of premium aircraft interiors.
This is not just about designing seats, but about imagining new ways of flying, where space, comfort, and design culture coexist within a single vision.