Archiproducts invests in Designheroes to promote authenticity and Design culture on a global scale. This new alliance addresses the rapidly evolving global design industry, where social media and AI are increasingly influencing information consumption, marketing, and product distribution.
When product visuals and product designs can be generated in seconds, consumers can easily be distracted or tricked.
In this context, authenticity and cultural impact become crucial values we must safeguard and uphold. This is vital not only to shield consumers from cheap counterfeits or no-name products of dubious provenance, but also to preserve cultural heritage and manufacturing tradition.
The alliance was officially unveiled in front of a handpicked audience of leading brands, architects, designers and design gallerists at an exclusive event held as part of the Milano Design Week, at Archiproducts Milano.
This alliance is more than a collaboration – it is the natural evolution of a long-standing relationship between people who have crossed paths for decades within the industry. Once competitors, now close allies, the founders of Archiproducts and Designheroes share a history marked by mutual admiration, common goals, and a relentless drive to innovate.
“This moment means a lot to us because it’s the result of a story that started 25 years ago,” said Enzo Maiorano, Co-founder of Archiproducts. “Back then, together with my co-founders Marilde Longo, Ferdinando Napoli and Maurizio Alfieri it was we’re just starting Archiproducts. At the same time, in Switzerland, Nils developed Architonic as one of the founders and Susanne as editor-in-chief.
We grew in parallel – as competitors first, always with respect. We’d meet at fairs and events, share ideas, and often say: ‘One day, it would be amazing to do something together.’ This alliance is the natural outcome of that journey – built on vision, trust and a deep human connection.”
The event also featured the voices of Designheroes’ founders, Nils Becker and Susanne Fritz, who shared the cultural mission behind the project. “Design Culture is not a scientific reality – it’s the unpredictable result of teamwork,” said Becker. “It’s about the people, the risks taken, the ideas behind each product. Products that aren’t just functional, but meaningful, valuable, and often timeless.”
Fritz added: “Authenticity and Design Culture are leading to the ultimate form of sustainability. It gives identity to those who create and to those who choose. And it stands for enduring appreciation and lasting value across generations. We are proud to carry this mission forward together with Archiproducts.”
Through this alliance, Archiproducts will provide its global reach, its extensive catalogue and its role as a connector between brands, architects and designers, while Designheroes will offer its cultural approach and curatorial sensibility. Together, they are building a new stage for storytelling and brand visibility.
Designheroes contextualizes products within 150 years of design history, highlighting their lasting value and cultural impact. With over 80,000 objects, its ecosystem is the world’s largest Digital Design Museum – a powerful platform to showcase a brand’s role in the cultural legacy of design.
Archiproducts, with over one million products, more than 3,500 brand partners, and 3.7 million registered users, is the global benchmark in the Design industry. Every day, thousands of architects, designers, and private users rely on Archiproducts to find inspiration and discover solutions from the world’s most important brands. Archiproducts acts with the mindset of an industry and the spirit of a community.
For the brands involved, this represents an unprecedented opportunity to position their products not only as commercial icons, but as cultural assets. The alliance aims to empower selected heritage, established, and merging brands to express their identity and value through editorial formats, curated selections, and strategic visibility across the globe.
“Designheroes is a perfect expression of how we move through the world: with relationships, content and digital solutions,” said Ferdinando Napoli, CEO of Archiproducts. “Its catalogue brings together the very history of design. Its platform is an incredible resource for professionals. And together, we truly are building the place to be – where ideas are born, and products come to life.”
The partnership is also part of Archiproducts’ broader global expansion strategy, which includes recent launches in India and China, an upcoming presence at Index in Riyadh, and a special event in New York dedicated to Italian design. As part of this strategic direction, Archiproducts has now acquired a stake in Designstandards AG, the Swiss company behind Designheroes. This move strengthens the partnership at its core and lays the foundation for long-term development.
With this new partnership, Archiproducts and Designheroes are opening up a new chapter – one where business, creativity and cultural relevance come together to shape the future of design.
Discover more on https://designheroes.com/
