Sempre in Giro / Always on the Move
I began by exploring the aperitivo culture in various countries, including Italy, England, and Germany. I spoke with people who know this tradition intimately—some who were born into it, and others who experience it as foreigners, especially in Italy.
What I found is that aperitivo is less about what you drink and more about how you spend the moment. It's about socializing, having something to do with your hands, seeing and being seen. It's the ritual that marks the end of the workday, a moment before heading home for dinner. Talking is the main activity.
My own memories of aperitivi played a big part in shaping this concept. On the local piazza, people know each other, shout over tables, and hold twenty conversations at once. Hands fly through the air, helping to make a point, to emphasize, to express.
This inspired me to create a drink holder that lets you talk and gesture freely—without spilling your drink. I used the principle of a gimbal, based on the classic cardanic suspension once used at sea to keep inkwells steady on rocking ships. It’s the same principle used today in camera stabilizers.
I built small stainless steel constructions, cut with a waterjet. The featured drink is a Gimlet, made with lime cordial, gin, and fresh lime juice—a “Gimlet nel Gimbal.”
This cheeky and playful homage is dedicated to the expressive Italian spirit, where conversation is as much about gestures as it is about words. My work captures the lively soul of the aperitivo tradition and offers a practical way to keep your drink steady while fully enjoying the art of gesturing.