Girotondo

A symbol of the strand of playful design based on the use of affective codes, an excellent example of being rooted in childhood memory, the little man motif debuted by decorating perhaps the most traditional object for Alessi, the tray, and then expanded into the catalog. The choice of the fretwork design was a hard-fought one: from a variety of possible anthropomorphic outlines, the final shape emerged thanks in part to the inadvertent advice of Giovannoni's trusted stationer who, when confronted with three alternatives, clearly pointed to the one that would later become the iconic little man.

The cartoon men created by the King-Kong team are a symbol and icon of mirror polished design based on the use of "affective codes", so much so that they are one of its most oft-cited examples. The "standing men" have appeared on objects from the farthest corners of Alessi tradition, like trays and baskets, and then they multiplied, invaded and conquered other groups of objects - and not just in the kitchen and at the table.