Art deco is now enjoying a renaissance. Today's elite, however, rejects the literalness of the historical original in favor of a minimalism modernized by classicism. In technologically sterile spaces a need arises to anchor the senses in something distinct. The foundation of this aesthetic – belonging to the quiet luxury current – is an uncompromising handling of contrast. Joining a light-absorbing black to a haptic gold is the simplest possible game: one background and one accent meant to win on it.
The psychology of contrast: black and gold
Color psychology shows that the color of one's surroundings affects how we behave in them and what we remember from them. Matt black works in this arrangement like silence: it does not compete for attention with what is laid on it, so the eye goes straight to the content.
Gold, in turn – a symbol of warmth – works as a waking accent. Its reflective nature draws the eye. Resting domestic objects on such a contrast helps pull down invisible walls in marriage, creating an atmosphere at once intriguing and calm. This pushes away the threat of a growing relationship crisis after years together.
The evolution of noble forms
Historical art deco was famous for its love of precise geometry – symmetrical arcs and sharp vectors. In answer to contemporary needs, our own Geometric Noir style arose, drawing on that heritage without needless splendor. It is in this current that Odoardo Alibi™ was designed.
The cards were produced on paper solid-dyed black, with 3D gilding on the reverse. This technology means the abstract illustrations react to the source of light. The device makes clear the meaning of silence and image in communication. Geometric Noir forms give discussions the dimension of metaphor.
The oak box and tangible craft
The essence of contemporary luxury requires noble materials. In the nineteen-twenties, ebony and solid oak were the core of elegant interiors. Odoardo Alibi™ returns to that tradition, enclosing the cards in a massive box.
The mechanism built on hidden magnets makes the box a monolithic sculptural object. Resting on a side table, it is a quiet invitation to conversation. The set of 50 deep questions for your partner with Geometric Noir illustrations makes it easier to bypass small talk and introduce rituals for couples, and thereby to step out of the “it will work out” trap.
Technology withdrawn into the background
Why, in an age of digitization, do we cling so tightly to crafted matter? The creator of the Odoardo™ ecosystem explains:
“The more technology we handle from day to day, the more strongly our mind longs to return to authentic matter. Physical objects force us to stop and to feel the world with the senses, and not only through a glass screen.”
Bringing the aesthetic of black and wood into a living room is a process of designing a personal refuge. It is worth introducing a consistent digital detox before sleep. The interior can be completed by collectible prints in solid frames from the Odoardo Art™ brand and by the screenless solutions of Odoardo Soul™, described in the piece Quiet luxury and contemporary technology. A space composed this way prepares the ground for active listening in a relationship.
Why we chose black and gold instead of color, we explain in the manifesto.
Odoardo Soul™
Odoardo Art™
Odoardo Lens™
Odoardo Space™
