Marva Griffin was born in Venezuela, and Milan became her city of adoption when, in the seventies, she started to work in the field of design and furnishing. She began her career as PR communication at what was then the C&B Italia company (now B&B Italia), working with Piero Ambrogio Busnelli, owner and chairman of the company. She became the correspondent/representative in Italy for several Conde Nast Publications: French Maison & Jardin, Vogue Decoration, American House & Garden and American Vogue. For eight years she organised the textile show Incontri Venezia-Fabrics for Furnishing in Venice, Italy. From 1990 she’s been directing the International Press Office for Salone del Mobile.Milano. From the first 1998 edition she founded and continues to curate SaloneSatellite, a special event within the Milan’s Salone Internazionale del Mobile that represents a showcase for young creative designers and graduate-to-be students from universities and design schools from all over the world. In May 2014, she received the Premio COMPASSO D’ORO XXIII ALLA CARRIERA. In 2005 she created SaloneSatellite Moscow as an homage to young designers from Russia and neighbour countries.In 2016 she created SaloneSatellite Shanghai began an homage to young designers from China. Since 2001 she is a member of the Philip Johnson Architecture and Design Committee at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMa), New York.
Creator of the Year 2023 - Marva Griffin Wilshire: Mentor for Young Designers Worldwide
Italian Design Ambassador
Since December 2016 she is Italian Design Ambassador, named by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, the Italian Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Activities and Tourism, the Italian Ministry of Economic Development together with Triennale Design Museum, travelling every year in the month of March to different countries to promote the Italian Design Day. In March 2014 she was named Expo 2015 WE-Women Ambassador for the 2015 Universal Exhibition hold in the city of Milan. On 7 December 2017, date of the Patron of the city of Milan, she has been awarded with the Milan’s most prestigious AMBROGINO D’ORO. On 7 September 2021, she was awarded the Honorary Master's Degree in Product Service System Design by Politecnico di Milano.
Jury Statement
“With her commitment to the development and expansion of the SaloneSatellite since its foundation in 1998, Marva Griffin has given more than 13,000 design talents visibility on the international stage of the Milan Furniture Fair, which remains the most important international show for young design today. She has become the godmother of young designers, and has created a unique platform for them to network on an international level and to gain a foothold in the design business. With an enormous amount of passion and love for design, the interior designer and former assistant to Piero Ambrogio Busnelli, founder of B&B Italia (known as C&B Italia at the time) has evolved into a renowned exhibition organiser. Marva Griffin herself has become a creator of creators, and has established a platform in SaloneSatellite that provides visibility to young authors of design and strong concepts, and drives innovation.”