In a design world so obsessed with all things "curated," surprisingly little time is devoted to the actual curators. Meet Maria Cristina Didero, the Milan-based design curator behind many of todays hottest happenings. "I believe design is about people, not about chairs," says the fiery redhead, who moved to Milan rather on a whim in 1999 when she couldnt get on a flight to Rome. That distinct point of view has manifested in a wide range of projectslast year she assembled a Nendo retrospective at the Holon Design Museum and curated Fendis presentation of work by young talent Cristina Celestino at Design Miami. During Milans Salone del Mobile furniture fair this spring, she worked with Atelier Biagetti on the presentation of "God" (the third of three provocative furnishings collections) and wrote the curatorial text for "Foundation," Formafantasmas buzzy lighting exhibition at Spazio Krizio.

Photo: Delfino Sisto Legnani

Photo: Courtesy of Fendi

Beyond curating shows, Didero is an expert in Italian Radical design (a period from the 1960s to mid-'70s that thumbed its nose at International Style rationalism). As such, she has contributed to Maurizio Cattelans Technicolor tome 1968 and has curated several exhibitions of design, art, and architecture from the period. Currently, shes working on a project called "Over-Curated," in which she will collaborate with four other curators on a show of design.

Photo: Takumi Ota

As for the current state of the design scene in Milan, Didero explains: "Italy, and therefore Milan, underwent a great crisis when the economy collapsed. But with every crisis comes a huge resource: Even with less money around, a new generation of designers came about, and a new spirit and a fresh international pride have invaded the city. What I like about Milan is that when you have an idea it can actually become possible."

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Meet Milan's Coolest Curator - Architectural Digest