UNICA MENTE by Technogym celebrates four decades of the multi-station trainer

Global wellness brand Technogym’s founder, Nerio Alessandri, designed the multi-station UNICA in 1986 in his garage, back when the idea of wellness design as we know it today was difficult to imagine. With the intent of making physical exercise ‘attractive and desirable,’ as Alessandri states in an official release, he envisioned a design-driven cultural shift. “Today, 40 years later, it is no longer just a product: its timeless design makes it an icon, part of the collective imagination. Forty years from now, UNICA will still be the same, able to convey the very same message thanks to the coherence of its design,” states Alessandri. On the occasion of Salone del Mobile.Milano and Milan Design Week 2026, Technogym celebrates four decades of the product’s successful run through a video art installation, UNICA MENTE, presented at its Milan showroom at Via Durini 1. On view from April 21 – 26, 2026, the showcase invites visitors to witness how design and technology can come together to contribute to people’s health and well-being.

Established in 1983, the brand offers a whole ecosystem of smart fitness equipment and complementary digital services that can be used at home, at the gym and on the go. Marking its presence in over 100 countries, Technogym employs design thinking and state-of-the-art technologies to elevate home and commercial fitness equipment. Recently, the brand was appointed as the official supplier of the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics and Paralympics for the tenth time running—a testament to their expertise and continued relevance in the industry over the years. Four decades of its most iconic product marks just the right occasion for Technogym to engage with one of the biggest stages in the world of design.

The installation at the brand’s showroom in Via Durini, curated by multidisciplinary artist Felice Limosani, reflects upon the connection between the body and the mind. The title itself, UNICA MENTE, depicts the product as a conduit of physical fitness, engaging with visitors through a digital medium that feels familiar and relatively mentally engaging in the digital age. Featuring images and videos from 40 distinct professionals—from athletes to artists to scientists—connected with Technogym through the iconic product, the installation promotes discourse on mental as well as physical well-being in an interactive format. The brand stresses that these connections supersede mere testimonials, with each of these relationships bearing meaningful, tangible dimensions beyond usual stakeholdership. The visuals presented are enhanced using AI in an attempt to amplify the message, hoping to connect with an audience that might not be too familiar with the product. The intended impact is visceral, inducing a sense of connection between body and mind that is rare in an age of visual saturation.

Coming to the classic unit itself, UNICA addresses the trifecta of fitness, sports and well-being, allowing the user to engage in 25 distinct exercises, with the unit itself occupying less than 1.5 sq m of space. Through its innovative lever system, adjusting the load and switching between exercises are simplified without the need for replacing components, allowing for a versatile and beginner-friendly user experience. Moreover, its biomechanics are precise to the point of exercises following specific physiological trajectories that optimise load distribution, amplifying the effectiveness of the workout while preventing injuries. With an adjustable seat, wide backrest and ergonomic padding, the product allows maximum comfort and ease of movement, making exercising less strenuous. To assist the user further, Technogym also provides access to its app that acts as a digital trainer, featuring a large library of video guides and tutorials, serving as a virtual extension to its physical products. Through the app and the video installation, Technogym seeks to broaden its engagement with the digital medium—and through it, newer audiences—while still delivering products that engage with tangibility and physicality in pioneering ways.

Though the medium of presentation is virtual, the video installation insists that the training itself is very real and its outcomes tangible. ‘Images are uncertain. Training is real. The outcome is concrete’ serves to be the exhibit’s guiding principle. Carrying this belief forward, Technogym is set to donate a UNICA to each school or charitable organisation selected by the personalities featured in the video. Together, the initiative and the digital art assembly aim to connect with the younger generation on a socio-cultural level and familiarise the youth with fitness and health from a young age.