Discover the highlights of Milan Design Week 2023, including Salone del Mobile, Alcova, Design Talks by Time & Style, and more.
Milan Design Week is one of the most prominent and prestigious design events in the world. Held annually in Milan, Italy, the event showcases the latest innovations, trends, and creations from the world of design, fashion, art, and architecture. It is a platform for designers, artists, and enthusiasts to come together and celebrate creativity, innovation, and cutting-edge design. Milan Design Week 2023 and its innovative edition ended on Sunday, concluding another successful celebration of creativity and design excellence.
Here’s what went down.
Salone del Mobile
Image courtesy of Salone del Mobile Milano
Salone del Mobile – aka the star of Milan Design week – has been going on for 61 staggering years, so you know it’s good. According to the organisation itself, “Milano 2023 saw the participation of more than 2,000 exhibiting brands, 34% from 37 different countries, including 550 young designers from 31 countries, and 28 design schools and universities from 18 countries.” With this year’s edition taking on a strong focus on its internationality, talks, updates and photographs were constantly shared on socials, making the Salone del Mobile the most accessible it has ever been.
When it comes to the exhibits, there were some noteworthy standouts at Milan Design Week. Cassina, for instance, caught the eye with a bold, colorful pink staircase adorned with a stunning new collection of Cassina Lighting. Meanwhile, Poliform showcased their latest furniture pieces, which featured sumptuous curves that were both inviting and visually striking. And for those who appreciate Scandi minimalism, Molteni&C did not disappoint, demonstrating their mastery of this aesthetic to utter perfection.
Alcova
Images courtesy of Mattia Parodi
The 2023 edition of Alcova, an independent design platform created by Space Caviar and Studio Vedèt, was back with a new location, the former Porta Vittoria abattoir. Quite the location, we must say. Despite being currently neglected, the site was set to undergo a significant and permanent transformation, and during the event was heavily programmed with an array of performances, exhibitions, talks, screenings, and installations.
Design Talks by Time & Style
At this year’s Milan Design Week, Tokyo-based furniture brand Time & Style hosted a series of captivating talks at their showroom, with the esteemed designboom founder Birgit Lohmann moderating the event. The Design Talks featured enlightening conversations with Ryutaro Yoshida, CEO of Time & Style, as well as world-renowned architects and designers who have collaborated with the brand on the development of its latest furniture lines, such as Kengo Kuma, Claesson Koivisto Rune, DRILL DESIGN and Aoi Huber Kono. Needless to say; these were a pretty big deal.
Moreover Time & Style also introduced their new collaborative furniture collection, Time & Style ēdition, created in partnership with Boffi | DePadova, making it the first-ever Italian-Japanese furnishing brand collaboration with worldwide distribution of Japanese products.
Issey Miyake
Image courtesy of Dezeen
During Milan Design Week, the ISSEY MIYAKE / MILAN flagship store presented a special exhibition called ‘THINKING DESIGN, MAKING DESIGN: TYPE-V Nature Architects’ . The exhibition, created as the latest collaborative effort of A- POC ABLE ISSEY MIYAKE, delved into the role of design concerning structure, materials, and manufacturing, and how they merge into a unified manufacturing process.
Ikea and Telekom Electronic Beats
We all love some good Ikea. Celebrating 80 years of innovation under the theme ‘Assembling the Future Together,’ IKEA returned to the world’s biggest annual design event. The exhibition, located at Padiglione Visconti for Salone del Mobile, engaged visitors’ five senses in a discovery journey through 80 years of innovative solutions that shaped the future of living. It offered a glimpse into what the future of home life may look like, and hosted a three-night program by both emerging and established DJs and music selectors, offering empowering storytelling and a club culture experience. Best part? The event was free to attend and open to everyone.
Hermès Installation
One of the most highly anticipated installations of Milan Design Week was presented by a DDW favourite, Hermés, at La Pelota Jai Alai. Located in the heart of Brera, the indoor sports center’s monumental spaces showcase the French luxury brand’s latest collections of furniture and home accessories.
Milan Triennale
Image courtesy of Milan Trienniale
The Milan Triennale marked its centenary with a series of exhibitions and events held throughout the year, but as part of the Design Week festivities, the Museo del Design Italiano reopened on April 15, 2023, showcasing the history of the institution from its inception in 1923 to the present day. The museum was once again situated in the Curva, with over 1,300 square meters on the first floor of the Palazzo dell’Arte, and featured more than 300 selected objects from its collection of 1,600 items, as well as other loans from significant private collections.
Casa Blond by Blond
Blond, the consultancy that prioritizes sustainability and strategic thinking, opened its temporary space, Casa Blond, in Brera during Milan Design Week 2023. The residency offered visitors an opportunity to experience emotional creativity and collaboration in a homely setting, deviating from the trend of AI-generated designs. The displays featured a collection of obscure yet inspiring objects showcased in cabinets, along with innovative domestic appliances and accessories.
Glo™ For Art by Agostino Iacurci
At Milan Design Week, an installation created by glo™ and Agostino Iacurci encircled the Largo Treves tower, which is about to be demolished. The installation was called ‘Dry Days, Tropical Nights’ and encouraged viewers to envision a better future for our planet and work together to create it. The piece was part of the wider glo™ for art project, which aims to support art and culture and make the artistic experience accessible to all.