I went to Milan Design Week and was wowed by these 7 top picks of products and presentations that hold a timeless appeal.
Storet by Nanda Vigo for Acerbis (1994, reedition 2020) by Gucci
Sabato De Sarno, Gucci's new creative director, introduced the signature color Rosso Ancora at his 2023 debut catwalk collection. The color was inspired by Italian opera singer Misa’s 1978 hit “Ancora ancora ancora” and applied to five pieces of iconic Italian design, re-edited and customized in the red shade and showcased at Gucci’s flagship store in Milan.
Fire in Milan by Grau
The debut collection of ambient “living” lighting aims to enhance sleep quality and improve mental well-being. Users can click and dim to control the moving light compositions made from melatonin-producing warm light. Ultra-fast charging delivers 50 hours of portable light.
Rude Collection by Faye Toogood for CC-Tapis
Unveiled in her Rude Arts Club exhibition in Milan this year, Faye Toogood’s Rude Collection celebrates female energy, womanhood, and sex through abstracted fleshy forms and blood-red blob designs. The shapely, textured carpets stood out in this year’s debut collections for her exploration of themes and forms seldom seen in the design industry.
Muuto Milan Apartment
Exploring the question, “What makes up the feeling of home?” Muuto designed the six-room Brera apartment to shift focus from single products to create an evocative atmosphere that connects on a deeper level. The aim, says Line Brockman Jule, CEO at Muuto, is to “inspire us all to be more intentional about the space where we spend most of our time—our home.”
Bar Unniko by Marrimeko and Apartemento
The bar, already a fixture and local favorite in Milan, got a full Marimeko makeover: classic features like the cafe chairs, wood furnishing, awnings, floor, and bar staff were literally enveloped in the classic bold pink and orange Unniko print designed by Maija Isola in 1964.
Dedar Milano
The “tiger story” of Dedar’s new pattern- and texture-forward collection of fabrics was celebrated in the performance “Sapessi com’è strano vedere una tigre a Milano” by French artist Sulian Rios. Masked in his animal identity, the choreographer, dancer, and visual artist danced fabrics through the streets of Milan.
Superwire by Formafantasma for Flos
Italian designers Formafantasma produced a lighting collection featuring Flos’s newly developed LED light source: a thin, flexible strip that casts up to a meter of consistently warm and homogenous light. Designed for repair, glass panels can be removed and the strip lighting is easily replaceable.
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