Our heads are spinning and feet are sore, but Milan Design Week 2023 you were worth every minute and sleepless night! The installations were mind-blowing, the product launches were drool-worthy, and the parties were off the hook. We’re feeling all fired up and ready to bring some of that inspiration back home.
Both days were once again jam packed, Day 03 was spent with the DIA x Dulux colour team for a day of trend spotting! We were totally spoilt, spending the day with such a great bunch of experts not to mention being led around town by Milanese Colour and Design Expert – Judith Van Villet from the Colour Authority
And of course we can’t go past Day 04 a trip to Lake Como to visit the Baxter Villa, thanks to the team at Salbini!
Here’s a little insight of what our day look like…
Day 03
01. – Nulifar Depot
First stop, Nulifar Depot. A gallery founded in Milan itself in 1979 by Nina Yashir. We got to explore some incredible state of the art collectible designs spanning from artwork through to lighting. With the theme ‘The Bright Side of Design’ the gallery presented a combination of ‘old masters’ and contemporary artists putting the spotlight on some ingenious creations from around the world!
02. – Dry Days Tropical Nights Pop Up
Over in the heart of Milan, Brera we attended Agostino Lacurci’s ‘Dry Days Tropical Nights’ installations partnered with Glo.
It’s raw interior with bright colours, palm tree silhouettes and lights reminiscent of tropical sunsets. A large installation in Largo Treves, that invites us to look at how our landscape could become and to build a better tomorrow all together.
03. – Mutina Casa
We were all obsessing over the new tile collections designed by both Particia Urquiola and Michael Anastassiades. We were able to touch and feel the new ceramic collection by Mutina Casa that boasts tactility and an incredible array of colours! It doesn’t take long to appreciate the extortionary level of craftmanship in these products, beautifully displayed throughout the space.
04. – Hermes
Via Palermo was the next stop! Checking out Hermes’ new creations for the home, ‘The Power of Fundamentals’. The installation was stripped back to highlight framework composed of iron rods and concrete. Emphasising strength through subtraction with effortless presence – the very essence of design.
05. – The Butterfly Effect
A collaboration between Muuto, V-Zug & Tubes transformed a renowned 18th century apartment gallery in Brera into a sensory environment that reflect human emotion while delicately framing them in scenarios of everyday life.
The installation also integrates new designs by both TAF Studio and Thomas Bentzen.
The Midst Table by TAF as ‘Mingle Cushions’ by Thomas Bentzen were just a couple of the new designs that were integrated into the installation. Perfectly executing their story of seemingly small changes having a significant effect on every day life and our wellbeing.
06. – CC Tapis
This has to be one of our favourite exhibitions to attend, and this year certainly didn’t disappoint!
This year they shared their brand new collections with various designers including formafantasma, objects_of_common_interest Particia Urquiola, Bethanlaurawood & germansermics. We are always so impressed by the constant evolution of their products with new designs and colour combinations everywhere you look!
07. – Kohler – The Creators Journey
Inside the Palazzo Del Senato, Kohler celebrated their 150th anniversary of art, colour and innovation. The installation acting as the debut for their new limited edition product collection. These products, a canvas for four original artworks by trailblazing female artists from around the world, Ananda nahu (Brazil) , Ziling Wang (China / UK) , Elle (USA) , Pushpa Kumari (India).
On top of this we got to see Janet Echelman’s ‘Noli Timere’ installation floating about the pools of the courtyard.
Check out the collection here!
08. – Galleria Rosanna Orlandi
We finished off today’s antics at Rossana Orlandi’s gallery. Since entering the design world in 2002 her gallery has become a veritable mecca for design, also being named one of the eight most important in the world! The gallery, showcasing an incredible array of innovation and design in the form of furniture, art, sculptures & lighting.
A massive thank you Dulux for such an incredible day shared with like-minded designers. Our creative minds are exploding with joy!
Day 04
.01 – Baxter Tour
First things first, a trip to Lake Como with Baxter thanks to the team at Salbini!
We got to experience Baxter’s new collection in the dreamy lakeside setting of La Casa Sul Lago. A sensory journey, where the beautiful villa was styled to introduce the new materials and furnishing pieces being released in Baxter’s new 2023 collection. It was an amazing way to see the pieces within the home itself and how they interact with surrounding lighting, styling elements, and the environment as a whole!
Baxter’s 2023 collection was all about vivid colours, meeting sharp material contracts bringing recognition to that of ‘brutalist’ interiors by Le Corbusier. The striking new collection, brings the essence of the 1970’s into furniture / material form. Rich, light, harmonious and fanciful are just some of the words used to describe the collection by creative names such as Paola Navone, Draga & Aurel & Frederico Peri . Just some of the designer’s behind the inspiration and creative direction behind this collection.
We were very pleased to be finishing off the tour with yet another beautiful lunch with the Salbini crew… sitting down and soaking up all the incredible scenery Lake Como has to offer… photos really just don’t do this place justice!
.02 – Nemo Lighting
We can’t forget to mention the incredible exhibition by Israeli artist, Ron Gilad for Nemo Lighting. As a celebration of Nemo’s 30th Anniversary, the exhibit was a project narrating the paradoxical experience of lighting through and beyond objects. Ron Gilad used various techniques such as reflection, refraction, diffusion, colour, sound and video to manipulate the behaviour of light and how it interacts with space.
