T hat ’s a wrap!
Team Highlights
Step into the world of Milan Design Week with our team’s curated highlights. From innovative installations to awe-inspiring designs, discover the very best of this year’s event.
Click on one of the team photos to uncover their favourite moment or read on to discover all our top picks >
Team Highlights
Milan Design Week
GUBI Bagni Misteriosi
Richard Munao, Founder & MDMy personal highlight was the GUBI experience from the TEN exhibition to the way Gubi worked with the environment to create a wonderful journey to the highlight the Alfresco installation.
A very clear focus on a new market segment they are focused on plus a great way to invite clients to use the product in an incredible setting.
Elle Decor Exhibition
Jeff Tsang, General ManagerI loved the Art of Light exhibition by Elle Decor Italia at Palazzo Bovara. Each room explored how light can affect our mood and perception of space. The use of moving curtains to block or let light in was really effective, along with the changing colour and warmth of light in each room. Seeing iconic designs in unexpected ways was also a highlight, such as the floor-toceiling installation of wall-mounted Louis Poulsen Panthella table lamps in chrome.
Team Highlights Milan Design Week
Team Highlights
Milan Design Week
Creative Collaborations
Rosie Schloeffel-Light Marketing Manager
I loved seeing how brands from different categories partnered together to create surprising and unexpected products or experiences!
For example, Louis Poulsen x Fendi, Giacomo Milano x Liberty London, Solid Nature x Sabine Marcelis x Laila Cooks and Faye Toogood x Maison Matisse.
Vipp Palazzo Monti
Mathew
Fowler, Sales ManagerIn the heart of Brescia, halfway between Milan and Verona, stands a 13th century palazzo decorated with frescoes from 1750. Vipp opened its opulent gates to an ephemeral hotel experience fusing Scandinavian minimalism with Baroque maximalism.
Team Highlights
Milan Design Week
Team Highlights Milan Design Week
Scarpa Karakter
Dione Glisovic Visual Merchandising
The postmodern Italian design-couple Afra and Tobia Scarpa ran one of the most widely acclaimed and well-known professional design studios, and together, they had an impressive impact on Italian design in the 1970s and 1980s.
Today, Afra and Tobia Scarpa’s work is part of the collection of many museums worldwide and has been exhibited in countless temporary exhibitions. One of those iconic pieces, permanently on display at MoMA in New York, is the 925 Scarpa lounge chair. The piece of design history is now available exclusively through Karakter.
Top 10 // Furniture News Milan Design Week
Nanimarquina Doblecara rug by Ronan Bouroullec Carl Hansen & Søn VLA61 chair by Vilhelm Lauritzen Vipp Monti Swivel by Vipp GUBI MR01 Outdoor by Mathias Rasmussen Karakter Hang Around coat rack by Derek Mcleod Carl Hansen & Søn by Hans J. WegnerTop 10 // Furniture
Milan Design Week
Chair GUBI Carmel Outdoor Table by OEO StudioCULT B ra n sd
Location: This Is Denmark
Featured: Verner Panton’s masterpieces with a refreshed colour palette.
This is Denmark brought a different take on Danish design: a story of how 15 brands interpret their national heritage illustrated in a water landscape and through a generative sound track.
Flowerpot + Topman
New Colours
by Verner Panton &TraditionSetago New Colour
by Jaime Hayon &Tradition by Luca Nichetto &Tradition Lato New FinishLocation: NEW HERITAGE at Carl Hansen & Søn Milan showroom
Featured:
VLA61 Monarch Chair
Nesting Tables
AH Outdoor Series
Carl Hansen & Søn invited guests to an immersive exhibition NEW HERITAGE, which took visitors on an inspiring journey through the Danish heritage of design and craftsmanship.
VLA61 Monarch Chair
by Vilhelm Lauritzen Carl Hansen & SønNesting Tables
by Hans J. Wegner Carl Hansen & SønAH Outdoor Series
by Alfred Homann Carl Hansen & SønLocations: This Is Denmark Superdesign Show
Euroluce
Featured: The Spanish Chair
The Ox Chair
Fredericia was active across 3 locations at this years Salone. From a Danish design collective at Alcova to a collaborative lounge at Euroluce, Fredericia spotlighted their icon status within the design industry.
Location: Bagni Misteriosi
Featured: GUBI Under The Sun 2023 Product Previews
For Milan Design Week 2023, GUBI took over the iconic Bagni Misteriosi, The Mysterious Baths, to stage an immersive sensory spectacle.
GUBI SALONE 2023 brought together cutting-edge contemporary creativity with timeless icons of 20th-century design.
Location: Bagni Misteriosi
Featured: TEN // Beyond The Beetle
Ten years ago, young design studio GamFratesi unveiled a creative experiment at Salone, and – unknowingly at the time –secured a place in design history. Now, a decade on, GUBI celebrated GamFratesi’s Beetle Chair with a one of- a-kind exhibition, TEN, where ten global creatives were invited to re-imagine the iconic design.
Carmel Outdoor Table
by OEO Studio GUBI MR01 Outdoor by Mathias RasmussenSeine Light Series
by Space Copenhagen GUBISatellite Outdoor
by Mathieu Matégot GUBI Mathieu MatégotLocation: Cassina Showroom
Featured: 2023 News
Karakter launched the latest novelties from Afra & Tobia Scarpa, Angelo Mangiarotti, Mikal Harrsen, Bodil Kjær and more at a sophisticated installation at Cassina’s flagship Milan showroom.
Scarpa
by Afra & Tobia Scarpa Karakter Lari Portable by Angelo Mangiarotti KarakterSaffo Table Light
by Angelo Mangiarotti KarakterHang Around Coat Rack
by Derek McLeod KarakterMangiarotti Marble
by Angelo Mangiarotti Karakter Plexi Pendant by Angelo Mangiarotti KarakterShuttle Rug
by Karin Carlander Karakter The Hess Table by Mikal Harrsen KarakterLocation: Fendi Casa
The Louis Hotel
Featured: Pale Rose Extension Fendi x Louis Poulsen Collaboration
Louis Poulsen previewed their latest collaboration with Italian fashion house, Fendi, alongside a virtual hotel experience at The Louis, which announced the latest product lines available in pale rose.
Fendi x Louis Poulsen Preview
by Poul Henningsen Louis Poulsen Pale Rose Line Extension by Poul Henningsen Louis PoulsenLuna Table Lamp Preview
by Poul Henningsen Louis PoulsenLocation: Salone del Mobile
Fiera Milano, Rho
Featured: 2023 News
nanimarquina unveild their latest collections with a striking stand at Salone.
Doblecara
by Ronan Bouroullecnanimarquina
Oblique
by Matthew Hiltonnanimarquina
Location: Salone del Mobile
Fiera Milano, Rho
Featured: 2023 News
Soft Line unveild their latest collections with a beautiful stand at Salone.
Joe Collection
by Böttcher & Kayser Soft LineLocation: Vipp Pop-Up Showroom, Milan
Featured: Vipp Palazzo Monti Preview Vipp Monti Swivel Chair
Located in the heart of Milan, Vipp opened an ephemeral showroom during Milan Design Week.
Here, Vipp presented a distinct selection of their design portfolio including furniture, lighting, and 2023 novelties.
Monti Swivel Chair Vipp Sculpture Pendant Vipp2023 Design Trends
Our team scoured the most exciting and unique activations during Milan Design Week to bring you the latest and most innovative design trends that will shape the industry in the coming years. Explore now and stay ahead of the curve >
2023 Trends Milan Design Week
Silver & Chrome
Perhaps a nod towards the future or just a step away from brassy interiors, we saw silver and chrome everywhere throughout the week. From reflective chrome tiles in Marni’s new flagship store, to metallic curtains at exhibitions by 10 Corso Como, Gubi, Alcova and Alessi and Ingo maurer. We also saw strong new releases showcased in chrome, including Gubi’s new Aspide Lamp by Gianfranco Frattini, Cappellini’s new Vendicari chair and chairs in the Loewe Chairs show.
2023 Trends
Milan Design Week
Clockwise from top left // Loewe Exhibition, Ingo Maurer Installation, This Is Denmark at Alcova, GUBI 2023 Preview, New Marni store opening, GUBI Ten Exhibition.2023 Trends Milan Design Week
Clockwise from left // Vincenzo De Cotiss, Tom Fereday at Alcova, Design Variations, Studiopepe, Rossana Orlandi Gallery, Solid Nature InstallationNatural Stone & Crystals
We saw a big move towards revealing nature’s hidden beauty through the use of coloured and interesting stones in new ways. In a step towards more maximalist interiors, we saw furniture and monolithic exhibition designs using rare marbles, onyx, travertine, quartzite, granite and semi-precious stones in deep blue, emerald green and vibrant pink, orange and red tones.
2023 Trends
Milan Design Week
2023 Trends Milan Design Week
All Shades of Rainbow
Gone are the days of boucle and layered beige interiors. Inspired by postpandemic optimism, we saw rainbow in all shades throughout the week - from soft iridescent colours to super saturated and vibrant hues.
2023 Trends Milan Design Week
Clockwise from top left // Triennale di Milano, Flowers for Shiro, Hermès, Nanimarquina Haze, Liberty London, Nilufar Gallery.2023 Trends Milan Design Week
Clockwise from left // Rossana Orlandi Gallery, Karakter Saffo, Elle Decor, Doppia Firma, Karakter Lari Mini, Ross Gardam.Glass
This humble material took centre stage this year - whether mouth blown using unique techniques, tinted with interesting colours or patterns, extra thick in texture or with ribbed surfaces.
2023 Trends
Milan Design Week
2023 Trends Milan Design Week
Reissues & Reinventing Classics
We attended a design talk with GUBI and Gianfranco Frattini’s children, who spoke so eloquently about why many brands are looking back to the archives and reissuing pieces into production. They referenced the comfort and assurance of looking back, and finding that many solutions already exist without the need to develop more. We also many brands reinventing their icons with collaborative art-led projects like TEN by Gubi, DDAA LAB’s ’Hackability of the Stool’, Vipp’s Palazzo Monti Chair and Louis Poulsen’s capsule range with Fendi.
2023 Trends Milan Design Week
Clockwise from top left // Karakter Scarpa, Vipp Palazzo Monti Chair, GUBI TEN Exhibition, DDAA LAB’s ’Hackability of the Stool’, Carl Hansen & Søn VLA61 Monarch Chair, Louis Poulsen x Fendi.Auckland. 73 The Strand Parnell, Auckland 1010 info@cultdesign.co.nz
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