Milan News & Trends CULT Report 2023

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 & MD

My 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 Manager

I 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.

New Look Zanotta

Mathew Fowler, Sales Manager

With a singular bold vision across a large stand at Salone del Mobile, Zanotta showed how new designs can coexist harmoniously with iconic pieces from the brands’ collection.

Paying special tribute to the Castiglioni brothers, showing interesting new pieces such as the Bol dining table and further extending the enduring Quaderna series.

Additionally, a new website and brand book reflects Zanotta’s commitment to evolving while staying faithful to the brands’ DNA

Team Highlights

Milan Design Week

Team Highlights Milan Design Week

Spazio Cappellini

Dione Glisovic

Visual Merchandising

My highlight was the Cappellini showroom. I love the continued commitment to great designers, the Shiro Kuromata homage was gentle and sweet with such powerful design pieces represented. I also loved the new outdoor collection by Cappellini it was strong with bold stripes and big curves.

I was also surprised and impressed by the use of smell. My fondest memories are moments when I walked into spaces that smelt really good it stuck with me. Dimore gallery Studio was one of those.

Top 10 // Furniture News Milan Design Week

Nanimarquina Doblecara rug by Ronan Bouroullec

Carl Hansen & Søn VLA61 chair by Vilhelm Lauritzen

Zanotta Quaderna by Superstudio

Zanotta Galeotta chair by De Pas, D’Urbino & Lomazzi

Karakter Hang Around coat rack by Derek Mcleod

Cappellini Pinch by Nendo

by Jangir Maddadi

Top 10 // Furniture Milan Design Week

by Afra and Tobia Scarpa

Extensions

Cappellini Vendicari Outdoor

Karakter Scarpa

Nanimarquina Oblique by Matthew Hilton

Carl Hansen & Søn AH Outdoor by Alfred Homann

Karakter Lari portable lamp by Angelo Mangiarotti

Vipp595 Sculpture pendant

Karakter Plexi pendant by Angelo Mangiarotti

GUBI Aspide lamp by Gianfranco Frattini (preview)

&Tradition Flowerpot New Colours by Verner Panton

Nemo Le Cabanon by Le Corbusier

pendant Mangiarotti

Karakter Saffo table lamp by Angelo Mangiarotti

Louis Poulsen x Fendi PH3/2 lamp by Poul Henningsen

Cabanon lamp

Louis Poulsen Luna by Poul Henningsen (preview)

GUBI 1967 / 1972 pendants by Paavo Tynell (preview)

CULT 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 &Tradition

Setago New Colour

by Jaime Hayon &Tradition

by Luca Nichetto &Tradition

Lato

New Finish

by BrogliatoTraverso

Cappellini

Cappellini

by nendo Cappellini

by Dimorestudio Cappellini

One Legged Table by Jasper Morrison

Cappellini

Collezione Lido

Outdoor Cappellini

Location: 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 & Søn

Nesting Tables

by Hans J. Wegner

Carl Hansen & Søn

AH Outdoor Series

by Alfred Homann

Carl Hansen & Søn

by Alfred Homann

Carl Hansen & Søn

Locations: 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 Rasmussen

Seine Light Series

by Space Copenhagen GUBI

Satellite Outdoor

by Mathieu Matégot GUBI

Mathieu Matégot

Location: 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 Karakter

Saffo Table Light

by Angelo Mangiarotti Karakter

Hang Around Coat Rack

by Derek McLeod

Karakter

Mangiarotti Marble

by Angelo Mangiarotti Karakter

Plexi Pendant

by Angelo Mangiarotti Karakter

Shuttle Rug

by Karin Carlander Karakter

The Hess Table by Mikal Harrsen Karakter

Location: 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 Poulsen

Luna Table Lamp Preview

by Poul Henningsen

Louis Poulsen

Location: Salone del Mobile

Fiera Milano, Rho

Featured: 2023 News

nanimarquina unveild their latest collections with a striking stand at Salone.

Doblecara

by Ronan Bouroullec

nanimarquina

Oblique

by Matthew Hilton

nanimarquina

Location: Enlightenment Exhibition

Featured: 2023 News

A new point of view on light. Ron Gilad accepted Federico Palazzari’s invitation for a conversation on lighting and functionality, paradox and perception. Out of this encounter, Enlightenment was born.

Unseen works and installations engaged visitors by awe-inspiring and stimulating interactions, completely changing the conventional idea of lighting design.

Lampe Cabanon

by Le Corbusier

Nemo

Lampe de Bureau Collection by Charlotte Perriand Nemo

Swan Adjustable

by Bernhard Osann Nemo

Drop

by Arihiro Miyake

Nemo

Portofino

by Valerio Sommella Nemo

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 Line

Location: 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

Vipp

Location: Salone del Mobile

Fiera Milano, Rho

Featured: 2023 News

Spread over two locations; their iconic Milano showroom, Zanotta House, and an immersive installation at the fair grounds, Zanotta launched their latest new releases, including a re-issued classic from the 70’s and a line extension to one of their most iconic collections.

by Zaven Zanotta

Galeotta

by De Pas, D’Urbino & Lomazzi

Zanotta

Bumper by Calvi Brambilla

Zanotta

Daisy Chair by Mist-o Zanotta

Nena Lounge by Lanzavecchia + Wai Zanotta

Sciangai 50

by De Pas, D’Urbino & Lomazzi

Zanotta

Tweed Marble

by Garcia Cumini Zanotta

2023 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 Installation

Natural 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 // Zanotta Sciangai 50, Cappellini Flowers for Shiro, Hermès, Nanimarquina Haze, Cappellini Showroom, 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’, Zanotta Galeotta, Louis Poulsen x Fendi.

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