If you have followed our adventures on social media lately, you’ve had a front row seat at Milan Design Week 2025. Aboard a Vespa, we zipped from historic palazzos to showroom previews, to discussions with world-renowned designers and industry leaders; immersed in an inspiring exchange of energy, ideas, and innovations at every turn. The theme of this year’s fair – ‘Thought for Humans’ – reminded us of design’s integral role in engaging all our senses beyond physical sight; a universal language inspiring connection and collaboration.
One of our favourite global design destinations, Milan, was as energising and vibrant as ever. From thought-provoking public activations, to ‘takeovers’ of major museums, homages to design legends, and year-defining collaborative projects, each district of the city offered extraordinary discoveries and interactions as part of the ‘Fuorisalone’ program.
When in Milan, do as the Milanese do. We started our day with the mandatory brioche e caffè at Pasticceria Cucchi or Marchesi in Galleria, we lunched at Da Giacomo or Casa Fiori Chiari, and savoured a classic Milanese aperitivo at Camparino in Galleria or even in the gardens at Villa Necchi for a moment of serenity. Here’s a spin through where we went, what we saw, who we met, and how we experienced Milan like a true local during a whirlwind of a week.
Designers, heritage brands, emerging studios, and a global lineup of creative identities made their mark with immersive exhibits that used theatrical elements of scale, lighting, and sets for multi-sensory dramatic effect. Emphasising the conceptual narratives behind iconic design collections, objects, and materials present in our daily lives, these projects will have the design world and beyond talking for years to come.
In collaboration with Cassina, European design studio Formafantasma staged a theatrical performance and installation at Milan’s Teatro Lirico. Staging Modernity celebrated the 60th anniversary of the production of Cassina’s most iconic armchairs and lounges (including designs by Le Corbusier), reflecting on how modernist ideas are interpreted in a contemporary world. Milan-based Nilufar Gallery explored the expressive sensuality of metals in a site-specific exhibition called Silver Lining at its Depot location. Inspired by a 1970s aesthetic, this “reflective playground” co-curated by founder Nina Yashar and Fosbury Architecture gleamed with aluminium and chrome-plated steel surfaces, and featured works by Italian design legends including Gio Ponti, Gino Colombini and Gabriella Crespi.
Renowned for creating large-scale performative sculptures, artist and stage designer Es Devlin illuminated the central courtyard of the Pinacoteca di Brera with a futuristic rotating Library of Light which had people lining up for blocks to experience. Oscar-winning Italian film director Paolo Sorrentino was invited to design an evocative installation titled La Dolce Attesa (The Sweet Wait) on-site at the fair this year; a cinematic fusion of colour, costumes, music, and interior environments. This sense of drama – operatic, cinematic, and even chromatic – was also present in the new collections from interior design brands like Edra, CC Tapis, and Mooi.
The best way to ‘conquer’ Milan Design Week’s thousand-plus event program? One district after another. While it’s impossible to see everything, covering as many stops as possible in one or two districts each day is the most strategic (and least stressful) way to experience everything on your list.
With its historical palazzi and heritage Milanese architecture, the Porta Venezia district was home to a number of hallmark events in this year’s Design Week program. These included Lavazza’s grand-scale installation, Source of Pleasure, inside Palazzo del Senato designed by Brazilian architect and designer Juliana Lima Vasconcellos, as well as Louis Vuitton’s Objets Nomade at Palazzo Serbelloni. Inside L’Appartamento by Artemest, we were delighted to see Australian interior designer and decorator Simone Haag, who was one of six globally-renowned design identities featured in this year’s edition. Simone’s space, ‘The Foyer’, showcased an elegant curation of collectible Italian furniture and artisanal design objects.
The vibrant Tortona district had IKEA move in with its experiential space focussed on ‘Democratic Design’, which was furnished with sofas, rugs, and other items from the company’s latest STOCKHOLM 2025 collection. International design connoisseurs and collectors made their annual visit to Rossana Orlandi Gallery in San Vittore for this year’s edition of ROCollectible, which profiled special projects by Lebanese designer Aline Asmar d’Amman and Polish design collective Craftica. With a bit of energy still left in the tank, we hit Superstudio for HAPPINESS, a feel-good collective exhibition bursting with colour and unexpected design encounters, featuring works from over 70 international designers and studios such as Planabacus and Niklas Jacob.
From Isola to 5VIE, from Durini to Alcova, we needed an extra week to cover all bases. Topping our list of Milan Design Week districts, however, was Brera. This area had something for everyone, hosting hundreds of exhibits and showcases by major brands, designers, and fashion houses like AESOP, Loewe and Gucci, as well as intriguing new discoveries at the House of Switzerland and exhibitions by international designers including Melbourne’s own Ross Gardam.
And with that, the curtain comes down on Milan Design Week 2025. Until next year, arrivederci Milano!
