In these bustling days, Milan is transforming into the ultimate hub of creativity, entrepreneurship, and design. It’s a whirlwind of impeccably crafted products from Italy’s finest, coupled with mind-bending installations, cutting-edge projects, and parties that are lit AF. Yes, you guessed it—Milan Design Week, baby! Hotels are fully booked, and the streets are alive with the buzz of design enthusiasts and industry insiders flooding in from all corners.
With so much going on, it’s easy to feel like you’re missing out, isn't it? Picture this: you’re queuing up for that Insta-worthy installation, killing time scrolling through TikTok, when BAM! Videos of epic experiences from all over Milan pop up. Talk about FOMO hitting hard.
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And what about those moments when you’re eager to discover the next big thing in design? Not sure where to start? Don’t worry—we’ve got you covered. We’ve handpicked the freshest projects from the rising stars of Istituto Marangoni. From mind-blowing furniture projects to products, installations, and exhibitions developed in collaboration with the most important brands in international design, there’s something here to excite every creative soul.
Let’s dive in and uncover the magic behind Sublime Living, which is the main theme of Istituto Marangoni’s Milano Design Week 2024 and a testament to how students are already becoming the designers of tomorrow. They are the ones who possess the talent to watch out for as we navigate the challenge of designing the physical world in the era of mixed reality, thanks to their exploration of the new frontiers of technology, including AI as an ally.
No Code Exhibition –with CAPPELLINI
Where? SuperStudio Più, Via Tortona 27 | April 16th > April 21st
Is AI a threat to our roles, our jobs, and our creativity? Or can we imagine a future where humans and machines coexist harmoniously and promote it through product design by addressing technology from a humanistic and anthropological perspective? Furniture and design brand Cappellini has assigned students from the Master’s in Product & Furniture Design to come up with designs for a potential spin-off brand targeting Generation Z consumers.
No Code Exhibition in partnership with Cappellini at SuperStudio Più.
“I don’t like to categorise potential global consumers by birth years. I prefer to discuss the so-called no-code generation, namely, individuals who live outside the box, embracing a lifestyle of absolute freedom worldwide, often living as nomads. However, they still have cherished possessions that are integral parts of their lives and that they bring with them wherever they go,” said Giulio Cappellini, Art Director at Istituto Marangoni. “Together with design students from Istituto Marangoni, we have created a series of innovative products. The market does not need new products, but there is a demand for objects that offer a high level of interaction; these objects are not only to be admired but to be played with and integrated into our daily lives,” he added.
No Code Exhibition in partnership with Cappellini at SuperStudio Più.
What are your thoughts on this? In our digitally oriented landscape, do you think objects will play an even more essential role in our lives, engaging with us in increasingly diverse ways? To find an answer, you can check out NO CODE, an exhibition curated by Gustavo Martini, an internationally acclaimed designer and Istituto Marangoni alumnus. The exhibition features 13 products, each created by a different student.
How Do You Imagine Your First Home? – with IKEA
Where? Padiglione Visconti, Via Tortona 58 | April 17th
Have you ever imagined a perfect living space, the one you would call your “first” home? This question is what inspires emerging designers to create immersive works that embody their unique vision of the ideal first home.
Students from the Master’s in Digital Art Direction and the Master’s in Digital Design for Immersive Experiences went beyond just designing a “first” home. They aimed to create a personal sanctuary that resonates with the needs and aspirations of today’s generation. Their goal was to design not just a primary space but the quintessential first space of their lives as envisioned by Gen Z.
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Through their creations, the designers at Istituto Marangoni invite us to reimagine living spaces as more than mere physical structures but as extensions of our identities and lifestyles.
Design To Move – with TECHNOGYM
Where? Showroom Technogym, Via Durini 1 | April 16th > April 21st
Can sports and design come together? These two seemingly different worlds actually intersect and produce incredible results, as evidenced by the “Design to Move” exhibition.
Launched for Technogym’s 40th anniversary, this exhibit features 40 unique interpretations of the Technogym bench—a hallmark of the brand’s home wellness collection—crafted by designers and artists from across the globe.
DESIGN TO MOVE in partnership con Technogym
The exhibition features acclaimed designers such as Antonio Citterio, Nendo, Patricia Urquiola, Kelly Hoppen, Piero Lissoni, Walter de Silva, Rolf Sachs, Elena Salmistraro, and Michele Bönan.
Additionally, the exhibition includes contributions from 6 members of the Prisma Project, a group of the most talented alumni from Istituto Marangoni’s School of Design: Gustavo Martini, Ludovica Messina, Malika Novi, Giorgia Apreia, Mariana Prestes, and Yuetong Shi. They have also worked to blend design with wellness, style, and functionality.
Newfound Equilibrium – with SAMSUNG
Where? Le Cavallerizze, Via Olona 6 bis
Samsung reimagines the coexistence of humans and technology with a fresh perspective and a clear message that is essential, innovative, and harmonious.
In this design experience, 40 students specialising in Product and Visual Design at Istituto Marangoni Milano have the opportunity to unleash their creativity in sync with Samsung’s concept of “Newfound Equilibrium.” This global approach prioritises the well-being of people and the environment as guiding principles for shaping a better future, inspiring the creation of new products that balance human needs with digital advancements.
NEWFOUND EQUILIBRIUM in partnership with Samsung at Museo Nazionale della Scienza e Tecnologia
It’s all about prioritising people and ensuring that human experiences remain at the forefront of technological progress. This approach not only fuels innovation but also fosters harmony between human life and technology, laying the foundation for a more sustainable and inclusive future.
Wallcome – with OUTPUMP & PORTA VENEZIA DESIGN DISTRICT
Where? Piazza Lavater | April 16th > April 21st
“Everything is design,” as quoted by Paul Rand, an American art director and graphic designer renowned for his corporate logo designs, including those of IBM, UPS, and Enron, among others. For Rand, “design is the method of putting form and content together. Design, just as art, has multiple definitions; there is no single definition. Design can be art. Design can be aesthetics. Design is so simple, that’s why it is so complicated.”
Wallcome Exhibition in partnership with OUTPUMP - artwork by Ayleen-Shaker
And what better place to embody this definition of design than the inclusive, multifaceted, and contemporary neighbourhood of Porta Venezia? Outpump and Porta Venezia Design District have collaborated on a project that involves a large wall adorned with manifestos by emerging young designers, who have been selected through a contest that also involved 40 Visual Design students from Istituto Marangoni Milano. The wall serves as a symbol of limitless creativity and freedom. All the artworks on it draw inspiration from the theme “EverythinK is Design,” coined from the famous words of Paul Rand.
As its name suggests, Wallcome, the project warmly welcomes artistic contributions, highlighting the atmosphere that this initiative seeks to foster.
Wallcome Exhibition in partnership with OUTPUMP - artwork by Noah Bergesen Neby
Mixed Reality Living | The Poltrona Frau Exhibition
Where? Istituto Marangoni Milano, Via Cerva 24 – The School of Design | April 9th > April 21st
In the 2024 design and fashion realm, artificial intelligence and virtual reality undoubtedly play key roles working in tandem with human creativity. As the design environment continues to evolve, designers must remain updated with the latest trends and technological advancements to stay ahead of the curve.
Poltrona Frau is aware of these changes and has taken a proactive approach, addressing the importance of occupant well-being, sustainability, accessibility, and inclusivity in this new housing paradigm. In collaboration with the brand, students from the Master’s programs in Interior Design and Interior Contract Design at Istituto Marangoni Milano have designed the home of the mixed reality era, showcasing how physical spaces will transform to integrate the digital dimension. Their work aims to create an immersive experience, envisioning all the possible activities, functions, and sensory and emotional experiences that will become part of daily life and living in the future. They have rethought the technical and functional aspects of the new Poltrona Frau products and their contextualisation in this new housing scenario. Can you imagine living in such a unique balance between the physical and virtual worlds?
Poltrona Frau Exhibition at Istituto Marangoni Milano Design
Riccardo Luci, a former student of Istituto Marangoni who currently works as an art director at the Monogrid agency, has come up with an exhibition concept that reflects our age of radical change. In an almost abstract, limbo-like room, visitors are invited to interact with windows that open onto a digital world, offering them a sneak peek into the future envisioned by the students. In the second part of the room, living space renderings are seamlessly integrated with Poltrona Frau furniture, creating a coherent blend between the digital and physical worlds.
Poltrona Frau Exhibition at Istituto Marangoni Milano Design
Sentient Horizons | The Design Degree Show
Where? Istituto Marangoni Milano, Via Cerva 24 – The School of Design | April 9th > April 21st
As the name suggests, let’s explore the realm of sentient horizons. What possibilities and innovations will emerge in the world of design? While the answer remains open to unlimited possibilities, we can embark on an imaginative journey with the degree show, which showcases the best projects from the Interior, Product, and Visual Design courses at Istituto Marangoni Milano.
With all the projects on display, including innovative living concepts on planets like Mars, the show takes visitors on a journey to a non-place, like a physical bridge that overlooks new worlds, new perceptions, and new eras. You will be effectively transported to different worlds in this exhibition curated by Alumni Matteo Agati and Ricardo Luci, along with students.
Sentient Horizons | The Design Degree Show at Istituto Marangoni Milano Design
What sets this immersive experience apart? It’s the sound that was created by Italian artist and composer Chiara Luzzana using sounds from the classrooms and spaces of the Istituto Marangoni Design School.
Now that you’re informed about the exciting events lined up for this week, are you planning to attend any exhibitions? See you there!
