Artist Maurizio Cattelan kicked off the week by stamping 'White Trash' on participants' necks and hands in front of Milan's Duomo. Masterly, curated by Nicole Uniquole, occupied 25 rooms overlooking Piazza Duomo and featured over 100 participants including independent designers, historic companies, new ventures, artisans, artists, and schools. The edition emphasized collective projects and installations beyond product display, with an illustration by Dutch artist Levi Jacobs.
Ellen Haeser, former fashion designer and trend forecaster, contributed to Masterly focusing on moving beyond trends. At Masterly, Mecanoo and Bert Plantagie created an installation featuring the modular seating system Macaron. The Mosaic Factory, Jee-O, and Mind Oasis at Home by Rituals presented a reflection on home wellness spaces.
HMC (Wood & Furniture College) exhibited six best diploma projects. Van Besouw presented an immersive installation entirely covered in carpet in the Sala delle Colonne. POLDR, Knops Tuindesign, and COOXS created an installation focusing on open-air spaces.
An exhibition at Milan Design Week featured a 90 m² Risk board and around 60 games from different eras, including about 30 historical games such as Go, chess, backgammon, and modern titles like Monopoly and Connect 4. The exhibition includes a 'Ludoteca' play space where visitors can play games, and features crafted editions by Italian luxury brands, including custom wooden carrom tables and leather-bound Battleship sets. At Salone del Mobile, the fair added a new pavilion called 'Raritas' for limited edition and unique pieces, according to multiple reports.
Saudi brand Zaza made its debut, showcasing curved stainless steel sculptures and a limited edition chair. Poltronova showed revived classics by Lella and Massimo Vignelli and Archizoom. Prostoria displayed a collection by Vjenceslav Richter designed in the 1960s but never produced during his lifetime.
Acerbis revived Claudio Salocchi's modular sofa 'Free System' from 1973. Design studio Uslu from Istanbul presented 'Disco house' products referencing 1970s nightclub environments. Belgian designer Job Smeets showed kitsch, high-gloss tables in pink, caramel red, and gold at Salone Raritas.
Piero Lissoni designed a new armchair 'Yve's' for Kartell combining industrial steel tube design with soft cushions and strong colors. Arper showcased a chunky sofa by Jean-Marie Massaud made from recyclable materials. Established & Sons returned with a 3D-molded veneer chair by Nathan Martell and jellyfish-like lamps by Carlo Nason.
De' Longhi Group presented 'The Smallest Coffee Shop at Home' in collaboration with miniaturist Simon Weisse. La Marzocco introduced three new colours for its home machines: crème, blue, and brushed steel. La Marzocco partnered with Highsnobiety for The Good Meet-Up Kiosk, a cultural newsstand concept.
CASA La Marzocco displayed a curated program of coffee experiences, product reveals, and talks. La Marzocco also created a limited-edition collection with Dutch design brand POLSPOTTEN. Gucci hosted an event in a monastery garden with wildflowers and tapestries.
Patricia Urquiola created an installation for Duravit inside a Milan luxury hotel featuring totems from toilets and bidets. Dutch designer Sabine Marcelis presented a bubbling sculpture with air passing through viscose liquid inside a polymer wall. Italian designer Francesco Faccin showed tables and chairs made from bronze casts that appear to be wood planks.