This Design Week Fair in Milan was my first time. I was felling little bit lost sometimes and overload but I managed to stay calm and observed everything. In my opinion the Design Week is not just about design – this is whole event includes art, fashion, music, culture and most importantly people. Even if you are not attending the Salone Internazionale del Mobile and are staying in the city don’t worry, design will find you in normal life. I was told by locals that the city is and goes crazy for its Design Week and Fashion Week. Once these events are over, Milan returns to its completely anonymous status. But enough about the city itself! – its pretty, admit it!
Do you want to hear the freshman opinion about the 2013 Milan Design Week?
That was too much. An incredible amount of designs everywhere. But after a second thought I understood that once a year all eyes are on Milan. So many people are visiting, editors, designers, companies and also tourists. It’s the best advert you can imagine for a brand.
With a super heavy bag of brochures and full memory card I needed to make a selection for Ombre Nel Cielo. I chose the best from the best that I saw….
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TOM DIXON
Tom Dixon made it. He took it to a totally new level. Exhibition MOST in Museo Scienza e Tecnologia enthused. Glittering and shinny objects – mostly lamps looked like stars in the sky. I’m sure that copper will be really “in” this year. Anyway this way of presenting objects is really easy , reflections will always be in fashion. But Tom Dixon is not the only copper lovin’ freak… I saw a lot of objects during the fair that used that material. What can we say? In copper we believe!
Tom also made a capsule clothing edition for Adidas simply called… The Capsule – inspired by workers uniforms he created his own interpretation of nomad clothes. The base elements of the outfits are specially designed to take as little space as possible in a backpack.
http://www.tomdixon.net/
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FAB <3
Don’t take it so seriously. That was my first opinion when I saw Fab’s exhibition. They have fun when designing for ever day life, that’s for sure. Big boxes with Fab objects were well made and perfectly presented. Fresh and funky, that’s what we need in design as well as putting more smiles on people’s faces. Myself I came back from Milan with Fab PF red snickers. MOST in Museo Scienza e Tecnologia was a good idea.
What can we say? In color we believe!
http://eu.fab.com/
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NOUVELLE VAGUE
After an exhausting walk through the city full of design traps I found a perfect middle. The French Institute this year invited French designers to make a exhibition. The Institute which is established next to Leonard da Vinci’s famous painting The Last Supper, welcomed us in a calm and relaxed atmosphere.
Works presents five great designers from France : Guillaume Delvigne, Pauline Deltour, Viktoria Wilmotte, Francois Dumas and Dan Yeffet. They believe that less is more – chosen the best of from their design. I have to say that every single one of the items were made with an incredible level of precision. Its really nice to see designs made by already successful designers.
What can we say? In France we believe!
More objects presented by French designer Dan Yeffet on MOST :
Brokis and Glass is Tomorrow
http://www.abitare.it/en/salone-2013/nouvelle-vague-volume-2/
http://danyeffet.com/
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DESIGN JUNCTION and KVADRAT
Brera district is full of different exhibits. Its quite hard to pick the best of them. But the best decision that you can make is just walk around and come inside if you notice something interesting. That was like that with me and Design Junction. A big place open for all kind of upcoming design (more copper? )
Just around the corner was The Revolving Room by Patricia Urquiola for Kvadrat. A variety of materials and colors made me feel like I was in the secret garden of fabrics. Plus the flowers suited the whole idea of the installation.
“All great deeds and all great thoughts have a ridiculous beginning. Great works are often born on a street corner or in a restaurant’s revolving door.” Albert Camus; the sentence was the design room inspiration.
http://kvadrat.dk/
http://thedesignjunction.co.uk/milan/
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NENDO
How to present an object in a big space? My Boss says “multiply it. It is always a good solution”.
Nendo uses the easiest and most accurate way of presenting its tables by using an entire courtyard to make some kind of art exhibition. Stone garden never looked more beautiful than here in the Brera District. What can we say? In Nendo we believe!
http://www.nendo.jp/en/works/detail.php?y=2013&t=303
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LEE BROOM and RucoLine
The Brera district is full of surprises. Small streets and pretty buildings are the perfect background for design. One of the nicest places I visited was Pinacoteca di Brera. Cold stoned building annexed neon shoes from RucoLine. Putting neon colors in a historical place to light it up was a good decision. Two blocks away from Pinacoteca I found Lee Broom crystal bulbs market. A Retro look in a temporary shop reminded me of London, not in 2013 but in the 1930’s.
Thank you Lee Broom for this sentimental trip. What can we say? In Brera we believe!
http://www.rucoline.com/rucoline/it
http://www.leebroom.com/
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VENTURA LAMBRATE
The biggest surprise in Milan was the place called Lambrate. It is one of a kind. It reminded me of a small Berlin and If I tell you you can find anything there, I mean it. Ventura Lambrate offers you all kinds of designs: classy, modern and totally crazy ones! It’s a place that’s worth to see just because of the Design Schools presenting student’s works. The new generation of designers is coming and it’s good to have eye on it.
http://www.venturaprojects.com/
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SPAZIO ROSSANA ORLANDI
If you want to feel for a while like Alice in Wonderland – please go to Rossana Spazio Orlandi it’s a beautiful place presenting all sorts of designs during the Design Week. It can surprise or tire you, it depends on who you are, but for sure it will be good pick.
It’s also always a good place to meet famous designers. You may end up listening to a lecture in the garden given by as famous a designer as Jamie Hayon like I did :)
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More glass design on :
http://glasslovers.wordpress.com/
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Thanks to Boris H.
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Photo credits : Justyna Turek