11th April 2018

Milan 2018: best of the rest

There’s so much going on at Milan Design Week, it can have you feeling like an indecisive glutton in a sweet shop. The sheer amount of stuff going on can be mind-boggling – which is why it helps to plan ahead.

Naturally, there’s a lot of stuff we think you should see because we’re closely involved with it (hello, Norwegian Presence, Mutant Matter and BEEM), but there’s also a whopping fun-heap of shows that Zetteler don’t have a hand in, but will certainly be checking out while we’re in town.

So, to make Milan more manageable, we’ve sifted through the mountain of invites, combed through the programmes, and made our list of the best Milan Design Week exhibitions and events to check out this year. Feel free to steal it.

The Tactile Pavilion

Piazza Sant'Ambrogio 16

17 - 22 April

The Tactile Pavilion, by Dean Brown, is an installation dedicated to things best appreciated by touching, trying and testing. It offers an immediate and unmistakable relationship with small specialist items that is fundamentally lacking in on-line shopping. Proposed as a conceptual and practical micro showroom that provides an alternative to the norms of a design fairs, where exhibits typically have a ‘look but don’t touch’ policy. Launching at Salone 2018, Show No1 focuses on switches. However, future subject matter may include sponges, wheels, springs, zips, potato peelers, and/or door handles.

LOCAL MILAN No.3

Via Cesare Correnti 14

16 - 22 April

This year's LOCAL MILAN exhibition is the largest independent showcase of Australian design in Milan to date and was curated by founder Emma Elizabeth. Located in 5VIE, the 2018 show features works from 26 Australian designers including Zetteler friends Dowel Jones.

Nendo: Forms of Movement

Superstudio Più, on Via Tortona 27

17 - 21 April

Just around the corner from Norwegian Presence, Nendo's exhibition Form of Movement presents 10 collaborations between Nendo and Japanese manufacturers. One of these is Variations of Time, a collection of four hourglass shapes that redesign the passing of time.

Doppia Firma

Villa Mozart, Maison Giampiero Bodino

17 - 22 April

For Milan Design Week 2018 Doppia Firma returns for its third edition to celebrate new artworks that are born from a design culture open to contemporary vision. Initiated by the Michelangelo Foundation for Creativity and Craftsmanship, the project connects contemporary designers with traditional artisans. Pairs connected for this year’s exhibition include; De Allegri / Fogale x Andrea Zilio (blown glass), David & Nicolas x Giorgio Morelato (wood marquetry), Giampiero Bodino x Gianpaolo Fallani (silkscreen printing), Nathalie Dupasquier x Emanuele Bevilacqua (brocade) and Studio Swine x Giampaolo Babetto (silver).

Nebia collection designed by - de Allegri & Fogale Mouth blown by Andrea Zilio - Vetreria Anfora Murano. Photography by © Laila Pozzo per Doppia Firma - MFCC, FCMA, Living

Kvadrat x Really

17 - 22 April

Via Palermo, 1

At last year's Salone designer Max Lamb worked with Kvadrat and Danish brand Really to create designs using the sustainable Solid Textile Board material. This year curators Jane Withers and Njusja de Gier have invited Raw-Edges, Claesson Koivisto Rune, Benjamin Hubert and Jonathan Olivares to further explore the textile board's materiality.

Not for sale

Via Pietro Crespi, 14

17 - 22 April

A highlight of our Milan Design Week 2017 was Design Academy Eindhoven's #TVclerici show so we're super excited to see they're returning to Milan this month. Not for sale is a street-long installation which will question what defines design and it's place in the market.

Typecasting. An Assembly of Iconic, Forgotten and New Vitra Characters

La Pelota

17 - 22 April

In addition to their stand at Salone de Mobile, Vitra are hosting an exhibition curated by Australian designer Robert Stadler that explores the role of furniture in shaping our lives and will reveal new and upcoming projects.

Horah by Raw-Edges

Spazio Krizia

17 - 21 April

Design studio Raw-Edges will open the doors of Spazio Krizia to an immersive lighting installation of 30 moving lamps created by Wonderglass and based on the traditional Israeli Horah dance. The London-based duo will also be exhibiting alongside Claesson Koivisto Rune with Kvadrat x Really.

TEST TUBE

Via Santa Marta 21

17 - 22 April

For this year's festival SEEDS are joining 5VIE for their fifth edition and presenting works from Martino Gamper, Pietro Russo, BCXSY, Guglielmo Poletti, Jochen Holz and Tiago Almeida.

Wallpaper* Handmade

Mediateca Santa Teresa, Via della Moscova 28

17 - 22 April

Each Salone Wallpaper* bring together a curated line-up of designers, artists and manufacturers to create never-before-seen designs. This year’s Wallpaper* Handmade exhibition focuses on ’Wellness & Wonder’ taking the visitor on a journey towards mental wellbeing through objects and accessories that

Swedish Design Moves present Hemma

Via Eugenio Balzan 4

17 - 22 April

Swedish Design Moves is part of a four-year initiative (set up by the Swedish government and spearheaded by Visit Sweden) to celebrate, and frankly shout about, Sweden’s creativity and innovation within architecture, design and fashion. Swedish Design Moves’ 2018 Milan Design Week show champions the designers and companies designing to improve lifestyles of individuals and communities.

Nordic Happiness from Made by Choice

Teatro Arsenale, Via Cesare Correnti 11

17 - 22 April

Made by Choice are taking the opportunity at this Salone to continue their celebrations Finland’s tile as the happiest country in the world. The design house’s grand theme Nordic Happiness explores why Nordic people are amongst the happiest in the world and will present the best new designs that reflect this.

U-JOINTS

PlusDesign Gallery, Via Archimede 26

17 - 22 April

Over 50 contemporary designers and design studios including, Michael Marriott, Alvar Aalto, Massimilano Adami, Barber & Osgerby, Jasper Morrison and Max Lamb, are taking part in a group exhibition exploring the world of joints. U-JOINTS is an exhibition taking curated by Andrea Caputo and Anniina Koivu presents new products, prototypes and conceptual pieces. Follow PlusDesign Gallery on Instagram to find out more.

Don't forget to check out what our clients FranklinTill, Samuel Wilkinson and Norwegian Presence have in store for this year's Salone.