Milan Design Week 2018

Every April, thousands of designers and design lovers flock to Milan for its annual design week. After (way too many) hours spent glued to my computer screen browsing trend reports, I have narrowed it down to my favourites – cue vintage prints, bold colour and a 70's interior revival.

The spectrum of trends emerging from the annual ‘Salone’ include the future of design- for example 3D printed houses and interiors, vase collections made from recycled materials and so on, strong uses of layering, textured details, scandi shapes, minimalism, maximalism and a variety of opposing colour pallets.

From the trend reports I have found, the strongest emerging theme throughout MDW (Milan Design Week) for me is that of vintage-inspired exhibits and designs; from 1920’s glamour- to 1970’s disco.

Cristina Celesino X Rubelli

The first hint of design referencing a by-gone era is the ‘Travelling Salon’. Designed by Cristina Celesino, in collaboration with Rubelli - a venetian, family-run company of classic designers and creators of fine textiles, first established in 1858.

Celesino has taken an actual historical tram from 1928 and transformed the interior with Rubelli fabrics, taking the lucky riders on a journey back in time. The tram is bursting with glamorous florals, rich colour and soft lighting. I imagine Jay Gatsby and Daisy Buchanan with champagne in-hand, feeling right at home in there.

Dimore Studio

The below image is a snapshot of Dimore's apartment gallery. Each year, the gallery is a regular favourite during MDW. Design house ‘Dimore Studio’ have fitted out three spaces at this years design week, with three different themes. One entitled "Perfettamente imperfetto", another  “Limited Edition” and my favourite, “Transfer” which is an installation dedicated to 20^th century design. This shot in particular caught my eye due to its strong reference to Art Deco – another one of my favourite design periods.

David Rockwell

Hello there, you gorgeous looking thaaang. No- I am not talking about the food (for once). This 1950s inspired American Diner has been created in a railway arch under the tracks that run into Milans central station. Visitors to the exhibition can grab some food, drinks, and (most importantly) cocktails in this bold and immersive space.

The designers behind the installation are collaborators Architect David Rockwell, Surface Magazine and design consultancy 2x4. The diner is serving traditional Americana, with a side of neon and extra colour.

Designbygemini

Next up is the “Millenial Pink Room” installation by the Italian creative studio ‘Designbygemini’. This is an Instagram treasure trove and has become one of the most ‘grammed spaced of MDW.

The founders of Designbygemini have focused on merging vintage design styles, with modern tech elements. The room itself looks like it could come from the 1950s X with essence of David Lynch vibes.

I am a sucker for neon and anything pink, so naturally I was drawn to this. My mind connects this space with 50s housewife magazines and modern day social media channels. I imagine some pin-up babe owning this space, or it featuring in a Lana Del Rey video. 

The little clever details that connect the past and future are ever present in this installation- with the use of the retro bakerlite-esk telephone juxtaposed to the hashtag, heart emoji mugs and neon Instagram 'like' sign. Not to mention that divine dog-tooth carpet. Ohh la la- it’s a yes from me.

Atelier Biagetti X Gufram

WARNING- to those who love the 70s era as much as I do, go get your flares and hold onto your perms- you are about to embark on a modern-day love story with the creations of Atelier Biagetti X Gufram.

Think Saturday night, think studio 54, bold colour, disco ball X DalÍ couture and velvet city. 'Disco Gufram' is the 70s love child spawned from the creative minds of Atelier Biagetti’s and ledgendary italian brand Gufram.

The blast-from-the-past collection has been inspired by the disco era. Each item of furniture has been named by Gufram, as if creating a group of party kings and queens of the dancefloor. 

As quoted on the Biagetti website,

“Betsy, Tony, Stanley, Jimmy and Charly are an exuberant bunch of distinct characters – although they are not people you understand, but objects, sofas to be precise…

… Betsy, Tony, Stanley, Jimmy and Charly are the inhabitants of this nocturnal world. They are personalities in themselves that demand human interaction and reaction, a key element of Atelier Biagetti’s work that explores the physical and psychological power of object and space.”

Le Freak, C’est chic.

I am so effin' excited for these trends to filter down into our highstreets. If I could have the wallet to match my taste, I would be on the next plane to Milan. However, champagne and lemonade and all that. 

What were your favourite themes from the Milan Design Week? 

Until next time,

P.S. unfortunately these images are not mine, they are a collection from the following babin' sites:

http://www.iglooo.it/milano-design-week-2018-best-of/

http://www.gufram.it/en/81-discogufram

http://atelierbiagetti.com/

https://www.dezeen.com/

https://www.designboom.com/design/designbygeminis-millennial-pink-room-milan-design-week-05-04-2018/

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