I am not ready. I am so not ready. I feel like I just got back from Taiwan (which I did), Rome in between, and now I must prepare to depart for Denmark and I am so not ready for the Design Week. Still, the Design Week comes whether you’re ready or not, so let’s see what might be interesting to catch, with absolutely no guarantee I’ll be able to do so.
This post starts collecting stuff in sparse order. If I have time, I’ll sort them out by day or area. If not, you’ll get it as it is.
All events are from April 20th to the 26th, unless otherwise specified.
Brera Design District
Castello Sforzesco. ALBORI. Inspired by a quote by Italo Calvino on dawn, Stark offers an installation on the creative process. The Pillar Room hosts three steps: listening, intuition, composition.
Spazio Eventi Solferino (Via Solferino, 24). Tide: An aerial responsive structure shaped by presence. This robotic, responsive installation is certainly at the top of my to-see list: reflective balloons are connected by motorised nodes that receive inputs from motion-capturing sensors and respond to interactions with people. The previews look stunning plus, as we know, no one can be uncheerful with a balloon.
Palazzo Moscova (Via Moscova, 18). Y.O.U. Your Own Universe. A virtual sun acts as a portal and a gatherer of information, sponsored by a brand of electronic cigarettes (they seem to be the new automotive, when it comes to weirdly interesting installations, while traditional industrial design shifts further to the back of the design week).
Brera Site (Via delle Erbe, 2A). Ploom: Feel the Aura. Sometimes it’s difficult to figure out what it is that these guys do. All these guys. They do immersive experiences, and technological devices, and yes but WHAT IS IT THAT YOU DO, MY FRIEND. I swear that sometimes the secrecy around the products make them all look and sound like sex toys. Glacier White isn’t a sex toy. Don’t be disappointed. It’s an e-cigarette. The installation around the product looks enthralling, though, with soft surfaces and smells blending into lights and four artistic installations: Study of Light, Study of Flavor, Study of Creation and Study of Form. Still, not a sex toy.
Décoroom (Via Goito, 3). Dèco: Imagine Spaces – Essere Progetto tra visione e spazio. Design is here seen as process, presence and relationships, and “being there” is the centrepiece of the creative act, intended as self-aware presence. I’ve been to these guys before, and received a very warm welcome. Let’s see what they cook up this time.
Porta Genova (Tortona and surroundings)
Superstudio+. Samsung: Design is an Act of Love. In the past years, Samsung has treated us to awesome installations and this promises to be no different: another project revolving around the concept of creation, inspiration, assembly, it focuses on the emotion of creating objects for everyday life, which is what design should be all about.
Talent House (Via Tortona, 31). Haus of Automotive. This is another traditional appointment, with brands such as Lotus mixing with software houses (Autodesk, to say one) and presenting their take on design and technology.
Torneria Tortona. Hyundai: Unfold Stories – From Paper to Steel. A piece of paper twists and turns and is shaped into the final form for the interiors and exteriors of what defines mobility for the South Korean automotive leader.
Toyota (Via Vincenzo Forcella, 7). T-CORE. The core technology in Toyota is… the engine, will say my little readers. No, dear friends: it’s where you place your ass. Asses are important, I guess, and their seats are 3d-printed and they’re very proud of it. I’m not sure I want to go all this way to look at a car’s seat, but maybe you do.
Teatro Alcione (Piazza Vetra 7). Dongfeng: Two Natures, Infinite Scapes. The Chinese automotive company presents an immersive experience reflecting on technology, mobility and perception, and reflects on contemporary lifestyles through the presentation of two opposing ways to navigate reality. I have no idea what this means, but it sounds cool.
April 23rd – 26th.
Porta Venezia
Fondazione Istituto dei Ciechi (via Vivaio, 7). Anima Mundi. A Visionary Impulse. When DotDotDot designs something, I usually try to go and see it. This time, the installation takes place in the historical institution that provides guidance, resources and support to the visually impaired and is in partnership with Geely, an automotive brand. Renaissance and nature are at the centre. Another one at the top of my list.
Galleria Romero Paprocki (Via Lazzaro Palazzi, 24). Yoox Camerino. The installation explores one of the most elusive and yet central spaces of the shopping experience, the dressing room, through an immersive installation designed by Keta Bart: entering the space, through the inevitable involvement of artificial intelligence, becomes an exploration of the self.
Porta Garibaldi
LUISS Hub (Via Massimo d’Azeglio, 3). 2026 “Perceiving China” – China Collegiate Design Competition & Exhibition. I’m always interested in seeing what young people are up to.
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