2. 2 Each spring, designers from all over the world head to
Milan in order to visit the Salone Internazionale del Mobile, the
most important annual furniture fair in the world. Lots of cities
hold their own design weeks, however, the Salone is the rst event,
which grew into a large-scale arts and culture festival, becoming
an incubator for ideas, a venue for inspiration and a good show
case of design accomplishments. Vasily Kassab, Executive Creative
director at Mildberry, who used tostudy and work in Milan,has been
attending the annual fairsince2010. He was always keeping an eye on
it and the latest design tendencies. After every trip he shares his
impressions on the remarkable trends spotted around the fair.
Usually, these trends get weaved into the projects we do for our
clients. In this presentationyoumay nd the latest observations of
the Salone del Mobile 2016. Barlinek + Tabanda + Design alive Czech
lighting manufacturer Preciosa
3. 3 Non-furniture brands at the Salone del mobile Usually, the
Salone del Mobile is seen as a Furniture Fair. However, this
perception tends to change. Year by year giants like Samsung, BMW,
Ikea, Panasonic, Nike and others have been steadily taking their
places among the furniture and lighting brands. This year Milan
design week has changed dramatically. It evolved into a Hybrid
platform, bridging the gap between ideas, brands, design and
production. The major brands are nally learning how to engage
audience and to put on spectacular performances. Theyve stopped
bombarding people with marketing messages and setting up pointless
collaborations with celebrity designers, which brought nothing
beyond shallow PR. Nike has put on what must be the most expensive
show the fair had ever experienced, Audi was bathing" the Pirelli
tower in light each evening. Even PepsiCo, possibly the most
unlikely corporation to nd at a design fair, laid on a lavish
exhibition and an interesting set-up space, which ranged from
interactive games to exclusively designed Fizz bar. The shows made
by the giant brands appeared to be remarkable and powerful and we
are anticipating to see more well-produced performances in the
nearest future. FIRST IMPRESSIONS
4. Homes are becoming more personied than ever. It means that
people express their social identity through their homes. Along
with the growing interest in the home experience as a living and
bonding container, homes are becoming living spaces more than
physical ones. We can examine homes and consider them as mirrors
reecting the social, political and cultural changes happening in
the society. Home as private spaces are beyond any fashion
statement. It allows for extravagance and frivolity, its secrecy
and intimacy open rooms for experimentation and freedom of
expression. 4 THE DETAILS ARE NOT THE DETAILS ANYMORE. THEY MAKE
DESIGN
5. Our growing concern for the planet and nature was reected in
the interiors trends we spotted at this years Milan Salone del
Mobile. Designers are feeling the need to get closer to Mother
Nature. Plants, ower prints and different types of wood were mixed
and brought the outdoors into home or integrated well into the
outdoor surrounding. 5 BRINGING NATURE IN Toyota wooden concept My
Equilibria Barlinek + Tabanda + Design alive Dimore Gallery DOTS
OBJECT
6. Feminine power and the rise of women as a role leader have
led to visual direction based on combining a soft nature of fabrics
and textile nishes with bold aggressive colours, metals or rough
woods.The rise of the Fringe as a trend has been noticed in several
design items as well. 6 BOLD SENSUALITY Tassel Series by Apparatus
Baccarat Moooi Moooi
7. As we are all children at heart the growing interest in
playful experiences and games has been obvious. The grown
generation recognise the power of emotions and try to keep up with
the young. Objects which were previously perceived as childish now
are more than welcome to decorate adults life bringing in a beam of
childhood memories and young spirit. Still, there were some objects
designed for kids, however the aesthetic of those was addressed as
to youngsters so to parents. 7 TOYS FOR ADULTS Nendo's H Horse for
Kartell Stefano Giovannoni's Qeeboo Paul Smithfor GuframGebrder
Thonet Vienna "Boring Collection" by Lensvelt - Ventura
Projects
8. The strive to come up with something new and unseen has been
largely appearing and noticed through different objects and
installations. Combining and mixing unmatched forms and materials
to come up with novelty or bringing back the non-materialistic
quality of experiences and making it into objects that can give an
edge to any home. 8 MIX AND MATCH Patricia Urquiola and Federico
Pepe for Spazio PontaccioMark Sturkenboomhyperevolution in
Overgrown M/M Paris introduces playful iconography
9. 9 OIL Oil has been a big issue recently affecting not only
the economic aspect of society. A bold statement from Tom Dixon was
to match the negatively charged visual aspect of oil spill and
beautifully designed objects that cover not only the visual
experience but also smell and tactile ones.
10. This trend reects exploration of innity. Dark and mechanic
installations gained their power not only by taking over large
spaces but also by complicated and detailed design. Made to work in
a perfect harmony, they bring a feeling of control and order.
Impressive installations were presented by several companies.
CITIZEN, a watch brand, introduced "time is TIME" installation, a
sophisticated rain made of tiny gears. This was a deep exploration
of time, where viewers could experience present and, perhaps,
future. The other hit was an installation called Crystal Automata
by Michael Vaskuand Andreas Klug, the representatives of Czech
lighting manufacturer Preciosa. The artwork was inspired by Fire,
Water, Air and Earth, mechanical movement and fascinating
craftsmanship behind glassmaking and clockwork production. Crystal
Automata represented a hidden process, and the whole sophistication
is kept inside! 10 THE MECHANIC SUBLIME Czech lighting manufacturer
Preciosa CITIZENs brand statement
11. Plenty of colour trends were presented in Milan, but the
one that really grabbed my attention was rainbow spectrum
glassPlastic. Designers played with panelling in order to achieve
amboyant reections. Here, the viewer is encouraged to think of the
piece not only in terms of form, but in terms of positioning and
lighting effect as well. The furniture designs become lters
assisting the interplay of light. Colours amplify theiridescent
touch when light penetrates the form. 11 PlAYFULLY REFLECTIVE Glas
Italia and Patricia Urquiola Eli5e designer Elise Luttik Panerai
Glas Italia and Patricia Urquiola At Spazio Orlandi Aqurio cabinet
by Campana brothers
12. It is quite obvious that digital forms of communication and
art could be seen at the Salone del Mobile. It is worth mentioning
that digital for the sake of digital is slowly fading and online
channels and techniques are becoming well-thought mechanisms
facilitating communication between design and viewers. 12 MORE
DIGITAL IN LESS DIGITAL KUKAN, PANASONICFIZZ By PEPSICOFRAME
MAGAZINE
13. A lot of fashion brands joined the fair introducing
luxurious Home collections. Every furniture setting was presented
in the experimental way or was supported with an installation.
Herms showed its rst collection of furniture, which inspired the
tufo installation constructed by Mexican architect Mauricio Rocha.
COS in collaboration with a Japanese architect Sou Fujimoto created
a breathtaking installation in a historic inema of Milan. 13 AND
FASHION FOUND ITS PLACE! COS COS x SOU FOJIMOTO
http://www.cosstores.com/cosxsoufujimoto/salone-del-mobile-2016/
HERMES x Mauricio Rocha BULGARI
14. This trend which touches reality and the way we perceive
things. Sometimes we desire to look at ordinary things from
different angles, literally different, and to nd the ways to bring
unpredicted moments, leaving it to the chance instead of planning!
14 FLIPPING REALITIES Panerai At Spazio Orlandi Moooi The Briggs
Family Tea Service MoooiInstallation of over 5000 bricks LEE
BROOM