MILAN DESIGN WEEK 2014

Milan Design Week 2014, Salone Satelite, Fondue Slipper by Satsuki Chata

REVIEW

Overview of Milan Design Week 2014, Isalone, Salone Satelite, Zona Tortona, San Gregorio Docet, Ventura Lambrate and Triennale.

By Dieneke Ferguson and Manuel Ruiz-Adame

Entered 12 May 2014

This is the second year that we visited Milan without exhibiting and like last year we had four days to sample what is new and exciting at the main fair, The Salone Satelite as well as any of the other shows in town.

Milan Design Week 2014, Tokyo Imagine, Furoshiki , Marcel Wanders

Last year we struggled to see all we wanted and we hoped that it would be better this year. But there was so much to see that again like last year we ran out of time and had to prioritise what we really wanted to see.

Milan Design Week 2014, Studio Job

The overall impression this year was that there was much innovation in how materials were used, recycling, clever solutions to problems and design seemed to address more social issues as before.

Milan Design Week 2014, Wallpaper, Cork Jacket by Todd Bracger and Amorim

It was great to particularly see so many young designers posing new questions or coming up with new solutions. There was more of an emphasis on food as well, with great happenings at Ventura Lambrate and many focused on plants – bringing the outdoors indoors or designing clever vessels to hold plants.

Milan Design Week 2014, Salone Satellite, the Phytophiler by Dossofiorito

There was a lot to smile about, or participate in. It was also great to see the Green Room at DesignJunction organised by the DTI where several young UK designers exhibited their work.

Milan Design Week 2014, DesignJunction, the Green Room

However, overall like last year, there were more young designers from other countries showing their products in collectives and supported by the governments in their country. Unfortunately there were not many UK designers, except for those in the Green Room, and only two stands at the Salone Satelite.

It is very worrying and sad to see that Britain doesn’t consider supporting young designers as important as other countries do. At some point the UK was leading in offering opportunities for young designers. Now they are lagging behind and countries like Holland have taken over with more public support offered.