Less Glam, More Design
By kristin
Sustainability and quality are two words to summarize the 48th Milan Furniture Fair, held April 21-27. Financial crisis was pretty evident during the whole exhibition, but the austerity in exhibits, locations and cocktails (it’s the first time popcorn was offered as an aperitivo at Bulgari) focused the attention back on products. Yes, we needed a global crisis to enjoy design in its original meaning. Innovation and research seems to be the renewed interest of designers and manufactures, who are now concentrating on eco-friendly materials and processing to help secure the future of the planet and for our everyday life. The message is clear: if you love sitting on that beautiful chair, sleeping on your favorite designer bed, showing your friends your awesome tabletop, first of all you need to survive.

A young design fan reads a poem in Richard Ginori's 1735 pavilion designed by Paola Navone.

“House of furniture parts” by Studio Makkink & Bey

Kris Kabel for Droog

Lacrime di un pescatore ("fisherman’s tears") by Ingo Maurer

A young design fan explores Giacomo Sanna's Ceramica Coem tile installation

Chair by Paola Lenti

Fabio Novembre's polycarbonate table at the Kartell booth

Patricia Urquiola and Beatrice Campagnol at Mutina

A beautiful light show directed by Sou Fujimoto to present LF-A, an ultra high performance sports concept car by Lexus, at Museo della Permanente

French designer Regis-R's “l’art d’accomoder les Regis-R restes" exhibit

Fabio Di Liberto, Przemek Godycki and a friend at Tokyo Fiber/Senseware - an exhibit of the most innovative materials from Japan, presented in Milan through original projects.

Nendo's "Blown Fabric" project at the Tokyo Fiber Senseware exhibit