It all started when...
It all started when a group of Italian furniture manufacturers organised the first edition of the exhibition in Milan in 1961 to promote Italian furniture design and production, and it worked. The fair was an instant success and continued to grow throughout the decades to come. It soon turned its Italian take on furniture design into a festival where designer from across the world now come together to showcase their skills and vision.
Here's what's happening now….
Now, let’s take a look at the prominent ventures of Milan Design Week 2025.
Design Districts
Several districts in Milan take part in the festival, with Brera Design District and Tortona Design Week standing out as particularly notable, each bringing together distinct experiences focused on art, modern trends, and creativity.
1. Brera Design District
Historic charm and contemporary design blend to give Brera Design District its charm as one of the most renowned design districts in Milan. Every April, it becomes a hub for activities with streets lined with pop-ups, art galleries and boutiques. Visitors are encouraged to explore the narrow alleys as if on a hunt for treasures!
One of the key highlights is the selective participation of the Brera Academy of Fine Arts, a prestigious institution that adds a layer of academic integrity to this design district.
2. Tortona Design Week
Once an industrial zone, Tortona Design Week has evolved into a vibrant artistic hub, making it another must-visit destination during Milan Design Week. Its warehouses and studios play host to a large number of pop-up and futuristic exhibitions. Known for its innovative and experimental design, the district draws in visitors who are left in awe of the sheer depth of human creativity!
Another key highlight is Superstudio Più, a massive venue space that sets the stage for major exhibitions and showcases the future of design.
Pavilions
To maximise the visitor experience and exhibitors' visibility, the exhibition paths inside the Rho Fiera Milano pavilions' layout have been redesigned to resemble a loop shape. Here are some key pavilions to visit in the 2025 edition:
1. Pavilions 2
This pavilion sets the stage for the Euroluce International Lighting Forum, an event put together by Annalisa Rosso, the Editorial Director & Cultural Events Advisor of the Salone, in collaboration with the Italian Association of Lighting Designers (APIL). With 2 round tables, 6 masterclasses, and 2 workshops planned, it aims at creating and transforming ideas on world lighting.
2. Pavilions 22/24
Academy Award-winning director Paolo Sorrentino takes visitors on a journey with La Dolce Attesa, a deeply emotional project that dives into the essence of passing time. The project encourages visitors to slow down, soak in the beauty of patience, and reflect on time as an artistic and philosophical experience.
3. Pavilions 13/15
French architect Pierre-Yves Rochon, a renowned author in international hospitality, will be proudly presenting his interior design piece, Villa Héritage—A Luxury Way to inculcate the beauty of a timeless way of life. Where inheritance should be seen as an addition to the personality, a value that becomes a source of freedom and not restraint.
4. Pavilions 7
Also known as SaloneSatellite, it will feature 700 designers under 35 and 20 international schools and universities. The curator of the 27th event has coined the theme of Nuovo Artigianato: un Mondo Nuovo/New Craftsmanship: a New World. It is an invitation to young minds to look beyond the traditions of craftsmanship and re-imagine the world of handmade.
If you want to know about Milan Design Week in depth, then check out, Salone del mobile.
