Milan 2022. Finally everyone was back. This design week proved that Milan brings the biggest and the best to the design scene. Here is my report.
But first, a slight criticism. You know… Just a small detail. When I read some listings of the best of the line up for 2022 design week, like at Designboom, I see this exhibition below turn up. Large marble slabs on a catwalk. And yes, this installation is beautiful – but is it design?
Picture from Designboom.
Why am I upset with this installation on these lists? Well, I don’t mind the exhibitor trying to do something that stands out. But when people report on it, it is like the installation has nothing to do with our industry. Is it all smoke and mirrors?
Imaging reading a review on a food restaurant and the only information you get is about the cute puppies in front of the place. Adorable litte dogs that play around. The review then contain nothing about the flavours, the service or the ambience of the dining space. Is that a relevant review? I don’t think so.
This exhibitor is doing bathroom interiors. Kohler might be a good at designing bathrooms but what is this? If this is art, perhaps we should judge it as art. And then – is it good art? Would this have been accepted at Art Basel or any of the other art activities around the world?
Same thing with the installation by Porsche and their beautiful garden. Even IKEA approached this. Beautiful, but what about design? Or is it just smoke and mirrors?
I can be critical and say that more and more is focused on the fluffiness and less on the actual design. There are plenty of ways to look at design. Is it sustainable, necessary, relevant, bringing something new to the table, functional, clever, possible to take in to serial production?
In general, I am a bit critical to all these events… Who makes money on this? Why are they necessary? Today I got a call to have me dedicated to and make events for the September issue of Stockholm Design Week. I asked why. And the answer was “why not. is it so easy. you don’t even have to show something new”
Again. Why makes money on these things and why? Smoke and mirrors to cover what?
Now, back to trends. That’s why you are here. I think the majority of everyone want to hear about the colour trends but I think I will save that for tomorrow. With 6000 pictures (or something like it) I need to keep your attention. Today I will talk about materials such as glass, stone, metal and textile. Is that a good start?
Metal
As a general trend, we have been talking about white metal for a while. And it is absolutley visible in Milan. Here for instance in a kitchen installation by Gaggenau.
But of course on details. Here at Salone Satellite
It is raw and industrial. As here at Cinema Tacchini.
Very sharp edges and look. No softness at all.
Unless it is textile of course.
You mainly see a raw surface, but the polished chrome version is also here. Here at Swedish Blå Station.
Super trendy design studio Dimore of course used white metal. But they also mixed it with gold metal.
Look at that doorway.
There is a golden glow to this picture. No metals but when I say “gold”, I think you see it. By Lee Broom.
On a final note. I was talking to my colleague Elisabetta at Italianbark. She said she saw a lot of kitchens with coloured metal details. I did not notice that, but google for instance at the new fridge collection by Smeg.
But expect kitchens to get a LOT more white metal.
Glass
It looks like glass is coming back stongly. Frosted and coloured. Not so much of clear glass.
Glas Italia had an amaxing exhibition at the fair.
Antonio Lupi with glass sinks in bathrooms.
Glass table at Cassina
At the fair.
You can basically say that the Hermes exhibition had the same sensation as coloured glass. But more on this exhibition later.
Of course some clear glass, but almost always with an effect like here. Cabinet by Sebastian Herkner.
Also a bit of plastics. We saw pieces in this material also last year. Here at Alcova.
Stone
Having participated in a few trend seminars during spring – almost everyone was talking about how stone is coming back. Well, yes. To a degree. I was expecting “natural” stone like granite or something, but I saw all kinds of stone. And only for tables. Really nothing else.
But to be clear – ANY kind of stone – is trending.
Paul Smith for DePadova
Alcova
e15
Also more “exotic stone” like onyx and even printed stone on the dining table by Diesel.
Textile
So, we have talked about hard materials. But the real hero of 2022 is textile. Everything is textile and airy.
It is draped and airy. Layers and layers of textile.
Even normal wood work or stone work is dressed in fabrics.
The most innovative way of using fabric is to use mesh. Everyone who tried to look updated or more contemporary used mesh fabrics.
Fringes
Speaking of textiles. During spring I heard a lot of trendhunters shout “look for fringes”.
And of course there are some fringes. But not a super lot. Here at CC Tapis.
Lamps at Alcova and Llov Llot
And also here at Alcova.
I saw some straw or hay design but does that count as fringes??
Same thing at Moroso and the installation with Swedish Front Design. Some yarn… But should we count these as fringes??
That’s it for today. Should we do colours tomorrow??