By fostering dialogue and collaboration among industry stakeholders, the event continues to shape the trajectory of design innovation, reaffirming its indispensable role in shaping the future of our built environment and collective experiences.

Here, we feature the product standouts and emerging trends observed at this year’s event.

Don’t miss: Paola Navone: A design visionary shaping modern creativity and innovation

In a notable shift within the realm of design, “cute” sheds its former frivolous connotations, with prominent designers embracing the whimsical allure of kawaii culture.

Drawing inspiration from Scandinavian and Japanese design sensibilities, this trend finds its most expressive canvas in armchairs and stools, where sleek lines and playful accents converge to usher in a fusion of functionality and charm.

Japanese maestro Naoto Fukasawa designed B&B Italia’s new Omoi armchair to have “the charm of a living creature, like an animal that makes people feel at home just by its presence”.

Characterised by sculptural lines alternating with soft curves, the armchair balances elegance and whimsy.

Arflex’s Yuzu armchair by Claesson Koivisto Rune is a petite piece with a big personality. Its organic shape recalls “a small and cute animal, or, maybe even a fictional Japanese Pokemon character.”

Meridiani’s Gino pouf, designed by the brand’s art director, Andrea Parisio, is a playful and versatile complement to any home and can be made in fabric, leather, wood, or lacquer.

Read more: Marimekko’s design director on crafting joy, Finnish design and the future of prints

Dining tables that could stand in for sculptures abounded this year with imposing bases crafted from stone, wood or polished metal, elevating the dining experience to an art form.

Porada’s Bay table by Niccolò Devetag was a simpler version, featuring a monolithic base of canaletta walnut and a tabletop of wood, marble, glass or rock.

At the same time, Gallotti & Radice’s highly decorative Molecola table by Massimo Castagna matches a transparent tempered-glass top with a hand-brushed wooden cylinder base in brick, rope, charcoal, or ivory colour options.

See also: Street fashion heavyweight Nigo designs Not A Hotel’s first Tokyo property

This year, there was no shortage of innovation in sustainable materials and new ways of presenting them, renewing the industry’s ongoing commitment to environmentally conscious practices and paving the way to a more sustainable future in design and production.

Arper introduced the Catifa Carta chair, a revolutionary extension of the Italian brand’s iconic Catifa 53 model, conceived by Lievore Altherr Molina in 2001. Crafted from PaperShell, an innovative composite wood by-product, Arper is the first manufacturer in the design industry to apply it to a product. 

Thomas Heatherwick’s In-Side outdoor collection for Magis transcends mere furniture, embodying the London-based designer’s manifesto of innovation and creativity.

Utilising rotational moulding technology, it reveals a striking interior surface crafted from a blend of recycled polyethylene, with each piece a unique expression of sustainability and design prowess.

Don’t miss: VanaVasa Eco-Resort: Luxury meets sustainability in Janda Baik, Malaysia

If there was one ubiquitous fabric in all the upholstered pieces, it was boucle. A textured fabric known for its texture and comfort, it gained popularity in fashion and mid-century furniture design. This year, it could be seen in every shade imaginable, which created different effects.

Linteloo’s capacious Willow sofa by Yabu Pushelberg in white felt like a peaceful embrace, and the sleek lines of Arper’s Steeve Lou sofa by Jean-Marie Massaud were made cosy and chic with a multicolour-flecked red boucle.

Moooi’s Green House wallcovering collection even offered a version called Lacy Longlegs.

This tactile wallcovering creates a soft, three-dimensional effect of spiderwebs, leaves and Gothic arches, courtesy of the boucle fabric.

Read more: 7 stunning Brutalist homes redefining Southeast Asian architecture

Bedheads are going beyond being merely comfortable fixtures to lean against or buffers against a wall.

More multifunctional than ever, they even include shelves and USB power sockets, even though one would never expect that from the refined elegance of the Giorgetti Karphi Nap bed by Carlo Colombo. The generous quilted headboard can be expanded with extensions, either on one or both sides, to create a multifunctional “wall” with ever-changing configurations by adding the required number of shelves, USB and USB-C power sockets, or LED lighting. 

In recognition of their three-decade collaboration, Cassina’s new collection with Philippe Starck included the Volage EX-S Night Wood.

An exquisite bed with fine wood finishes, the headboard’s functionality is unmatched, with integrated side tables and useful features such as USB ports.

See also: What goes into great hotel design?

Coffee tables generally serve a functional purpose or, at most, a supporting role to the other pieces in a living room. Still, this year, the table formerly known as occasional grabbed the spotlight with scene-stealing craftsmanship and unusual materials.

Sabine Marcelis’ Lokum series for Acerbis masterfully intertwined matter, light and colour, showcasing minimalist shapes with blown-glass craftsmanship. Available in amber and smoky tones, these low tables create captivating interplays of light and shade, transforming them into artistic statements.

With its multifaceted design, the Jewel table by Fabio Novembre redefines Kartell’s tradition of working on transparent surfaces. Like a gem, it illuminates a space and creates a focal point for it.

Patricia Urquiola’s Remis coffee table for Glas Italia comprises a wooden structure covered by a mosaic of cast glass tiles in random colours. Despite this seemingly casual approach, the tiles are artfully crafted and meticulously arranged, rendering the surface an axonometric projection of a parallelogram.

Don’t miss: How architect Andra Matin’s unconventional designs are reshaping Indonesia’s built environment

Reminiscent of the intricately folded geometries of origami, designers are pushing the boundaries of manufacturing capabilities with pieces marrying artistic expression with structural integrity.

Narinari, a small armchair by B&B Italia and first-time collaborators Tiziano Guardini and Luigi Ciuffreda, was inspired by the Sea Eagle, as seen in the harmonies of contrasts, concave and convex surfaces coexisting in a sinuous flow. Upholstered in raw-cut felt, its origami-like silhouette blends organic forms with digital precision. 

Porro’s Origata collection, as envisioned by Nao Tamura, was inspired by the art of making kimonos, but with a modern twist.

The collection consists of a bench and a console, each constructed from a single aluminium sheet, embodying their source material’s minimalist elegance and functionality.

Read more: How Lego sets are reimagining home decor with nostalgic designs

The ‘70s was a key trend in last year’s offerings, and doesn’t show any signs of flagging this year. Brands continue to be inspired by this eclectic era, which was characterised by earthy tones, geometric patterns and modular designs.

Minotti unabashedly dedicated its collection to that time period, calling each creation a tribute to the encounter between stylistic memory and dynamic innovation. Rediscovering the spirit of that time in a contemporary key were pieces such as Giampiero Tagliaferri’s Supermoon, a modular system with a lunar-inspired backrest and armrests, and GamFratesi’s Kendall armchair with its distinctive stitching, an expression of Minotti’s savoir-faire. 

Hannes Peer’s debut pieces for Baxter also displayed a sophisticated ‘70s flair.

Specifically, the modular Aura sofa, inspired by John Lautner’s architectural marvels, featured a sleek base and structured cushions, and the Pillow seat was reminiscent of Centre Pompidou’s metal scaffolding.

See also: 10 eclectic Malaysian homes full of character and art

Red continues to dominate as the accent colour of choice, although this year’s hues ranged from glossy red to weathered rust. This is possibly a progression of the millennial pink, which was so popular not that long ago, but sophisticated shades of red added a stunning highlight wherever they were applied.

A large red dining table is not for the faint of heart, but B&B Italia’s Assiale table in red lacquer by Piero Lissoni is a statement worth making. Characterised by its essential design, the clean lines conceal its remarkable functionality as the extendable piece can be enlarged by simply sliding the top.

Gucci creative director Sabato De Sarno’s Milan Design Week showcase, which saw him reimagine five Italian design classics in his signature “Rosso Ancora” red. Placed in surreal, bright-green carpeted rooms, these pieces included the “Le Mura” sofa by Mario Bellini for Tacchini and the Opachi vase by Tobia Scarpa for Venini.

Roche Bobois’ collaboration with Chinese designer Jiang Qiong Er resulted in a lovely bamboo-inspired furniture line influenced by the noble plant. Rich in cultural allusions, each piece is adorned in off-white, green, coral, and most notably, vibrant red.

NOW READ

What is mid-century design and how it transcends time with its enduring appeal

7 iconic buildings that starred in groundbreaking fashion shows

Explore the ingenious architecture of Shishi-Iwa House in Karuizawa, Japan, by Pritzker Prize laureates