What’s to come: Salone del Mobile 2023

After three years of cancellations and delays due to the pandemic, Salone del Mobile is finally back and will take place from April 18th to 23rd, 2023, at the Fiera Milano complex in Rho, Milan. With over thousands of exhibitors from around the world displaying their latest designs, the fair promises to be an electrifying showcase of cutting-edge design and interior trends. It brings together designers, architects, and industry professionals from around the world to Milan, Italy. The event showcases the latest design trends and innovations while providing a platform for networking and forging new partnerships.

Multiple Worlds to Explore

The Salone Del Mobile 2023 will offer visitors the chance to explore different worlds, including the Salone Internazionale del Mobile, the International Furnishing Accessories Exhibition, Workplace3.0, S.Project, Euroluce, and SaloneSatellite. Each world will have its own aesthetic and cultural paths, experiential spaces, and rest and relaxation areas, ensuring a memorable and exciting exploration.

Sustainability a Key Priority

Environmental, economic, and social responsibility will be a priority at the 2023 edition of the Salone del Mobile.Milano. The event has received ISO 20121 certification for the sustainable organisation of events, ensuring that sustainability is integrated into every aspect of the event.

What to Expect in 2023

The first Salone del Mobile was held in 1961 with the primary objective of promoting Italian furniture and design. Bringing together 1962 exhibitors, including over 550 young talents under the age of 35 and 27 design schools, the Salone is set to be a vibrant event. With a focus on interdisciplinary content, the event aims to provide an in-depth look at what determines consumer choices.

An Ambitious Vision

Maria Porro, the President of the Salone del Mobile.Milano, stated that the ultimate ambition of the event is to go beyond design and focus on design-related disciplines, providing a comprehensive look at what influences consumer choices. By doing so, the event aims to create long-term connections that benefit businesses and visitors alike. People, generally, tend to attend the event not only to explore the latest offerings from various brands but also to establish new connections. However, this aspect has been lacking in the past.

To address this issue, the fair’s layout is being revamped with an urbanistic approach, treating the event as an ideal city starting from the Euroluce pavilions. This year, the Salone has introduced three major new departures: a single exhibition level, with upper pavilion exhibitors (8-12, 16-20) moving to lower ones, enhancing accessibility and the visitor experience. The new Euroluce layout and additional features will be a fount of innovation in terms of transdisciplinary content and accessibility.

Sustainability and training are essential themes, with a focus on the future and innovation of a trade fair system firmly rooted in tradition. The Salone del Mobile.Milano has always had the potential for inclusion, service, and training, confirming its international role. The Welcome Project, a collaboration between the Municipality of Milan, Fondazione Fiera, the city’s leading design schools, and the Teatro alla Scala Foundation, will be renewed for the eighth year and third consecutive year, respectively.

The Brands to Watch Out For at Salone del Mobile 2023

Every year Salone del Mobile sees manufacturers put their best foot forward, and display their most creme-de-la-creme products. Certain brands unveil collections for the first time, others set up interactive stalls, and another populous organises after-event get-togethers to boost networking.

Stalwart furniture brand Arper (Booth D06-C09 in Hall 4) has decided to go radio-silent on their exciting launches at Salone del Mobile 2023, but is hosting a ‘Life is beautiful’ cocktail party on 19th April between 6.30 – 9.30 pm. Extremis (Booth F01-F05 in Hall 4) – also has news to share – and they are sharing it in the most Extreme-is fashion ever! The brand is hosting a panoramic festival for its new collection Panigiri. The name of the collection is borrowed from the Greek festival, Panigiri, where the young and old come together to enjoy a feast and indulge. To see innovative seating options in wood, drop by and witness Extremis’ Panigiri in action. 

Eminent luxury furniture brand Giorgetti is in Milan and how! With a store located in the high-fashion street of the city, Giorgetti has found a home in a 17th century building with a 19th century facade. At the premise, visitors will also be privy to a preview of the 2023 collection – which includes, the new SKIRT stool, born out of the brand’s renewed collaboration with the design duo M2atelier and also WOODY & MIA, the new collection of small tables and pouffes designed by the Giorgetti Research Centre.

As iconic brand Herman Miller will celebrate its centenary with a Graphic Design exhibition, with the showroom being open to walk-in visitors from the 18th to the 22nd between 9am to 6pm.  Graphic Design exhibition to inaugurate 100 years of Herman Miller name. On the 19th April, a cocktail after showroom hours will take its course. Meanwhile, Knoll (Booth D11-E12 in Hall 4)  will sport a stand at the main fair in Salone del Mobile 2023. 

Moroso shall be seen around, since they are host to some private events. On the other hand, outdoor furniture brand Varaschin will occupy Booth D06 in Hall 5 and office furniture manufacturer Infiniti will be seen at Booth A39-B38 in Pavillion 14, Salone del Mobile – Fiera Milano Rho. Pedrali (Booth A23-B24 in Hall 6) advises visitors to be on their toes, since the brand has a new launch incoming. Quinti (Booth D06 in Hall 10) seems to be going all out with a private cocktail on the 20th April and as many as four fresh-off-the-rack collections being first unveiled at Salone del Mobile 2023.

Vivacious flooring brand Object Carpet will attend Salone del Mobile 2023 for a day on 19th April to release its first ever outdoor collection, MEDITERRANEO designed by Matteo Thun & Antonio Rodriguez. The collection  is a fully recyclable indoor-outdoor carpet collection with distinct soft haptics, and will be shown at the design duo’s studio in Milan.

Known for its stellar deliveries and creative endeavours, Kriskadecor (Booth F35 in Hall 10) will launch the Feel Free system, an innovative self-supporting system designed by estudi{H}ac-JMFerrero that allows for the installation of Kriskadecor chains in any area without the need for wall or ceiling support. The system is sustainable, with aluminium materials that can be recycled and includes 20% recycled material in the links, contributing to reducing the carbon footprint.

Titled ‘Positive spaces | Better products. Happier people. Healthier planet’, a journey starting from Piazza Fontana, on board the historic Tram K35, will cross a historic part of Milan. Amidst this journey, industry leaders and trendsetters, and designers will deliver talks and hold discussions over sustainability and what it means in the contemporary sense. Interface, who achieved the status of a Carbon Neutral Enterprise in September 2022, will also be part of the event. Ege Carpets’ is not be taking part in this edition, however, their showroom is expected to be abuzz during Milan Design Week 2023.

Cosentino, in collaboration with Tom Dixon, is set to showcase a conceptual bathroom design using their engineered surface Dekton product, Pietra Kode, in Milan’s Brera district, along with other exclusive events including private dinners and cocktail parties. Additionally, Cosentino will feature collaborations with Studio Juju and presentations at Palazzo Senato and Cosentino Milan City Center, including showcooking, conferences, and fabric collection presentations.

At the Archiproducts showroom in Milan, Impact Acoustics is all set to exclusively premiere their new material ARCHISONIC® Cotton, which are fully circular products ​for the design industry.

Brands at FuoriSalone 2023

Fuorisalone, is an event that takes place during the same week as Salone del Mobile 2023, and is overall, a part of the Milan Design Week agenda every year. 

The Quooker Team Italy will be present at various flagship showrooms in Milan, including Eurostyling, Binova, Poros, Garavaglia, Cappellini Cucine, Arch&Project, Arclinea, Boffi, and Dada, to promote their product. At Ecosistema, however, they will have their own space to showcase their products. Quooker will also participate in Home Design at the Gallia Hotel in Milan on Thursday, 20th, to talk about their products as part of the event.

iGuzzini will also showcase its Living Vibes collection, designed for new living environments, at Milan Design Week 2023 in Brera, Milan. The installation features collections such as Libera, Allure, BeTwo, Whisper, Le Perroquet, and Italian Echoes, including reissued historical archive designs. The exhibition space features metal mesh and wood, with multimedia synaesthetic lighting effects, sounds, and colors. iGuzzini is also involved in illuminating installations at other locations during Milan Design Week, including the Università Statale courtyard and collaborations with Giuseppe Zanotti, BUROMILAN, and Marmo Arredo showroom.

An exhibition titled, ‘Future Flow’, will feature Geberit in via San Marco 22. The program will delve into the upcoming design challenges that lie ahead, with a focus on reimagining the comfort and dynamics of living spaces through sustainable solutions. The evolution of the bathroom concept will also be explored, considering the intersection of technology and form.

Frezza will be showcasing its new product collections at IBM Studios Milano in an event named ‘FREZZA Design for evolving Humans’ from April 18th to 21st. The installation, curated by Architect Genny Canton, will be set in a human-sized city where Frezza products merge with plants and paths to create micro-architectures. The Pal System collection will be a highlight with its imposing three-dimensionality softened by fabrics and woods in appealing color shades. The exhibit will feature environmentally friendly products designed with recycling and reuse principles in mind, and an invitation-only buffet dinner will be held on April 19th.

The Cultural Program

Salone Del Mobile 2023’s cultural program is inspired by the theme of “The City of Lights”. The program will take place in the Euroluce spaces and include interdisciplinary contents curated by Beppe Finessi, along with a large piazza and arena designed by Formafantasma, Aurore. The twelve Constellations, curated by Finessi, will host exhibitions within the exhibition.

The program of Talks, curated by Annalisa Rosso, will focus on lighting, technology, and sustainability. Speakers include Shigeru Ban, Kjetil Trædal Thorsen, Marius Myking of Snøhetta, Nao Tamura, and Andrea D’Antrassi of MAD.

A library, curated by Corraini Editori and designed by Formafantasma, will focus on design, art, and illustration, with literature books exploring light in various forms. Visitors can also enjoy a bistro and fine dining restaurant, designed by Piero Lissoni to complement the biennale’s space.

EUROLUCE

A major highlight of the fair is the return of Euroluce—the biennial devoted to lighting—after a four-year hiatus. This year, the exhibition will feature a new cultural program led by renowned architect Beppe Finessi.

The layout of the exhibition has been revolutionized, with a new concept of proximity inspired by the historic town centers of Italy. The studio Lombardini22 has created an irregular, geometrically polygonal, fluid and free ring to optimize the user-friendliness of the exhibition. This new layout is sure to enhance visitors’ experiences and provide a unique perspective on lighting design.

In addition to the lighting exhibition, the Salone Del Mobile 2023 will also feature an exciting cultural program. The program is interdisciplinary and experiential, ranging from architecture to art, with exhibitions, talks, workshops, and site-specific installations. The aim is to bring architecture, art, and photography to the fairgrounds, creating an immersive experience for visitors.

Intra-lighting (located at Booth P11.226 in Hall 11) will be showcasing 5 of their innovative concept-level products, including Vyko, Lysabel, Gramm, Liy, and Eye, in a live demonstration for the first time. Vyko, in particular, is expected to draw significant attention as it introduces a groundbreaking solution for grid office ceilings. Vyko serves as a 3-in-one product, functioning as a luminaire, a ceiling, and an acoustic enhancer. Notably, Vyko is also environmentally friendly, as its acoustic panel is fully recyclable, making it a sustainable choice.

Sans Souci (Booth 205 in Hall 11) will participate in a talk with William Sawaya on 19th April to get into the nitty gritty of the lighting industry.

Salone Satellite

The 24th Salone Satellite will also be returning to the fair, which focuses on young designers and their innovative projects. This event is an excellent platform for emerging designers to showcase their talent and creativity to an international audience.

Salone del Mobile 2023 is an event not to be missed for anyone interested in design. With its rich history and global impact, the fair has become an essential platform for the industry to showcase its latest work, network, and form new partnerships. Don’t miss this highly anticipated event that attracts both professionals and design enthusiasts alike, and experience the excitement and creativity of Salone del Mobile.