Each spring, designers from all over the world head to Milan in order to visit the Salone Internazionale del Mobile, the most important annual furniture fair in the world. Lots of cities hold their own design weeks, however, the Salone is the first event, which grew into a large-scale arts and culture festival, becoming an incubator for ideas, a venue for inspiration and a good show case of design accomplishments. Vasily Kassab, Executive Creative director at Mildberry, who used to study and work in Milan, has been attending the annual fair since 2010. He was always keeping an eye on it and the latest design tendencies. After every trip he shares his impressions on the remarkable trends spotted around the fair. Usually, these trends get weaved into the projects we do for our clients. In this presentation you may find the latest observations of the Salone del Mobile 2016.

1. TREND
SPOTTING
SALONE DEL MOBILE 2016

2. 2
Each spring, designers from all over the
world head to Milan in order to visit the
Salone Internazionale del Mobile, the most
important annual furniture fair in the world.
Lots of cities hold their own design weeks,
however, the Salone is the first event,
which grew into a large-scale arts and
culture festival, becoming an incubator for
ideas, a venue for inspiration and a good
show case of design accomplishments.
Vasily Kassab, Executive Creative director
at Mildberry, who used to study and work
in Milan, has been attending the annual
fair since 2010. He was always keeping an
eye on it and the latest design tendencies.
After every trip he shares his impressions
on the remarkable trends spotted around
the fair. Usually, these trends get weaved
into the projects we do for our clients. In
this presentation you may find the latest
observations of the Salone del Mobile
2016.
Barlinek + Tabanda + Design alive
Czech lighting manufacturer Preciosa

3. 3
Non-furniture brands at the
Salone del mobile
Usually, the Salone del Mobile is seen as a Furniture Fair.
However, this perception tends to change. Year by year giants
like Samsung, BMW, Ikea, Panasonic, Nike and others have
been steadily taking their places among the furniture and
lighting brands. This year Milan design week has changed
dramatically. It evolved into a Hybrid platform, bridging the gap
between ideas, brands, design and production.
The major brands are finally learning how to “engage”
audience and to put on spectacular performances. They’ve
stopped bombarding people with marketing messages and
setting up pointless collaborations with celebrity designers,
which brought nothing beyond shallow PR.
Nike has put on what must be the most expensive show the
fair had ever experienced, Audi was “bathing" the Pirelli tower
in light each evening. Even PepsiCo, possibly the most unlikely
corporation to find at a design fair, laid on a lavish exhibition
and an interesting set-up space, which ranged from interactive
games to exclusively designed Fizz bar.
The shows made by the giant brands appeared to be
remarkable and powerful and we are anticipating to see more
well-produced performances in the nearest future.
FIRST IMPRESSIONS

4. Homes are becoming more personified than
ever. It means that people express their social
identity through their homes. Along with the
growing interest in the home experience as a
living and bonding container, homes are
becoming living spaces more than physical
ones. We can examine homes and consider
them as mirrors reflecting the social, political
and cultural changes happening in the
society. Home as private spaces are beyond
any fashion statement. It allows for
extravagance and frivolity, its secrecy and
intimacy open rooms for experimentation and
freedom of expression.
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THE DETAILS ARE NOT
THE DETAILS ANYMORE.
THEY MAKE DESIGN

5. Our growing concern for the planet and nature was reflected in the interiors trends we
spotted at this year’s Milan Salone del Mobile. Designers are feeling the need to get closer to
Mother Nature. Plants, flower prints and different types of wood were mixed and brought the
outdoors into home or integrated well into the outdoor surrounding.
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BRINGING NATURE IN
Toyota wooden concept
My Equilibria
Barlinek + Tabanda + Design alive
Dimore Gallery
DOTS OBJECT

6. Feminine power and the rise of women as a role leader have led to visual direction based on
combining a soft nature of fabrics and textile finishes with bold aggressive colours, metals or
rough woods.The rise of the Fringe as a trend has been noticed in several design items as well.
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BOLD SENSUALITY
Tassel Series by Apparatus Baccarat Moooi
Moooi

7. As we are all children at heart the growing interest in “playful”
experiences and games has been obvious. The grown generation
recognise the power of emotions and try to keep up with the
young. Objects which were previously perceived as “childish” now
are more than welcome to decorate adults life bringing in a beam of
childhood memories and young spirit. Still, there were some objects
designed for kids, however the aesthetic of those was addressed
as to youngsters so to parents.
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TOYS FOR ADULTS
Nendo's H Horse for Kartell Stefano Giovannoni's
Qeeboo
Paul Smith for GuframGebrüder Thonet Vienna
"Boring Collection" by Lensvelt - Ventura Projects

8. The strive to come up with something new and
unseen has been largely appearing and noticed
through different objects and installations.
Combining and mixing unmatched forms and
materials to come up with novelty or bringing back
the non-materialistic quality of experiences and
making it into objects that can give an edge to any
home.
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MIX AND MATCH
Patricia Urquiola and Federico Pepe
for Spazio PontaccioMark Sturkenboom“hyperevolution” in Overgrown
M/M Paris introduces playful iconography

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OIL
Oil has been a big issue recently affecting not only the economic
aspect of society. A bold statement from Tom Dixon was to match
the negatively charged visual aspect of oil spill and beautifully
designed objects that cover not only the visual experience but
also smell and tactile ones.

10. This trend reflects exploration of “infinity”. Dark and mechanic installations gained their power not only by
taking over large spaces but also by complicated and detailed design. Made to work in a perfect harmony,
they bring a feeling of control and order. Impressive installations were presented by several companies.
CITIZEN, a watch brand, introduced "time is TIME" installation, a sophisticated “rain” made of tiny gears.
This was a deep exploration of time, where viewers could experience “present” and, perhaps, “future”.
The other hit was an installation called “Crystal Automata” by Michael Vasku and Andreas Klug, the
representatives of Czech lighting manufacturer Preciosa. The artwork was inspired by Fire, Water, Air and
Earth, mechanical movement and fascinating craftsmanship behind glassmaking and clockwork
production. “Crystal Automata” represented a hidden process, and the whole sophistication is kept inside!
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THE MECHANIC SUBLIME
Czech lighting manufacturer Preciosa
CITIZEN’s brand statement

11. Plenty of colour trends were presented in Milan, but the one that really grabbed
my attention was rainbow spectrum glassPlastic. Designers played with panelling
in order to achieve flamboyant reflections. Here, the viewer is encouraged to think
of the piece not only in terms of form, but in terms of positioning and lighting
effect as well. The furniture designs become filters assisting the interplay of light.
Colours amplify the iridescent touch when light penetrates the form.
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PlAYFULLY REFLECTIVE
Glas Italia and Patricia Urquiola
Eli5e designer Elise Luttik
Panerai
Glas Italia and Patricia Urquiola
At Spazio Orlandi
Aquário cabinet by Campana brothers

12. It is quite obvious that digital forms of communication and art could be seen at
the Salone del Mobile. It is worth mentioning that “digital for the sake of digital” is
slowly fading and online channels and techniques are becoming well-thought
mechanisms facilitating communication between design and viewers.
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MORE DIGITAL IN LESS DIGITAL
KUKAN, PANASONICFIZZ By PEPSICOFRAME MAGAZINE

13. A lot of fashion brands joined the fair introducing luxurious Home collections. Every furniture setting was
presented in the experimental way or was supported with an installation.
Hermès showed its first collection of furniture, which inspired the tufo installation constructed by Mexican
architect Mauricio Rocha. COS in collaboration with a Japanese architect Sou Fujimoto created a breathtaking
installation in a historic сinema of Milan.
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AND FASHION FOUND ITS PLACE!
COS COS x SOU FOJIMOTO
http://www.cosstores.com/cosxsoufujimoto/salone-del-mobile-2016/
HERMES x Mauricio Rocha BULGARI

14. This trend which touches reality and the way we perceive things.
Sometimes we desire to look at ordinary things from different angles,
literally different, and to find the ways to bring unpredicted moments,
leaving it to the chance instead of planning!
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FLIPPING REALITIES
Panerai
At Spazio Orlandi
Moooi
The Briggs Family Tea Service MoooiInstallation of over 5000 bricks LEE BROOM

15. 15
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