Milan Design Week always carries a special kind of momentum. It is one of the few moments in the calendar when the global design industry seems to converge in one place, creating space not only for launches and introductions, but for conversation, discovery, and reflection on where design is heading next.
This year, that energy felt especially tangible.
Against a complex global backdrop, Salone del Mobile.Milano 2026 welcomed 316,342 visitors from 167 countries, with 68% of trade visitors arriving from international markets. With 1,900 brands from 32 countries participating, the scale of the event once again underscored its role as a global benchmark for the industry.
Those figures tell one part of the story. What we felt on the ground told another.
Across the city and throughout the fair, there was a sense of resilience, curiosity, and forward movement. We saw an incredible volume of new ideas, but more importantly, we saw thoughtful design: pieces shaped by clear concepts, refined craftsmanship, technical innovation, and a real sensitivity to how people want to live and work now.
What stood out most was not simply the amount of newness, but the intentionality behind it. Again and again, we found ourselves drawn to products that felt well resolved, expressive without excess, and designed with longevity in mind.
That felt particularly aligned with Salone’s 2026 theme. This year’s conversation turned to matter — not only as physical substance, but as something deeper: a source of memory, meaning, and possibility. Rather than treating material as a backdrop to design, the theme invited visitors to think about it as the starting point: something touched, interpreted, and transformed through process, vision, and use.
That idea resonated strongly with what we experienced throughout the week. Many of the most compelling introductions were not just visually striking; they felt grounded in material intelligence. They expressed a sensitivity to texture, form, softness, structure, and making — a reminder that the best design often begins not with spectacle, but with close attention to what something is made of, how it is shaped, and what it can become.
We came away inspired by the conversations happening across the week around comfort, flexibility, materiality, and contemporary living and working. Salone’s own framing of the event reflected that same spirit, describing a fair that continues to create new business opportunities while also acting as a tool for interpreting markets, design culture, and the evolution of living.
Among the many highlights from the week so far were presentations from TRUE, Blå Station, and Vergés — three brands that gave us plenty to think about and left us with products and moments we are excited to keep talking about.
True
TRUE brought a strong mix of personality, clarity, and relevance to the week. This year also marked an important moment for the brand with the opening of True Place, its new permanent showroom in Milan — a setting that added another dimension to how the collection was seen and experienced during Milan Design Week.
A particular standout for us was seeing Adinne unveiled in person by the product’s designer Leonardo Rossano. There is always something meaningful about witnessing a product debut live, and hearing the thinking behind it added another layer to the moment. It was one of those introductions that stayed with us long after we left the room.
Another highlight for us was the reveal of Ahkka, designed by Claesson Koivisto Rune. Seeing the piece introduced in person — and hearing more about the thinking behind it from the designers themselves — gave it an added depth that stayed with us. It was a reminder of how meaningful these moments can be during Milan Design Week: not just seeing a new piece for the first time, but understanding the perspective and creative intent that shaped it.
We saw plenty more inspiring pieces, that felt expressive and contemporary, while still grounded in usability and a clear design language. Some more of our favourites included:
Sibillino
Aura
Cremino
The opening of True Place made that experience all the more memorable. Having a permanent home for the brand in Milan feels significant, and it created a strong context for the launch — one that brought together product, setting, and atmosphere in a way that felt considered and compelling.
In the context of this year’s theme, TRUE’s presentation felt like a strong reminder that design is never only about appearance. It is also about how an object holds presence, how material supports mood and function, and how form can create both clarity and emotional response.
Blå Station
Blå Station brought exactly the kind of energy we always hope to encounter during Milan Design Week: original, assured, and full of design character.
What stood out across the presentation was the balance between playfulness and precision. These are pieces with presence, but also with a strong sense of purpose — products that invite engagement while remaining highly resolved.
Some key pieces we saw were:
Villhem Supersoft and Villhem Table
SOMA
Frankfurter and Frankfurter Table
ABLE Table
What stayed with us here was that sense of transformation that Salone’s theme pointed toward: the idea that design gives new meaning to matter, turning what is tangible into something expressive, useful, and memorable. Blå Station’s presentation captured that beautifully, showing how strong ideas and strong material decisions can come together in ways that feel both fresh and lasting.
Vergés
Vergés made a strong impression with a presentation that felt refined, highly considered, and deeply usable.
What resonated most in the Vergés collection was the consistency of its language and the ease with which these pieces could translate into real environments. There was a clear sense of craftsmanship and restraint throughout — products that feel contemporary, but never fleeting.
Some of our favourites included:
Ensemble
Rento Modular
Trek
Punto
Conic High Bench
There was also plenty to see from several of our other partners across Milan Design Week and Salone:
Newlife
Pedrali
Naturtex
We’re also excited to announce a new partnership.
Blending horticulture, technology, and design, Mazu creates striking architectural planters that bring a distinctive perspective to the built environment. We’re delighted to be able to bring them into upcoming projects.
A Week Full of Inspiration — With More to Come
One of the most rewarding parts of Salone is that it sharpens your perspective.
It reminds you how much is happening across the industry, how many different directions design is moving in, and how important it is to experience these ideas firsthand.
We saw so much that inspired us this week — from bold new launches to quieter moments of detail, craftsmanship, and material exploration.
These early highlights are only part of the story, and there is much more still to share.
If this year’s edition suggested anything, it is that what matters in design now goes beyond surface. It lives in material choices, in clarity of concept, in the emotional and practical intelligence of a piece, and in the way good design can turn substance into something lasting.
We are excited to continue spotlighting the brands, products, and moments that resonated most with us in Milan, and we cannot wait to bring the latest to the projects ahead.
More to come.
If you’d like to use any of these latest products in your next project – reach out now.
