‘A form of one’s own’ – human object by Lee Shmeltz – ©Guy Rashkovan, all photos are courtesy of Isola Design Festival 2025.
Design. Archipanic is a media partner with Isola Design Festival 2025 (April 7-13), an open-to-the-public celebration of creativity taking over Isola, one of Milan’s most vibrant neighbourhoods. Organised by the international platform Isola Design, the event brings together international designers, architects, creators, and manufacturers to champion a humanity-driven approach to design. Check out these must-visit exhibitions across the design district.
EmotionaLAB collection by Lucia Kružlicová – ©Lucia Kružlicová.
The festival’s main theme for 2025 is Design is Human. “Nowadays, designers are asked to do more than simply create visually appealing or efficient products,” Says Gabriele Cavallaro, co-founder and CEO of Isola Design Group. “They must approach each project with a sense of responsibility, recognising the broader impact their work has on society and the planet.”
“Some fear digitalisation makes design less human,” remarks Chief Marketing Officer Rodny Aquino. “We view it as an opportunity: a strong tool that, when used thoughtfully, can enhance inclusivity and accessibility.”
Hymne A Beyrouth by Youssef El Hadi – ©Gabrielle Akiki.
Isola Design Festival 2025 expands with a new epicentre: the Basic Village [Via dell’Aprica 12, Map], hosting three carefully curated collective exhibitions. The playful Conscious Objects exhibition, curated by Isola Design’s creative director, Elif Resitoglu, engages visitors through multiple senses—hearing, playing, touching, tasting, and interacting—sometimes even becoming part of the experience.
“Imagine a chair that works only when sitting together, objects that adapt to the user’s needs, or a table game with playing cards to taste,” explains Resitoglu. Tel Aviv-based designer Lee Shmeltz created interactive lighting designs and furniture that explore our relationships with non-passive, symbiotic objects that cannot exist without our actions and attention. Japanese designer Yosuke Shimano presents the Take 5 Rubber® project, which allows you to create various shapes and colours by baking rubber for five minutes.
Take 5 Rubber® by Yosuke Shimano – ©Yosuke Shimano.
The 6th edition of Isola Design Gallery celebrates unique and handcrafted products and collectable designs with intriguing storytelling. Slovak designer Lucia Kružlicová presents the EmotionalLab research project and furniture collection. The series comprises quirky, animal-shaped pieces made of recycled materials from waste processing. Polish designer Alice Korbut, founder of Salak Studio, presents Mess, an unexpected dining table playing with simple geometric shapes [At Basic Village].
Mess table by Salak Studio – ©Salak Studio.
The Openspace exhibition is dedicated to bespoke companies, brands, and startups in technology, eco-tech, material research, and digital manufacturing. Anemones, flying seagulls, and blooming flowers inspired the kinetic lighting designs by the Lux Temporis atelier in France. Youssef El Hadi presents Hymne à Beirut, a poetic collection and a design lullaby celebrating the city’s scarred beauty [At Basic Village].
Lux Temporis lighting designs – Photo by Lux Temporis.
Nidhi Chandak and Varun E S, members of Isola Studio’s team in India, are curating the Rasa exhibition at VIAFARINI [Via Carlo Farini 35, Map]. The showcase features hand-blown glass, marble, textiles, terrazzo crafted from construction waste, sandstone, woven bamboo, and woodwork. Works from over 15 Indian designers and design studios connect tradition with modernity, highlighting the artistry and craftsmanship of Indian makers.
Ray by andblack design studio at the Rasa exhibition – ©Ravi Mistry.
Arno Hoogland presents the Deus Ex Machina: An Ode to MDF project [Via Luigi Porro Lambertenghi 3, Map]. MDF, the acronym for Medium-Density Fibreboard, is often dismissed as one of the least sustainable and least attractive materials for interior design. The Dutch designer developed a unique software that allowed his CNC milling machine to create unpredictable, organic forms. The installation blurs the boundaries between craftsmanship, technology, and speculative design.
Deus ex Machina exhibition by Arno Hoodland – ©Bram Spaan.
Moreover, several studios, workshops and galleries across the district open their doors to visitors. At Algranti Lab [Via Pastrengo 23, Map], craftsman Pietro Algranti invites visitors to explore material reuse with the Piantar Chiodini — Crafting Show: wood, iron, salvaged copper, tools and handiwork. In Via Borsieri 41 [Map], Ceramica Ostile showcases works by ceramic artists such as Caterina Maria Amato and Carlotta Nebuloni. On select evenings, themed workshops invite participants to create their own pieces.
Pietro Algranti, founder of Algranti Lab – ©ZepStudio.
All photos are courtesy of Isola Design Festival 2025 – The complete programme is published here: https://isola.design/milan-design-week-2025.
EmotionaLAB collection by Lucia Kružlicová – ©Lucia Kružlicová.
Furniture by Beyond Dreams at the Rasa exhibition – ©Beyond Dreams.
