Twelve fun and quirky creatures from Milan. LoveNow! by Jamie Hayon x Bosa Ceramiche – Photo by Riccardo Urnato.

Design – “Irony is a great added value in design! The great Milanese architect Achille Castiglione I had the luck to get to know was a big sponsor of irony.” Says Archipanic’s volcanic design contributor  Antonella Galimberti. “A brilliant example of such attitude thrives at the Fa ballà I man exhibition at the Fondazione Achille Castiglioni.” In Milanese dialect, Fa ball I man means to keep on moving. From here, Antonella got inspired and selected twelve fun and quirky creatures launched at Milan Design Week, including cuddly gorillas, watermelon seats, friendly black snakes, and more.

• RELATED STORIES: Read more about Milan Design Week 2022 on Archipanic.

Sherwood and Robin lighting designs by Matteo Ugolini for Karman Italia – Photo by Karman Italia.

LoveNow! Spanish designer Jaime Hayon has created a zoomorphic creature in the act of opening itself to the world with a message of universal love. Designed for the Italian company Bosa Ceramiche, the brave leprechaun bravely stands up holding a golden heart with a proud embrace.

At Euroluce, I was pretty impressed by a fun pendant lamp by Matteo Ugolini for the Italian design company Karman. A good berry is always a squirrel’s top priority. Squirrels with furry tails seem to jump from the ceiling to collect their favourite snacks.

Sherwood and Robin lighting designs by Matteo Ugolini for Karman Italia – Photo by Karman Italia.

‘Thank you for all your love,’ say Ashish Bajoria e Suman Kanodia, co-founders of the Indian design brand Scarlet Splendour. At Corso Como 10 in Milan, they presented quirky designs by Marcantonio, Richard Hutten, Matteo Cibic, and Elena Salmistraro. Marcantonio created a furry gorilla with long arms and a tree cabinet for Kings of the Jungle wannabes.

Marcantonio holds his Forest cupboard designed for Scarlet Splendour – Photo by Scarlet Splendour.

Twiggy Super Model by American designer Chris Wolston is a playful wicker throne interwoven by Colombian craftsman José Luis Ávarez. The important seatback comes with two long arms and hands; the right one makes the victory gesture. The seat is part of a larger collection, including a lamp, a table and a smaller chair.

Doppia Firma, TWIGGY SUPER MODEL by Chris Wolston x Jose Luis Álvarez – Courtesy of Doppia Firma, photo by © David Sierra.

At the OMG-GMO exhibition by Carwan Gallery, Robert Stadler collaborated with Bitossi Ceramiche to create unexpected ceramic furniture designs inspired by bananas, watermelons, leeks, and lemons. The pieces playfully reflect on consumerism and the production of genetically modified organisms for everyday groceries.

OMG-GMO collection by Robert Stadler presented by Carwan Gallery – © Filippo Telaro.

The Everything Is Gonna Be Alright exhibition at La Triennale di Milano featured nine pieces by iconic sculptor and architect Gaetano Pesce for the Italian Company Meritalia. “Pesce was the true star of this Milan Design Week”, says Antonella. “I selected the series Gli Amici (2009) of upholstered seats in the shape of fishes, toucans, chubby bears and more.” The perfect fun, playful, and quirky companions for all kids. Meritalia has recently been acquired by Radical Design.

Gli Amici by Gaetano Pesce for Meritalia – Photo by Meritalia.

Qeeboo has launched the Oggian Coffee Tables collection of animal-shaped pieces in lacquered wood. The black snake Mambo, the blue whale Otis, the pink elephant Jumbo, and the red camel Aziz were designed by Marco Oggian for outdoor use—a tribute to monsters that, after all, are more friendly than scary.

Coffee tables by Marco Oggian for Qeeboo – Photo by Qeeboo.

Nava + Arosio studio has designed Visio, a lighting design composition for Masiero, creating a scenographic tribute to the expressiveness of the face. Visio consists of a luminous wall hanging piece from Murano glass and aluminium tubular elements.

Visio lighting collection by Nava + Arosio for Masiero, an installation by Studio MILO – Photo by Masiero.

Fictional designer Uto Balmoral designed the Circus lighting design collection for Seletti. A Can Can ballerina or moustached strong man lifts a circus curtain in soon-to-be-iconic lamps made in resin, metal and polyester.

Circus table lamps by Uto Balmoral x Seletti – Photo by Seletti.jpg

Radical brand Gufram teamed up with football club Juventus to present Gufram in Black and White. The ironic Ron Ron pouffe by Marion Baruch, 1972, has now been re-edited also in white to match the binary colour palette. With its soft nature, and furry coat, Ron Ron is like a pet; indeed, its name purrs away.

Ron Ron pouf by Marion Baruch for Gufram – Photo by Gufram.

Curvy Amanda and moustached Ambrogio are a perfect couple of butlers – always smiling! – cohabiting in the Together side table by Favaretto & Partners. Available in several colours, the sweet duo comes in EcoAllene, a special smart plastic derived from Tetrapack©.

Together by Favaretto & Partners x SLIDE – Courtesy of SLIDE.

Circu is a Portuguese magical brand crafting dreamy bedrooms for kids. In Milan, they presented Mr Bunny, an Alice in Wonderland velvety pink or mint-hued bed by Marion Baruch with giant dimmable fluffy ears that can be oriented for perfect fairytale moments. Other dreamy beds can be found at Covet House.

Mr Bunny Bed by Circu Magical Furniture – Photo by Circu.

Watermelon stool by Robert Stadler – Courtesy of Carwan Galley, photo by © Filippo Telaro.