Our passionate team at HOW recently embarked on a European sojourn to partake in this annual celebration of innovation and ideation, better known as the Milan Design Week 2023.

BY HOW. GROUP

PUBLISHED May 17, 2023

The Convergence of Creativity at the Milan Design Week 2023

Immersing oneself in the current of an event as riveting as the Salone Internazionale del Mobile is akin to a deep dive into the pulsating heart of global design. Our passionate team at HOW recently embarked on a European sojourn to partake in this annual celebration of innovation and ideation.With the invaluable addition of Anh Tran, this year's recipient of the prestigious Ian Howard Memorial Scholarship Award, our team plunged into the whirlpool of groundbreaking design ideas, absorbing and interacting with the thrilling dynamism that is unique to this world-renowned event. In the coming weeks, we will be bringing to you an exclusive interview with Anh, offering a sneak peek into her transformative experiences and valuable insights.

The Milan Design Week has always served as a platform for challenging the status quo, for disrupting established norms, and for adapting and evolving at a pace that sets the rhythm for the global design community. This year was no exception. Through fostering a wealth of creative ideas and connections, the event further fortified its position as the indisputable trendsetter of the design world.

Unveiling European Design Trends and Innovations

Navigating the labyrinth of European design innovation, our journey led us to the heartlands of our esteemed supplier partners - Markant, Fantoni, Actiu, and Pedrali. Amid the stimulating dialogues and industry exchanges, a standout was our rendezvous with Monica Pedrali, CEO of Pedrali. This engagement took us beyond the aesthetics and functionality of furniture, delving into the very ethos that shapes the future of design.

As we dissected these thought-provoking encounters and distilled our observations, five key trends emerged, hinting at a new horizon in global design:

• The 'Third Space': As boundaries between work and home dissolve, a new aesthetic is born – one that weaves homely comforts into professional spaces. On our journey, we observed office spaces thoughtfully peppered with everyday items like vases, candles, and magazines. These thoughtful inclusions craft an environment that feels familiar and eases the transition between work and home life. This emerging 'third space' is a testament to how the design industry is adapting to the rise of remote work, creating spaces that are as comforting as they are productive.

• Sustainability & Recycling: A sweeping wave of eco-conscious practices defined our European design experience. It was remarkable to witness the intentional minimisation of plastic use and the drive to source materials locally. Products were being broken down to their bare components, revealing every material and process involved in their creation, a trend that amplifies transparency and encourages informed decisions. As we observed this dedication to a sustainable future, we were inspired by the industry's commitment to leaving a gentler footprint on our planet.

• A Symphony of Bold Colours: The European design palette has experienced a dramatic transformation, moving away from its minimalist, industrial roots towards a riot of vibrant colours. We were intrigued to see how the inclusion of bold, energetic hues could lift the mood of a space, crafting an environment that stimulates creativity and engagement. It was a reminder that design is an emotional tool, capable of sparking joy and inspiration.

• Outdoor Furniture: One of the most refreshing trends we encountered was the integration of the outdoors into work-life balance. From office rooftops repurposed into lounges to gardens transformed into meeting spaces, the lines between indoor and outdoor were expertly blurred. This focus on outdoor furniture is a testament to the changing perceptions of what constitutes a workspace, suggesting an increased need for flexibility, freedom, and connection to nature.

• Private Spaces: The emergence of phone booths and similar privacy options in the office landscape signals a nuanced understanding of the modern workforce's needs. These dedicated quiet zones offer employees the chance to step away from the collaborative hubbub and focus on tasks that require concentration or conduct private conversations. It's an encouraging sign of the design industry's willingness to adapt to diverse working styles and preferences.

Integrating Insights into Australian Design

Now armed with a reservoir of new ideas and insights from the epicenter of global design, we look forward to channeling these into the Australian design landscape. We envisage these key trends - home-inspired aesthetics, sustainability focus, the embrace of bold colours, the integration of outdoor furniture, and provision of private spaces - as driving forces reshaping our local design.

The emergence of the 'third space' reflects the changing work-life dynamics and opens up exciting possibilities for Australian workspaces. By incorporating sustainability and transparency in our designs, we aim to contribute to the global environmental cause, while the injection of bold colours can enliven local workspaces

Stay tuned for our release next week, where we will be breaking down the top brands at Milan Design Week and across Europe, furthering our analysis and observations from this captivating event.