Hermès

At La Pelota, Hermès invited us into a white void, where vast suspended structures hovered overhead, casting a soft glow onto the floor below. Designed by Charlotte Macaux Perelman and Alexis Fabry, each glowing form featured cut-out apertures that revealed flashes of colour and product within.

What we loved was the element of surprise. At first, everything appeared solid and stark. But as you moved through the space, apertures, holes and frames came into view, offering unexpected glimpses. A vase perched on the edge of a shelf, a rug half unrolled, something draped just so. It gave it an informality, a sort of casualness, which sat at odds with these giant austere forms. Each time we turned a corner, Hermès offered us a moment of surprise.

House of Switzerland

Now in its third edition, House of Switzerland spotlighted collaboration as the engine of design.

A standout moment came from Lausanne students with The Living Tent — a kinetic, zero-waste structure designed to move with you. Suspended in the space, it shifted and swayed with every interaction, revealing ingenious knots and makeshift fastenings crafted from offcuts sourced at a local screen printing studio. Once Milan Design Week wraps, every component will return to the studio to be reused again. A thoughtful, dynamic celebration of circular design in motion.

Capsule Plaza

Capsule Plaza made a strong return, expanding beyond Spazio Maiocchi into satellite venues across the city and drawing in a heavy-hitting line-up.

HUMANRACE built an ultra-slick bathroom in signature green, defined by zones for washing, showering and bathing. The slick finish and bold colour gave a familiar domestic scene an otherworldly edge.

STONE ISLAND teamed up with Friendly Pressure, a London-based maker of bespoke sound systems, to present a tiny, tactile listening room. Wrapped in soft, tonal shades of brown and anchored by huge, hand-crafted speakers, the space invited visitors to sink into a soundscape. It was an intimate, warm and sensory moment of respite.

5VIE

For its 12th edition, 5VIE returned with Invisible Harmonies, a collective exhibition exploring the unseen forces that shape design.

A soft, meditative start came courtesy of Chiaroscuro, a multisensory installation focused on light and presence. Rippling glass, diffused LEDs, scent and sound came together to create a space of calm.

Elsewhere, a giant rattan fish gently swayed in the space, crafted by a studio known for using natural materials to build immersive brand worlds. Then came the joyful chaos. Oversized hairy figures in vivid colours. Mirrored patchwork furniture. Squiggly rugs and naïve ceramics channelling Grecian pottery. A celebration of personality and play.

6:AM

Set in the changing rooms of a disused Italian marble swimming pool, Italian lighting designers 6:AM presented a stark contrast.

The stripped-back, crumbling location was filled with delicate, sculptural Murano glass lighting, playing beautifully with reflections and shadows. The roughness of the space highlighted the finesse of the design.

It felt like a poetic dialogue between past and present, decay and craft.

Prada

Last but certainly not least, Prada’s annual symposium brought intellectual clout to this year’s Milan Design Week. Curated by Formafantasma and hosted inside the royal meeting room at Milan’s Central Station, this year’s theme In Transit offered a layered take on infrastructure, looking at how systems shape movement across people, goods and data.

Talks ranged from artistic to analytical, including a compelling presentation by Dutch collective Metahaven. But the real surprise came afterwards: stepping out onto the platform and boarding a fully restored 1950s train, originally designed by Gio Ponti.

Prada shone a light on a piece of Italian heritage that hadn’t been seen by the public in decades. It felt like a very special moment to see the train unveiled in all its green glory.

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From surprise and softness to soundscapes and swimming pools, this year proved there’s no single formula for impact.

Which unexpected detail, unusual material or offbeat location will spark your next idea? Let’s chat.