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From April 8 – 13, 2025, in conjunction with Milan Design Week 2025, the Kartell Flagship Store in Milan, Italy, invites visitors to witness a remarkable transformation as the Italian brand celebrates 25 years of its lighting collection. This exhibition, Memories from the Future, is more than just a display of lamps; it is a journey through aesthetics and innovation that demonstrates the profound impact that light has on our spaces. As one walks through this exceptional visual narrative, they find testimony to Kartell’s unwavering commitment to continuous aesthetic and technological progress. Each lamp design is not just a functional object; it is a chapter in the ongoing story of innovation that illustrates the evolution of our brand. With an interplay of transparencies, reflections and luminous dynamics, the flagship store transforms into a temporary museum celebrating the art of light—a tribute to the design that has gracefully brightened our lives for a quarter of a century.
The extensive Kartell lighting collection—encompassing both decorative and technical lighting designs—offers versatile solutions suited for indoor environments, outdoor spaces and workspaces alike. For instance, the Kabuki lamp, which plays with sophisticated transparencies and the Planet lamp, known for its suggestive reflections. Beyond their dual purpose, these lamps surprise with modern technologies such as Angelo Stone and boast distinctive volumes and curves like those found in the Teresa lamp. With the introduction of the new Luce lamp, the brand unveils a piece that embodies generous and enveloping shapes, expanding the decorative possibilities within the Kartell lighting collection.
Archive Space
On the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the Kartell Museum, the brand invites visitors to explore the newly inaugurated Archive Space, open to the public through the design week, at the Kartell Museum, located at Via delle Industrie 3 in Noviglio, Milan. The Archive Space serves as both a physical and a conceptual realm, housing Kartell's extensive historical archive. This archive preserves the memories, ideas and formal solutions that have contributed to the creation of many iconic objects.
“The memories contained in the archives, by virtue of the ability to remember what has been, generate knowledge and culture and for this reason represent the foundations of the vision for the future,” says Lorenza Luti, marketing and retail director of Kartell. In the Archive Space, visitors can engage with drawings, sketches and models that reveal the silent narratives behind historical design milestones. Accompanied by photographs, catalogues and documentary materials, this space creates an enriching environment for exploration and dialogue, bridging our storied past with the present and future of product design. The museum's archive boasts over 8,000 objects, 700 projects, more than 6,000 drawings and an impressive collection of 30,000 photographs.
'Memories from the Future'
In addition, Kartell presents Memories from the Future, a temporary design exhibition dedicated to the influential designer Joe Colombo. This exhibition opens during the design week and runs until September 19, 2025, showcasing Colombo’s extraordinary contributions to design and his vision that continues to resonate today. Memories from the Future emphasises a vital concept: the future is not merely something to await but a vision to actively pursue, guided by the lessons of the past.
Colombo and his revolutionary approach to design, centring on the belief that the future should be constructed through ideas, experimentation and a deep commitment to functionality, remains a beacon of innovation. His collaboration with Kartell brought forth groundbreaking designs that continue to resonate with the world. Serving as an interpreter of the aspirations of both Colombo and Kartell, the exhibition recognises that the design narrative is ever-evolving, reliant on lessons and memories from the past to inform our collective future. The show is thoroughly structured into three distinct sections, each revealing how Colombo’s designs serve as keys to unlocking a more visionary tomorrow.
The Future of Yesterday delves into Colombo’s pioneering methodologies, showcasing pieces like the Universale chair, drawing a direct line from the creativity of the past to the needs of a subsequent era and emphasising how functionality can coexist with artistic expression. Next, The Future of Today examines how Colombo’s forward-thinking designs have seamlessly integrated into our contemporary world. Key projects such as the swivel dome lamps and roto-ashtrays illustrate this compelling blend of practicality and ingenuity.
Finally, The Future of Tomorrow invites visitors to reflect on the true essence of design as a dynamic entity, rooted in historical context. Colombo's works transcend mere aesthetic appeal; they are statements of sustainability and resilience, responding to the environmental challenges we face today. The curved element armchair and the KD28 lamp serve as poignant symbols of how design can effectively navigate future uncertainties while honouring the wisdom of the past.
Keep up with STIR's coverage of Milan Design Week 2025, where we spotlight the most compelling exhibitions, presentations and installations from top studios, designers and brands. Dive into the highlights of Euroluce 2025 and explore all the design districts—Fuorisalone, 5Vie, Brera, Isola, Durini, and beyond—alongside the faceted programme of Salone del Mobile.Milano this year.
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