5Vie shapes and finetunes design's 'armonie invisibili' at Milan Design Week 2025

As part of Milan Design Week 2025, the vibrant 5Vie Design District is delving into the intangible aspects of design or the harmonies that manifest between, and give shape to, form and meaning. Going beyond a visual or surface-level understanding of design as a system of aesthetics or consumption, the festival looks at it as a language of resonance between the tangible and intangible. Building on last year's theme that focused on sustainability and community through the symbolism of musical elements in an Unlimited Design Orchestra, the 12th edition of the elaborate and lively showcase at Milan Design Week asks visitors to think of collectible design as "more than just objects" and instead as "a living architecture of relationships that transcend the tangible".

The curatorial note draws on ancient Greek philosophy, where harmony was considered an essential principle of the world, a way to achieve a particular balance in the universe and, in this sense, a way to create an intelligible aesthetics of being and doing. As media partners, STIR lists the diverse exhibitors and projects that will offer visitors an immersive journey into the spaces between object and symbol, function and poetry, at this year's design spectacle at 5Vie.

From April 7 – 13, 2025, the district at the heart of Milan will be filled with immersive and interactive installations, design exhibitions, displays and activations in three distinct exhibition spaces. In addition to the historic spaces of Cesare Correnti and SIAM, a special showcase is planned this year at the National Museum of Science and Technology Leonardo da Vinci with projects that combine tradition and innovation, underscoring 5Vie's commitment to experimentation in design.

Similar to the design week's previous editions, 5Vie will collaborate with international artists, designers and curators to showcase unique '5Vie Productions' that reflect the state of contemporary design through projects that present the designers' innovative perspectives. This year will feature American designer Misha Kahn, experimental design project Colture Project, Hong Kong-based artist and designer duo Julie & Jesse's installation curated by Annalisa Rosso, a curatorial show by Carolina Levi called Prendete & Mangiate, Lebanese interior architect and designer Richard Yasmine, two works by Sara Ricciardi Studio, one of which is in collaboration with luxury rug brand Rometti & Nodus and, lastly, a project by Iranian artist Hiva Alizadeh.

For his showcase Abject: Inhabit the Poché, Kahn will present Abject, his home and homeware brand, bringing forth a bold new vision of domesticity through a performative interpretation featuring his signature IZK chair designs. Similarly, hoping to draw attention to the intangible emotions related to design artefacts, Yasmine's Divine Decadence will present an "art de la table collection of vases, vessels and reversible bowls" that are crafted from marble—some adorned with stainless steel spikes and others left plain. These sculptural designs will also be embellished with handmade jasmine flowers in double silk organza as a symbol of splendour.

In a similar vein, Metamorphism by Julia & Jesse explores ceramics as "one of the most ancient and universal expressions of human creativity". Their large-scale installation will challenge the possibilities of the material, teetering between different states of equilibrium in the process. Looking at the idea of food and gathering, Levi's project Prendete & Mangiate will feature over 20 contemporary designers and design artefacts, and is supported by Artisia, a 3D-printed pasta brand.

For her collaboration with the luxury brand Rometti & Nodus, Ricciardi will explore the intangible notion of love at the design festival. Presenting six vases arranged in a circle along with carpet designs that bring drawings to life, the showcase urges one to ask how love can foster connections and community. Similarly, her eponymous studio's interactive sculpture, The Chrysalis Knows The River's Song, is a look at the fragile tension between rest and transformation, embodied by the image of the chrysalis.

Also focusing on textiles, Alizadeh's display at 5Vie, titled armonie invisibili, dissects the conventional notion of the Persian carpet. Instead of using threads or weaving, the artist uses coloured synthetic hair for their work. Finally, Colture Project's OTHER SPACES will be an installation focusing on the environment that will highlight the importance of recycling and circular design, underscoring how humans may fruitfully collaborate with natural energies.

Apart from these specially commissioned projects, various events and displays will bring the district alive for one of the most anticipated design events of the year. The new exhibition space at Le Cavallerizze will feature an extension of the art collective Anotherview's project from last year in the form of Bar Altra Vista. The installation will recreate the typical atmosphere of an Italian bar. Also within this space, healthcare company Sanofi will bring Zeus, one of the sculptures by Atelier blam that sailed down the Seine River for the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, to the Italian city.

Displays highlighting innovation and craftsmanship in the contemporary design sphere will be displayed by brands such as CHELEBI, lighting brand TAKASHO DIGITEC in collaboration with Japanese design studio TANGENT, and ARCADE in collaboration with artist Ivan Baj. With a focus on lighting design and technological precision, works by design duo ELIURPI, Italian design studio FMM Design, Massimo Rigaglia and Michael Milesi will be on display. A striking sculpture by the Italian glass company Glass & Glass, which recreates the limited edition I Tondi column—designed by the iconic but little-known designer Carlo Nason—will be one of the highlights. Collections by Filip Tack's Più Objects, Jean Yves Lanvin, Nicolette de Waart, Unobject as well as a curated show of Brazilian designers are also set to be showcased.

Displays at Cesare Correnti and SIAM will offer multifarious avenues to explore design's various manifestations. In collaboration with Paris-based architects Studio KO, luxury rug brand Beni Rugs will display a new collection celebrating 25 years of the architecture studio. The collection will be a unique collaboration between Studio KO's design language and Beni Rugs' focus on craftsmanship. Similarly, on.entropy x Art Rug Project will showcase Holy Luci, a collection that juxtaposes marble and textiles. The collection by the Greek marble atelier, in collaboration with the rug design company, is inspired by the shapes of mushrooms.

A group show, Terre e Trame: A Radical Dialogue Between Ceramics and Knitwear, will explore the material tension between the solidity of ceramics and the flexibility of knitwear. Displaying new collections this year at 5Vie will be independent designers, including Iyo Hasegawa, Federica Sala, Zade Design and Studio MO. Additionally, Arjumand will show a new collection inspired by the opulence of Ottoman aesthetics.

The showcases will also highlight collaborations between brands, companies and studios: Bitossi Home, in collaboration with French designer Sandrine Alouf, will present Trattoria, a showcase that offers a new perspective on the classic trattoria. An interactive work by Laboratorio Paravicini and Studio Mary Lennox, Jardins à l’Italienne, will focus on ceramic art and transform one of the intimate courtyards in the district. The lighting installation by architect Luca Trazzi, working with FAN EUROPE Lighting, will draw inspiration from the Renaissance architect Donato Bramante. Italian company Lapalma will work with 24 international design studios for an exhibition of unique wall clock designs in a space reimagined as an architect's studio.

The displays will also include leading marble company MARGRAF's Crash, conceptualised with Hannes Peer Architecture; renowned watch company Unimatic's new collaboration with digital artist Migrating Lines; a partnership between Milan-based Takeda Katsuya Design Studio and the Tatehiko brand of Shoei Furniture Studio Co. Ltd., which will see the realisation of the fourth edition of Timeless Innovation celebrating iki—a Japanese aesthetic concept of essential beauty. Finally, Japanese designers we+ will showcase Unseen Objects—the result of an association with Japanese foundry Heiwa Gokin.

Dynamic installations in the different gallery spaces will allow visitors a chance to immerse themselves in the colourful world of design, bridging the tangible and intangible. Architect and designer Johnny Li will present Convivium using his YILINE collection of furniture designs; interior designer Cecilia Pantaleo will show a miniature illuminated city; Milan-based studio Pietrachiara will display a new iteration of an older project; Amsterdam-based design duo Rive Roshan's Chiaroscuro: A Light in the Darkness will feature new works by the studio; Sagarminaga Atelier's Tuna Ex Machina will highlight the role technology and movement plays in design and an installation by Massimiliano Pipolo will explore the design of the bathroom.

An outdoor installation at SIAM, conceptualised by luxury designer Chendù, featuring plastic company Fainplast, will forge a fresh balance between design, art and circularity. Various activations throughout the district will engage visitors during the week. Fashion brand A di GAETA will host an immersive Shoe Library & Café that invites guests to relax with a drink. The interactive space will offer visitors a glimpse into the process of making and customising footwear. During the week's festivities, Italian kitchen brand Effeti Cucine will unveil its new flagship showroom in the exclusive 5Vie district.

Several art galleries will put on curated shows this year, including Alberto Levi Gallery, which will present IL NULLA [HEECH / NOTHINGNESS] with works by renowned rug designer Lila Valadan; BOON_EDITIONS x A-N-D with BOON_ROOM Gallery will show designs that blur the boundaries between art and design; the collective Missing Objects' eponymous exhibition will spotlight 18 young designers who will question the conventional notions of domesticity with their work; Paula Seegy Gallery will host THE WALL, a collection of interwoven metal objects, natural fibres and mirrored glass, presented by Mario Trimarchi.

A retrospective on Italian designers and couple Anna Maske and Elisabetta Vitelli, curated by Porzia Bergamasco, will offer insights into their work for brands such as 4Mariani, Brunati, Longhi, MisuraEmme, Moroso, PozzieVerga and Rossi di Albizzate. At this year's design showcase, country-specific exhibitions by DesignSingapore Council, Hungarian Fashion & Design Agency, Instituto Cervantes Milano and Visteria Foundation will highlight the diversity and versatility of contemporary design around the world.

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.