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Fostering an atmosphere where careful deliberation and values guide every design, has become an essential part of promoting a conscious design culture. It is one of the first step is enhancing the general understanding of how design affects people, the environment, and society. Through the dissemination of knowledge on sustainability, inclusivity, and responsible innovation, designers can develop solutions that tackle practical problems with the least amount of unfavourable effects. Embracing a broad spectrum of viewpoints and real-life experiences enhances the creative process and produces inclusive and culturally aware designs. Incorporating accountability systems and feedback loops guarantees ongoing development and adaptability to change requirements. In the end, fostering a conscientious design culture benefits our planet's well-being and improves the calibre and significance of design.
Aiming to promote the reflection on the challenges of the contemporary, encouraging a conscious design culture, and giving space to practices capable of generating actions of change, the Brera Design District will present a rich calendar of exhibitions, installations, group shows and new products, aiming to reconfirm itself as the main district for promoting design on an international scale during Milan Design Week 2024 from April 15 - 21, 2024.
The 15 edition of Brera Design Week will focus on the theme Materia Natura to encourage thoughtful design culture and contemplation of current issues. Nearly 260 events are scheduled for the area, along with 15 new showroom openings, further cementing Brera's position as a major hub for design worldwide. Brera makes an identity for itself outside of design week by integrating heritage, culture, lifestyle, and business by working in conjunction with Studio Ianus to create a new visual identity and launching Brera Mag, a free press publication that highlights the district, establishing itself as a year-round destination for professionals and design enthusiasts alike.
“Brera Design District fits into the wider Administration’s project to bring the liveliness and creativity of Design Week to the streets and areas of Milan. Design Week is an exhibition and meeting week for players and professionals in this industry, but it is also an opportunity to offer the city, its inhabitants and tourists the chance to discover art design in all its forms. This is what Brera District has been doing for years offering a rich variety of appointments, installations and workshops that mirror the soul of a district, featuring a unique charm and contributing to confirming Milan as the worldwide capital of design”, shares Alessia Cappello, Councillor for Employment and Economic Development with responsibility for Fashion and Design of the Municipality of Milan.
Porsche returns as the main sponsor of Brera Design Week with The Pattern of Dreams the fifth edition of The Art of Dreams series, showcasing artworks inspired by dreams. Valcucine, a leading brand in high-end kitchens, is also a main sponsor, prioritising well-being, innovation, sustainability, and durability. Grand Seiko serves as the Official Timekeeper, continuing its partnership until 2025, aiming to communicate brand values and its connection with the design world to the event's international audience.
Studio Ianus founded by illustrators and motion designers Stefano Pietramala and Stefano Agabio brings Brera Design Week 2024 to life through animated illustrations, merging static and dynamic elements to capture the essence of the district. Their work, based on the district map, showcases scenes from daily life in Brera, depicting its unique charm and creativity year-round. The illustrations, set against a sophisticated dark background and using a refined pastel colour palette, offer a visual journey through Brera's landmarks and design classics.
Brera Design District, managed by Studiolabo, will introduce a fresh image and communication strategy starting in April 2024. This includes the Brera Experience newsletter and an Instagram profile with themed content to engage its many followers. A revamped website now offers updated event listings and news. The highlight is the launch of Brera Mag, a 180-page printed magazine published every six months, featuring columns, editorials, and thematic sections in both English and Italian. Distributed for free in 400 locations across Milan, including hotels and cultural spots, Brera Mag aims to be a comprehensive guide for tourists and locals alike, curated by publisher Gianluca Martinelli who has a consolidated experience in the issue of specialised magazines in different territories, and he will cover the role of Editorial Director and creative Co-Director with Studiolabo.
Brera Design Apartment
In collaboration with various partners, Brera Design Apartment, also referred to as the 'House of the Brera Design District' will launch a curated series of events commencing in May 2024. One such format is Tuorlo House, created in collaboration with Tuorlo Magazine and focuses on design, food, art, and conversation in a casual atmosphere. Until April 2025, the Brera Design Apartment will be the venue for these monthly gatherings, featuring original stories centred on topics like sustainability, food, and territory. Situated at Via Palermo, 1 in the centre of Brera, the apartment offers a comfortable Milanese ambience with thoughtfully selected furnishings, and it operates as a platform for discussions and meetings related to design and project culture.
Porsche with ‘The Art of Dreams’ presents ‘The Pattern of Dreams’
The Pattern of Dreams is the fifth edition of Porsche's The Art of Dreams series, connecting the public with creative communities through dream-inspired artworks. Premiering at Milan Design Week 2024, the exhibition features Lines of Flight by design collective Numen/For Use, an interactive art inspired by Porsche's iconic pepita houndstooth motif. The framework of the artwork is a system of light metal cells over which a sort of skin in the form of a transparent net is stretched or fluidly unfolded recalling a colony of vibrant wings. The installation invites visitors to explore and escape within its suspended net structure, symbolising freedom and fantasy. Other dream-inspired artworks and performances will also be showcased.
Valcucine presents ‘Architectural Scenarios’
Valcucine presents Architectural Scenarios showcasing the integration of their kitchen collection with architecture through interpretations by renowned design studios ARRCC, i29 Architects, and Neri&Hu. Each project explores different architectural aesthetics, offering a comprehensive view of Valcucine's possibilities. The exhibition combines aesthetics, functionality, sustainability, and innovation, reflecting Valcucine's commitment to environmental respect and transformative consumer experiences.
glo for art presents an installation by Emiliano Ponzi
The immersive installation by renowned illustrator Emiliano Ponzi aligns with Fuorisalone 2024's theme of Materia Natura where the artist represents the innovative, inclusive and avant-garde nature of the brand through an experience with a strong technological and interactive charge. Hosted at Hub Gattinoni in Brera, the installation features vibrant colours and shapes, inviting visitors to explore a vibrant tunnel leading to an impressive artistic display, that embodies a positive spirit.
Grand Seiko presents ‘Materia in Movimento’
Grand Seiko presents Materia in Movimento at Casa Brera, renewing its partnership with Fuorisalone for the second year. The installation reinterprets the theme of Materia Natura, transforming Casa Brera into a sensorial journey through a birch forest and an urban forest, symbolising the balance between man and nature. Visitors can also admire Grand Seiko's Kodo Constant-force Tourbillon watch, aiming to stimulate reflection on the connection between man and the environment, reflecting Grand Seiko's philosophy: The Nature of Time.
‘The Art of Precision’ by Signature Kitchen Suite
In its scenic showroom in Piazza Cavour, Signature Kitchen Suite invites visitors to appreciate the significance of precision, a distinctive feature of its high-tech built-in electrical appliances. Along the exhibition path, visitors will unravel how precision is an art, through immersive experiences, unexpected tastings, innovative product launches, and unprecedented collaborations with the world of design.
‘Design Duo Double Feature’ by FENIX®
FENIX®, in collaboration with the brands Arpa®, Formica®, and Homapal® from Broadview Holding, will showcase Design Duo Double Feature by Federica Sala in the Fenix Scenario settings. The project begins with the idea of dualism and explores the potential of matter and surfaces. For an installation by design team Studioboom, furniture items exploring new multidimensional functionalities will be created by CARA \ DAVIDE, DWA Design Studio, Martinelli Venezia, Naessi Studio, mist-o, and Zanellato/Bortotto.
House of Switzerland
The Swiss Arts Council Pro Helvetia and Presence Switzerland will present a group exhibition that brings together designers, studios, universities, businesses, and galleries from all around the country to highlight a collection of talented individuals with connections to both the country and the modern design industry. Driven by optimism and hope, with themes like well-being, circular economy, and a connection to nature, the projects will present a distinct perspective on the happiness that arises from skill and creativity.
‘The Home of Joy Comes to Italy’ by Schumacher
Schumacher, an American international decoration house specialising in high-end fabrics and wallpaper, announces its Italian opening. Following the Italian company's January 2024 debut, the first brand showroom is set to open on April 15, during the Salone del Mobile in Brera. With 14,000 references in the collection and almost 135 years of history, the Italian team will work on both public and private initiatives.
Città Miniera: Design, Dismantle, Disseminate by Solferino 28
Reopening to the public, Corriere della Sera features a fascinating exhibit by Mario Cucinella Architects. Wandering around the old courtyard will reveal a ‘new’ city created and constructed from wooden fruit crates that, after giving life to an unprecedented urban location, will be dismantled to return to their original purpose.
Ronan Bouroullec exhibition by Mutina
Casa Mutina Milan, via Cernaia 1A, and the nearby Cernaia Space will host two brand-new covering collections by Ronan Bourollec one for indoor use and the other for outdoor, as well as New Editions, which are limited editions of ceramic objects that will be added to the Mutina Catalogue starting in April 2024.
Marsotto Edizioni
At the Marsotto showroom, iconic objects by Marsotto Edizioni will be on display. Visitors will get an opportunity to admire cult pieces in different coloured marble representing the brand’s elegance and innovation. At Spazio Maiocchi, the new line of modular kitchens, made entirely of stone, bearing the signature of designers David/Nicolas, will be presented.
Human Made by Studio Salaris
Human Made by Studio Salaris will be exhibited at the laCividina showroom in Palazzo Borromeo D’Adda, via Manzoni 41. The exhibition explores man-made forms, particularly focusing on the archetypal element of the column, reflecting the history and territory of laCividina. This concept aligns with Fuorisalone's theme emphasising upholstery as the essential material of laCividina's manufacturing process, characterised by aesthetic purity and environmental consciousness.
Chiquita House presents Pop by Nature
As part of its Pop by Nature global campaign, Chiquita collaborates with the internationally renowned artist, Romero Britto. Known as a leading figure in NeoPop art and the founder of the Happy Art Movement, Britto takes centre stage at the Chiquita House. This immersive and interactive space is a vibrant celebration of the iconic Chiquita banana, inviting both visitors to Milan Design Week and the wider community to engage in a unique and captivating experience. Through colourful displays and engaging activities, the Chiquita House showcases the inherent pop nature of the beloved fruit, creating an unforgettable encounter for all who attend.
Cultural Initiatives
Stark presents Transitions at the Sala dei Pilastri in the Sforza Castle for Fuorisalone, exploring the dynamic nature of matter characterised by water's influence on morphologies and configurations. Collaborating with Alice Buroni, Gloria Lisi, and Alex Buroni, Stark creates an immersive experience featuring evolving patterns of light, sound, and material, representing water's vitality and transitions between states. Meanwhile, the ADI Design Museum hosts ORIGIN of SIMPLICITY showcasing Japanese design curated by Rossella Menegazzo and design reformism by Aldo Colonetti and Valentina Fisichella. Ottchil Design and Francesco Binfaré's exhibit also highlight Korean and Italian design perspectives, respectively. Additionally, the inclusion-themed Oases of Inclusion by Diwergo features seats embodying diversity with aphorisms by Antonio Giuseppe Malafarina, promoting accessibility and inclusivity for all visitors.
The 15th edition of Brera Design District underscores the district's pivotal role as a global hub for design promotion. Recognising the critical role of human intervention in bridging matter and nature, the design event emphasises the importance of adopting principles of the circular economy and promoting sustainable practices. With a focus on material innovation, service design, art, and technology, exhibitors explore solutions that address evolving market dynamics and foster deeper connections between people, places, and objects in our increasingly material-oriented culture. Brera Design Week 2024 serves as a platform for dialogue, inspiration, and action, shaping the future of design culture beyond the event itself.
Stay tuned with STIR's coverage of Milan Design Week 2024 which showcases the best of exhibitions, studios, designers, installations, brands and events to look out for. Explore EuroCucina and all the design districts—Fuorisalone, 5vie Design Week, Isola Design Week, Brera Design District and Porta Venezia Design District.
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