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The Wednesday Journal of Cultural Insights.
Every year, we share our Top 3 – Best Installations at Milan Design Week 2025. This time, we pay homage to smaller exhibits.
Bolon, a Swedish design company founded in 1949, has a legacy of transforming waste materials into innovative woven flooring, showing their sustainable commitment. Over the years, Bolon has collaborated with various designers, architects, and fashion brands to create immersive spaces that transcend traditional materiality.
At Milan Design Week 2025, Bolon partnered with designer JoAnn Tan and industrial designer Luca Nichetto to present an installation titled “EXODUS.” This collaboration marked the first union of Tan’s theatrical storytelling and Nichetto’s craftsmanship, using Bolon’s materials as their medium.
“EXODUS” was showcased in a historic ballroom in Milan, previously a textile factory, symbolizing a bridge between past and present. The installation featured two contrasting realms: a primordial forest with textured surfaces and a dreamlike world with soft, luminous hues.
At the exhibit’s center, a mythical creature emerged, representing the fusion of these two worlds and the transformative power of design. The exhibit aimed to challenge visitors’ perceptions of space, surface, and meaning, emphasizing the beauty that arises when opposites intertwine.
Beni Rugs unveiled their most ambitious project to date: the “Intersection” collection, a collaboration with the French-Moroccan architecture firm Studio KO. This collection comprises ten rugs that explore the convergence of traditional Moroccan craftsmanship and contemporary design. Notably, it features five distinct weaving methods, including a modern reinterpretation of the intricate R’bati carpet from Rabat.
The exhibition was housed in a former textile shop at Via Cesare Correnti 14 in Milan’s 5VIE district, an area renowned for its blend of historical charm and contemporary design. Studio KO and Beni’s artistic director, Colin King, co-designed the installation, which provided an immersive environment that highlighted the rugs’ tactile qualities and craftsmanship.
“Intersection” was part of a broader trend at Milan Design Week 2025, where many exhibitors embraced theatrical and performance-based presentations to create engaging, narrative-rich experiences. Beni Rugs’ exhibition stood out by seamlessly integrating industry and craft, offering visitors a profound exploration of design’s evolving landscape.
The “Trace of Water” exhibition, part of MoscaPartners‘ offerings at Milan Design Week 2025, explores the potential of returnable water bottles as a material in a creative and tactile way we had not seen before. It showcases explicitly how these bottles can be used for design applications, visualizing their possibilities and applications.
The installation aims to create a sensory experience for visitors, allowing them to engage with the concept of water and its impact on the environment.
Aqua Clara, a leading Japanese water company, handles production and delivery while promoting bottle recycling. They teamed up with HONOKA, a design lab focused on materials, technology, and culture, and the SaloneSatellite Award 2023 (1st Prize) winner. This partnership pioneers innovation by rethinking familiar materials, setting a precedent for sustainable design.
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