Update Colour Flow 2025
What is next in the world of design?
You Can Imagine the Opposite by Maurizio Nannucci
Experimental and functional
Welcome to what is next in the design world, an exploration of developments in design discoveries at Milan Design Week 2023.
Nature and natural phenomena are inspirations; designers incorporate metaphors and natural references to create intriguing objects. Also, more literary, the appreciation of nature and spending time outdoors inspires the creation of collections that seamlessly connect indoor and outdoor environments, using weaving and knotting for more tactile and rough surfaces.
Natural materials, structures, and textures that resonate with a sense of authenticity bring a sense of nature and rawness to products. A renewed interest in craftsmanship and craft explorations pushes the boundaries of materials and techniques and showcases makers’ mastery. Surfaces become tactile and playful with woven strips of leather, raffia, or silver foil.
The influence of the digital realm on physical design continues to evolve; aesthetics from gaming, AI image generation and digital renderings make their mark on physical objects and materials. Light becomes an integral part of the colour and material experience. Gravity becomes a playful force, and light itself becomes a design material.
Next-generation manufacturing techniques, such as additive manufacturing and inflatable designs, revolutionize the shapes and structures of new product designs. The advancements in 3D printing open up possibilities; unique filaments allow for designs that incorporate motion, sensing, and structure. The focus on sustainability becomes more substantial through the use of waste materials in the printing process, keeping the materials in a circular loop.
As we look ahead to the future of design, colours and materials, Milan Design Week 2023 shows how we are slowly progressing towards more sustainable practices, and how technology has a large influence on materials, colours and products.
Banner, Pavilion by Marc Fornes for Louis Vuitton
You can download the PDF of the update here
Material Metaphor
Natural non-physical phenomena influence the textures, materials and forms of physical objects, such as the fluidity of water or the ethereal quality of fog.
Transparent materials such as glass and reflective metals get an unfathomable depth.
Top row Cloud by Maxim Velcovský for Lasvit, Look At Me lamp by Alida Catella & Silvio de Ponte for Artemide, Pulse Lamp by Pierre Charrie for Radar Interior
Bottom row Drift storage units by Nendo for Glas Italia, Bomboca Mirror by the Campana brothers for the Louis Vuitton Objects Nomades exhibition, Neo-Scapes by Flavie Audi
Digitized
The design aesthetic that emerged from gaming and AI image generation continues to evolve and influence the physical world.
Objects look like renderings and seem to float, and light affects the experience of the colour and material.
Top row Vis à vis battery charged lamp by Michele Groppi, Tito by Draga & Aurel, Dreispitz by Herzog & De Meuron for Artemide
Bottom row Silent Hollows by Richard Yasmine, Venus by Sophia Taillet Design for 13 Desserts, installation by Grohe Spa
2D to 3D
Using 2D materials such as aluminium to create 3D shapes results in interesting shapes and strong yet ultra-light structures.
Materials are both matte and glossy, and the silver, blue, and purple colours represent the universal and infinite.
Top row Timon Mattelaar the Belgian Design Pavilion, Sacred Wellbeing objects for self-reflection and ritual by Daniel Nikolovski, Co-Breathing Objects Chair by Sekisai
Bottom row Aluminium bench by Hydro + Beller at Norwegian Presence, Maestrale mirror by Piero Lissonifor Glass Italia, An Gillisat the Belgian Design Pavilion
Mono Colour
The power of products in one colour, such as cobalt blue or red, attracts attention. The products have something unnatural to them; they radiate vitality and dynamism.
Communicating with colour is a universal language and speaks without words.
Top row Raggiosole by Alpi, Elli armchair by Christophe Delcourt for Baxter, Stone Archive installation by Studio David Pompa
Bottom row Cyclades Take Your Time by Roberto Bellantoni for Revolution Archstudio, Wood Wave by Diesel Living at Moroso, Osvaldo Borsani & Michael Anastassiades at Nilafur Depot
3D Printing
The evolution of 3D printing and the availability of filaments, each with unique properties, now supports different design functions such as motion, sensing, structure or water evaporation.
3D printing with waste materials keeps the materials in the loop.
Top row The Essence of Biocement by Julia Huhnholz and Friedrich Gerlach, Aria Infinita by Zaha Hadid Design at Slamp, Digital Interlooping by Mark Beecroft
Bottom row Auxetic Material by Luyao Zhou, Sensbiom2 by Crafting Plastics, Clay Humidifier by Jiaming Liu
Next-gen Manufacturing
New production methods, such as additive manufacturing, inflatable designs and the use of molds to reuse materials, enable greater complexity, customization and sustainability in product design.
Top row Unexplainable by Takt Project, Knotty by The New Raw, Inflatable Leather by Satomi Minoshima
Bottom row OTO chair by Alessandro Stabile and Martinelli Venezia for One to One, Peel injection mold chair by Prowl Studio, Yocell stool in 3D printed Asanoha pattern by Moritaka Tochigi
Upcycling
The creative repurposing of materials and resources leads to tactile material expressions and shapes.
Reusing the materials comes with a revival of craft and is a collaborative effort of the community.
Top row Kerf Plastic Chair by Kuo Duo, Trame Collection by Diciassette Studio for La Pietra Compattata, Refoam by We+
Bottom row Nylon Stool by Kwangho Lee, keyring workshop by Re:code, Flow-assemble, disassemble, re-assemble by Daisuke Yamamoto and Taketo Masui
Craft Explorations
Craft not only showcases the maker’s mastery of the material and technique, but also their ability to push the boundaries and explore the frontiers of what is possible.
The used materials are honest and pure such as wood, leather and clay.
Top row Objects by Elisa Uberti, Object by Heechan Kim at Shift Craft, leather mesh at Louis Vuitton Objets Nomades
Bottom row Collection of Time by Sungho Cho, Chairs Exhibition by Loewe, Brick Sculpture by Aurélien Veyrat
Outdoor
Collections
The pandemic has heightened people’s appreciation for spending time outdoors.
The outdoor collections have been designed using natural materials with structures and textures.
Top row Outdoor Collection by Piet Boon, Rolf Benz Jackout by Nichetto studio, C2S armchair by Siv Støldal and Stine Aas
Bottom row Objets Nomades by Louis Vuitton, D.150.5 designed by Gio Ponti for the cruise ship Andrea Doria in 1952 by Molteni & C Outdoor, Mirasol by Paolo Zani for Warli
Volumes
Man-made design in natural materials, shaped by new techniques, creates a raw and organic aesthetic that captures the essence of the future natural world.
Enlarged structures and constructions embody a harmonious blend of mass and craftsmanship.
Top row Knitty by Moooi, Tecla by Sawaya & Moroni, Maya 70 by Pierpaolo Piccioli for Moncler
Bottom row Camargue Wool Boot from The Footprint Project by Atelier Luma, sculpture by Dinara Kasko, Egyptian Slipper from The Footprint Project by Atelier Luma
Delicate Tension
In lighting, the delicate use of yarn, scale and repetition creates a delicate tension in the design.
It is a play with gravity, and light is a design material in itself.
Top row Peaks by Micheal Anastassiades, wall lamp by Contardi, May by Nyta
Bottom row Thread shades by Vibia, Liiu by Luceplan, Africa by Vibia
You can download the PDF of the update here
