This Year's Award Goes to LG x Tokujin Yoshioka

Originally a trade fair for furniture, it began as a platform for Milanese furniture makers to showcase their wares. Today, with lifestyle considerations increasingly seen as key to corporate value, the event has grown to attract enthusiastic participation from automakers, electronics manufacturers, and even food companies.

The event comprises the Salone Internazionale del Mobile, a trade fair focused on furniture held at the exhibition center, and Fuorisalone, which encompasses installations and exhibitions throughout the city.

The awards ceremony, presented by the organizers including the city of Milan, is also a highlight. In 2017, the Grand Prix was awarded to "S.F.-Sense of the Future," a collaboration between South Korea's LG and designer Tokujin Yoshioka.

Panasonic Design's "Ori no Hibiki," a collaboration with Nishijin-ori textiles

"Kyōdō," a Kaiseido tea caddy housing a speaker unit

"It successfully integrated concept, technology, narrative, and emotion into a single object." This installation, lauded for its fusion of elements, leveraged the advanced technology of LG, a company experiencing significant growth in organic electroluminescence.

At the same awards ceremony, the "Best Storytelling" prize was presented to Panasonic. Their installation, "Electronics Meets Crafts," was staged within the grand halls of the Brera Academy, built in the 18th century.

Particularly noteworthy were the prototypes developed by Panasonic Design and Appliances, which specialize in home electronics, in collaboration with "GO ON," a group of young artisans preserving Kyoto's traditional crafts.

Among them was "Kyōdō," a Kaiseido tea caddy, renowned for its high quality, ingeniously fitted with a Bluetooth speaker unit. Equally surprising was "Ori no Hibiki," where gold and silver threads woven into Nishijin textiles act as sensors, triggering sound through electrostatic reaction.

In terms of balancing aesthetic quality with technological innovation, AGC Asahi Glass's "Touch" installation merits attention.

Automakers Also Participate Enthusiastically

The glass drums and seesaw-like objects possessed high aesthetic value. Meanwhile, the company focused on the trend of glass being a material to "touch," and adhered smartphone glass to serve as the "skin" of the drums.

The glass drums produced an authentic drum sound when struck. Many professionals were also intrigued by the glass-bending technology, with the PR representative noting a significant number of inquiries.

Aisin Seiki presented an installation at the Triennale titled "The Next Frontier in Mobility," envisioning the future of autonomous driving.

Works such as "Connected," based on the theme of connectivity, which combined cocoon-like shapes with light, designed by Hideki Yoshimoto, were particularly striking.

AGC Asahi Glass's "Touch" features glass drums that produce an authentic sound when struck.

Aisin Seiki's "cocoon," housing an object shaped like a modified soccer ball within a cocoon-like structure.

The reason for automakers' keen participation in Milano Design WeekThe Lexus Exampleas you know. In 2017, other brands also presented interesting creations.

MINI, alongside Lexus, is a brand deeply invested in this event. In 2017, they unveiled "MINI Living Breathe" in the Tortona district, occupying the spacious venue previously used by Lexus.

The partner was the New York-based architectural firm SO-IL. The concept appeared to revolve around envisioning the future of urban living through a broad lens encompassing food, clothing, and shelter.

In the MINI Living Breathe eco-home by SO-IL, a bedroom like this was proposed.

An office chair by Poltrona Frau, inspired by Ferrari

Particularly captivating was the proposal for an eco-friendly dwelling for three people, standing 10 meters tall, which drew immense crowds.

In the automotive sector, Ferrari and Lamborghini exhibited at the international trade fair grounds, a short train ride from Milan's city center. They announced collaborations with furniture manufacturers, using their car designs as inspiration.

Meanwhile, Alfa Romeo and Maserati showcased their works at Fuorisalone within the city. Maserati, in particular, partnered with the unique Venetian furniture brand, Staygreen.

Lamborghini displayed collaborative furniture with Riva 1920.

Karimoku's "Elephant Sofa" exhibited at Salone

Placed in a pristine white space were furniture pieces designed by Setsu Ito and Shinobu Ito. Named "Dandan," these items were eco-friendly, crafted from cardboard.

Naturally, lighting manufacturers like Flos, as well as well-known furniture brands such as Poltrona Frau, Driade, Kartell, Zanotta, and Magis, presented large-scale exhibitions at the trade fair venue.

Karimoku, a furniture maker committed to using Japanese hardwoods, achieved its "long-held aspiration" (according to the company's PR representative) of having a booth at the trade fair in 2017. Their products, featuring wood with a soft aesthetic, captivated visitors.