Technology and sustainability are top themes at the 2018 Salone del Mobile

The Salone Internazionale del Mobile opens in Milan for its 57th year on April 17. The world’s most famous design spectacle, the event has over 2,000 exhibitors and hosts over 300,000 visitors from over 165 different countries. Each year, new products for living focus on technology, flexibility, and design, while top designers and industry giants co-mingle during evenings of parties and openings all over the Italian design capital.

Over 5,000 journalists write about this event each year to bring this large exhibit to life to their readers. Exhibitors come to Milan to showcase a wide breadth of products split into varying style categories. Categories include Classic: Tradition in the Future, Design, xLux (timeless luxury), EuroCucina/FTK (Technology for the Kitchen), and the International Bathroom Exhibition. All categories focus on high practicality with an aesthetically-pleasing design.

Living Room Set in Xlux Category, 2018. Milan Fairgrounds, photo courtesy of: salonemilano.it.

Incorporating technology into our daily lives is a key theme in 2018, marked by the premiere of Google’s presence. Since Google is relatively new at designing their own hardware, it is especially exciting to be a part of a large event, showcasing their products to a global audience. Entitled Softwear, the Google exhibit shows technology gadgets in comfortable living settings.

Kitchen in EuroCucina Category, 2018. Milan Fairgrounds, photo courtesy of: salonemilano.it.

Another big theme for the week is sustainable design. An architectural unit designed by Kengo Kuma with 3D experience company, Dassault Systèmes, is made from existing pollution-neutralizing material.

Architectural Unit, 2018. Pollution-neutralizing material. Milan Fairgrounds, photo courtesy of: salonemilano.it.

-Lauren Spinelli