Every April, the streets of Milan flood to welcome an international spectrum of designers, architects, and artists for a week-long immersion into leading contemporary design. This celebration is known as Salone del Mobile, Milano and 2021 marked its 60th year anniversary in practice.

However, this year was quite unlike any other as we know. With the pandemic’s toll and limitations, the mere thought of people flooding any confine of space, outside or in, was enough to thwart the attendance of veteran visitors and big brand investment. As one yearly Salone devotee told me, this year’s version would be “baby Salone,” another told me, “it simply wouldn’t be worth it,” others, unfortunately, could not leave their respective countries to make the pilgrimage.

Frankly, I wouldn’t have known the difference of what’s worth or scale as this was my first visit to the lauded design Mecca with my familial team at Hello Human, an international PR collective based in New York City. I was simply lucky to be there. Another first for me is this: A byline with a design vanguard like Yellowtrace who, due to Australia’s lockdown, was unable to attend.

So, Australia, and beyond, here’s my rookie attempt at delivering Salone and Milan Design Week 2021 to your front door without any pre-existing context other than those forewarnings. Please share your favourites and thoughts as well because connection and dialogue—a natural byproduct of Salone’s packed calendar of events and installations—is what excellent design sparks in the first place.

We begin. As the saying goes, quality always trumps quantity. And even if this year’s work was at a minimized scale, aside from Hermes’ gargantuan presentation, there was a shimmering silver lining—resilience.

Salone 2021 revealed a creative Renaissance that was diligently at work during the pandemic who then came to the surface in Milan with an eager response to design’s collective future before we are left only to react.

I saw and learned of collaborative masterworks, like Lindsey Adelman’s Paradise or Bethan Laura Wood’s Ornate, that recruited independent artisans to bring astral concepts to fruition, literally for Wood. I saw a rise of young empathetic thinkers and designers in The Lost Graduation Show and throughout Alcova, masterfully developed by Space Caviar and Studio Vedet. I saw thoughtful technological applications, like Audrey Large’s Some Vibrant Things or Rashmi Bidasaria’s Karigari.

At large, I saw a lack of limitation. New hybridities of materials occurred all at once, like with Giopato and Coombes’ Milky Way Collection, or completely introduced, as with Michael Anastassiades’ recruitment of bamboo for his lighting series at ICA Milan.

It was clear to me that in 2020, a tenacious band of designers and curators stole at opportunity with whatever tools and materials were left at hand to make things that really mattered. Supersalone 2021’s standout exhibitors, mentioned below (and in soon-to-come Part 02 of this Milan mega-report), excited and uplifted to challenge paradigms and move the conversation forward. Quickly, we were reminded why we descend upon an entire city, yearly if we can, in the first place. And enlivened by their contagious inspiration, I would be lucky to return in April 2022 to one day become this aforementioned devotee.

Related:Best of Supersalone & Milan Design Week 2021, Part 02.

Best of Supersalone & Milan Design Week 2021, Part 02.

Written by Meggie Sullivan of Hello Human, a global PR company for small scale design studios.

Hello Human

Abandoned military hospital vibes at Alcova. Photo by DSL Studio/ Piercarlo Quecchia.

Spread installation at Alcova courtyard. Photo by DSL Studio/ Piercarlo Quecchia.

Situated just outside of Milan’s centre, Alcova was a standout destination that more than satiated the curiosities of the adventurous who were willing to step out. The site itself––chosen and curated by Space Caviar and Studio Vedèt—served as a former military hospital and has stood untouched since its abandonment years ago.

Thus, Alcova’s cold tiled corridors, cracked facades, and rusted structures, now overtaken by lush greenery, offered a perfect canvas for Salone’s emerging to veteran talent.

Llot Llov magic at Alcova. Photo by Petra Hurai.