A snapshot of the protagonists of Milan’s contemporary creative scene, presented by OBJECTS ARE BY & Polaroid
A visual atlas of Milan’s creative landscape, revealing the faces, languages, and stories of those who are currently redefining its boundaries. Presented during Design Week, KEYS: MILANO is a new limited-edition photo book by OBJECTS ARE BY and Polaroid, capturing the energy of Milan’s contemporary scene and crystallizing it in 200 portraits of the city’s most influential voices. Each image, taken with Polaroid’s new Flip camera, portrays the faces, expressions, and postures of individuals who are reshaping the city’s cultural, artistic, and social fabric through their unique talents.
At the core of the project is OBJECTS ARE BY, a Milan-based design brand and creative studio founded by artist Phil America and brand builder Jenny D. Pham. Their vision merges experimentation and sustainability, fostering cross-disciplinary collaborations between creatives and artisans from diverse fields. Within the pages of KEYS: MILANO, iconic figures such as Carla Sozzani and musician Tedua appear alongside the design duo Formafantasma and architect Piero Lissoni, captured side by side with street artist Utah. A visual and conceptual dialogue between different worlds that reflects the extraordinary diversity and driving force of Milan’s creative culture.
"They are the true keys to the city," says Phil America, highlighting both the symbolic and real value of the individuals featured in the book. Not just established artists, but also emerging talents, young creatives, and pioneers of urban subcultures. Together, they portray not only the present but a possible future for Milan—a city that continues to evolve, while maintaining its ever-vibrant international spirit. Jenny D. Pham adds: "It’s proof of what becomes possible when creativity thrives through the shared exchange of inspiration, ideas, and collaboration, in a city that remains open to newcomers."
KEYS: MILANO is more than a book: it’s a collective mosaic of languages and styles, interweaving fashion, art, design, gastronomy, architecture, and more. Printed in only 500 numbered copies, the edition is available exclusively at selected concept stores and via the official website objectsareby.com. Through this project, the city tells its story through the faces of those who inhabit and transform it—reminding us that the keys to the future often lie in the hands of those bold enough to imagine it.