Three Design Week in Southern Italy: Calabria, Puglia, and Campania

When we talk about design weeks, the mind immediately goes to Milan or global cities like London and Paris. Yet, in recent years, Southern Italy has become a fertile ground where design connects with local heritage, artisanal traditions, and the energy of communities in motion. Between September and October 2025, three events in three different regions will show a South that doesn’t follow trends but interprets them with its own voice.


Courtesy of Materia

The journey begins in Calabria, where from September 25 to 28 Catanzaro hosts the 9th edition of Materia, which this year becomes Contemporary Mediterranean Fair. Over 5,500 square meters of the Ente Fiera will turn into a stage for a new Mediterranean narrative, bridging roots and future. No longer just a festival, but a true international fair, Materia aims to be a meeting and research platform, with exhibitions curated by interior designer Natalia Carere and the creative direction of Matteo Bonacci. Here, the Italian design scene comes together: from the refined minimalism of Giuseppe Arezzi to the poetic approach of Antonio Aricò, from the critical eye of Paolo Casicci to the visionary lighting of Emiliana Martinelli, the craftsmanship of Gerardo Sacco, and the pop energy of Massimo Sirelli. An international call – “Mediterraneo tra tradizione e innovazione” – brings forward young creatives and fresh perspectives, with awards and research grants that highlight the commitment to emerging talent.


Courtesy of Agorà Design Festival

From Calabria to the heart of Grecìa Salentina: from October 2 to 5 Martano becomes an open laboratory with Agorà Design Festival. Here, design means community, dialogue, and participation. The theme – “Il Progetto Necessario” – calls for reflection on design not only as a response to urgent needs but also as a tool for social and cultural transformation. Organized by Radio Salentina and promoted by Sprech, a Salento-based company that has turned the festival into a bridge between social responsibility and creativity, Agorà is conceived as an inclusive and shared experience. The numbers speak for themselves: over one hundred finalist projects from professionals and students, a widespread exhibition, talks and workshops open to everyone, children’s activities, and moments of exchange bringing together diverse worlds. Guests include Giulio Iacchetti, Arturo Vittori, Mauro Bubbico, Luca Molinari, Giovanna Castiglioni, Stefano Cipolla, as well as designers like Raul Pantaleo of TAMassociati and Luca Bonifacio, and the senior architects at Michele De Lucchi's AMDL Circle studio. The competition invites ideas for sustainable solutions that can improve daily life with simplicity and intelligence, inspired by Dieter Rams’ principle: “Less, but better.”


EDIT Napoli 2023, Archivio di Stato di Napoli

The journey ends in Naples, from October 10 to 12, with the seventh edition of EDIT, under the theme “Il design in movimento tra storia e nuove visioni”. The fair of editorial and author design expands its scope, adding to its new headquarters at La Santissima – a former monastery turned into the main venue for Italian and international exhibitors – the evocative spaces of the National Museums of Vomero: Castel Sant’Elmo, the Certosa di San Martino, and Villa Floridiana, which will host CULT projects. Among them: “PET Lamp Gurunsi: Shadows, textile and the Frafra weavers” by Alvaro Catalán de Ocón; “Terrazzo Quarry” by Bethan Laura Wood for Poltronova; “Paisaje de Reflejos” by Diego Rivero Borrell of studio TANAT for Ranieri; installations by Luca Boscardin for Magis; “Unseen visions” by Azucena; and a tribute by Marta Sala Éditions for the brand’s tenth anniversary. The fair will also feature returning winners of the previous edition, Atelier Nuanda and Bianco67 with Parasite, alongside established names such as ARTIERI 1895, Eleit.it, BLOK Design, Incalmi, and newcomers like Heike Buchfelder, Fornace Brioni, and Studio Bojola. An international jury will once again award the prize for the best unpublished project. The collaboration with LABO Cultural Project will bring to Naples the experimental work of Davide Balda, while DesignWanted will present “Shellf Life” by Felicia Neuhof, transforming seashells into alternative materials to cement. With installations by the duo Lemonot – blending scenographic lightness with references to port architecture – EDIT Napoli confirms itself as a dynamic, evolving platform, capable of linking heritage and experimentation in a narrative that belongs to the city while looking out to the world.