Geographies of design: the countries shaping Design Week 2026

© IN BETWEEN

Ecuador
IN BETWEEN is a collective project that interprets contemporary Ecuador through design and the creative process, integrating art, living cultures and research through a selection of works by eight designers united by high-quality craftsmanship, technical excellence and the enhancement of traditions. From sculptural works to home objects - lamps, mirrors, rugs and cushions - and finally a book, all made with natural materials such as eco paper, fibers extracted from Amazonian plants, wool dyed with natural pigments and recycled textiles, mycelium-based biomaterials, ceramics and metal, IN BETWEEN aims to preserve artisanal knowledge and raw materials. The exhibition design is curated by Lascia la Scia.
Tortona Design Week 2026, Via Tortona 14


© Prototype Island

Singapore
Design Singapore Council returns to Milan Design Week with Prototype Island, an exhibition project that presents Singapore as a true “prototype nation”, constantly evolving through design. Curated by Singaporean designer Hunn Wai (Lanzavecchia + Wai), the exhibition brings together a series of projects that respond to urgent global challenges, addressing themes such as care, technology and heritage through new design perspectives.
Foro Buonaparte 54


© When Apricots Blossom, Palazzo Citterio

Uzbekistan
When Apricots Blossom - promoted by the Uzbekistan Art and Culture Development Foundation (ACDF) and curated by Kulapat Yantrasast - is an exhibition that unfolds as a journey through three essential elements of daily life in the Aral Sea region: textiles, food and living.Twelve international designers - including Bethan Laura Wood, Fernando Laposse and Nifemi Marcus-Bello - worked closely with Uzbek artisans, exploring traditional materials such as wood, silk, ceramics, felt and cane, creating contemporary interpretations rooted in local craftsmanship.
Palazzo Citterio, via Brera 12


© Slow Hand Design - Heritage Reimagined

Thailand
The evolution of Thai design arrives in Milan. The Department of International Trade Promotion, Thailand presents “Slow Hand Design - Heritage Reimagined”, a reflection on the evolution of Thai craftsmanship between tradition and innovation. At Superstudio Più, an exclusive selection of works by 25 Thai designers is on display.
SuperNova | Superstudio Più, Via Tortona 27


Courtesy of Masterly - The Dutch in Milano

The Netherlands
Masterly - The Dutch in Milano celebrates its tenth edition. Spread across the four floors of a historic building, the exhibition will feature over 100 participants, including independent designers, established companies, new businesses, artisans, artists and design schools. Alongside individual installations, this edition places particular emphasis on collective projects. For the tenth anniversary, founder and curator Nicole Uniquole has collaborated with Lidewij Edelkoort on a reinterpretation of the archives, co-curating the exhibition “The Wunderkammer – Years of Masterly”. Presented in the central hall on the second floor, the exhibition showcases a selection of projects that have defined the history of the event through their vision, aesthetic language and originality.
Palazzo Giureconsulti, Piazza dei Mercanti 2, Milan


© Guatemala diseña con las manos

Guatemala
Among the projects of 5VIE Design Week 2026, “Guatemala diseña con las manos” presents a collective narrative that intertwines artisanal tradition and contemporary design. At its center is an installation inspired by the Temple of the Great Jaguar in Tikal, conceived as a symbolic space connecting past and present: a pyramid structure covered with textiles made by local communities, bringing together ancestral techniques and contemporary tools.Inside, an immersive experience combining architecture, sound and audiovisual elements evokes landscapes, markets, Mayan languages and textile traditions, presenting design as a living expression of identity and future. Alongside the installation, the works of 17 Guatemalan design studios - selected through a national open call - reflect the energy of a creative scene rooted in the territory and projected toward the future. The projects connect craftsmanship, research and experimentation, offering a multifaceted view of the country’s contemporary creative landscape.
Via Olona 6b

© Heritage Reimagined, SOBAN

South Korea
The Seoul Metropolitan Government and the Seoul Design Foundation present SEOUL LIFE 2026 MILAN – “Heritage Reimagined, Soban”, a major exhibition dedicated to the dialogue between Korean tradition and contemporary design. Using the Soban - a traditional Korean portable table used for meals - as its central medium, the exhibition reinterprets Korean lifestyles, aesthetics and craftsmanship, presenting the distinctive lifestyle of Seoul. The exhibition design, inspired by contemporary living in Seoul - characterized by modularity, flexibility and compact spaces - unfolds in three parts: an immersive environment recreating a Korean home and inviting direct interaction with the works; a light-filled display path highlighting the Soban from multiple perspectives; and a multimedia wall exploring the context and contemporary lifestyle of the city.
ADI Design Museum


Courtesy of Visteria Foundation

Poland
The Visteria Foundation returns to Milan Design Week with the exhibition “Polish Modernism. A Struggle for Beauty”, which intertwines history and contemporaneity, exploring Polish modernism as both a cultural project and a vision of the present. Curated by Federica Sala and Anna Maga, the exhibition takes place on the 16th floor of Torre Velasca. Alongside works from the archives of the National Museum in Warsaw, it features contemporary designers including Mati Sipiora, Marek Bimer, Aleksandra Hyz, Monica Patuszynska and Magorzata Markiewicz.
Torre Velasca, Piazza Velasca 3/5, 16th floor


© Shared Matter

Switzerland
Swiss design returns to Milan Design Week with “Shared Matter”, a collective exhibition hosted at SPAZIOVENTO in the heart of the Brera Design District. Promoted by the Swiss Arts Council Pro Helvetia in collaboration with Presence Switzerland, the exhibition brings together a selection of works developed through research paths, residencies and international collaborations. Among the projects: Akuto Studio presents Chord Machine AKT-0.1, an intuitive musical instrument exploring the expressive potential of chords; iiode presents Re27, a sustainable LED bulb with adjustable natural light. Paper Glasses, developed through a research residency, introduces a natural and biodegradable alternative to single-use plastic cups.
SPAZIOVENTO, Via Pinamonte da Vimercate 4


© Design Palazzo Austria

Austria
ADVANTAGE AUSTRIA celebrates its tenth participation in Design Week with over 30 exhibitors for the event “Design Palazzo Austria”. Established companies and emerging designers are presented together. The exhibition concept, designed by architects Vasku & Klug, revolves around a deep blue tone that defines an elegant and refined environment, symbolizing trust, clarity and quality — key values of Austrian design.
Palazzo Confalonieri, Via Romagnosi 8


© Inspired in Barcelona: Materia Prima

Spain
Curated by the studio Queralt Suau with Andreu Carulla, “Inspired in Barcelona: Materia Prima” presents a sensory journey exploring the origins of creativity through two key elements of Mediterranean culture — bread and olive oil — used as metaphors for the design process.The exhibition unfolds through immersive and participatory environments, including visual installations, portraits of the Catalan creative ecosystem and a final experience that directly engages the audience, turning design into a shared sensory gesture.
Chiesa del Carmine, Salone Scalabrini, via del Carmine 10


© Curated Belgian Design Experience

Belgium
A Curated Belgian Design Experience brings together, in the heart of Brera, a selection of Belgian brands and designers united by a strong identity and a careful research on materials and craftsmanship. Conceived by Karine Bonjean (Evolution21), the project creates a harmonious space where furniture, textiles, glass and objects interact, offering a coherent and contemporary vision of Belgian design. Supported by Fedustria through the Best of Belgium platform, the initiative extends beyond the exhibition, highlighting both established companies and emerging talents and offering an overview of Belgium’s creativity and production quality.
Robertaebasta, via Fiori Chiari 16