When Milan Design Week hits, there’s hardly a corner of the Italian city not crackling with energy or bursting with inspiring things to see. Salone is a must, of course, but we recommend thinking outside the box – or Fuorisalone (that's 'outside the salon' in Italian), really – for some of the most interesting, avant-garde exhibitions and installations of the week.
Photo: BMW
Vibrant Transitions
BMW Group
Broad appeal is well and good, but there’s nothing quite like something tailored specifically to you. In a kaleidoscopic universe of colour, light and sound, BMW and Mini are homing in on driving at its most customisable. The colour-coded corridors of Vibrant Transitions take you between themed areas that aim to transform emotional experiences into tangible ones.
Where: Borromeo D’Adda Palace, Via Alessandro Manzoni, 41, Milan
When: 8-13 April 2025
Photo: Dornbracht
Experience the Unexpected
Dornbracht
With their 75th anniversary looming large, fittings manufacturer Dornbracht brings individuality and self-realisation into focus. Experience the Unexpected centres on an abstract installation that sparks creative new perspectives and beckons visitors to unravel their design desires.
Where: Space of Discovery | Dornbracht Showroom, Via Palermo, 19A, Milan
When: 7-13 April 2025
Photo: Lachlan Turczan
Making the Invisible Visible
How do we take ideas from the prefrontal cortex and bring them into the world? It’s difficult. But Google believes that art and design are the ideal conduits. Together with light and water artist Lachlan Turczan, Google presents a cutting-edge light installation alongside a display showcasing the brand's process and hardware evolution.
Where: Garage 21, Via Archimede, 26, Milan
When: 7-13 April 2025
Photo: Layer
101010
Layer
Looking back, telescoping to the future, remaining firmly rooted in the present. Layer’s 101010 celebrates the success of the last ten years while spelling out a bold vision for the next decade. The British design studio is carving out a corner of 10 Corso Como with translucent watercoloured banners. Past collaborations and future-forward prototypes are in constant conversation in Layer’s insightful installation.
Where: 10 Corso Como, Corso Como, 10, Milan
When: 7-13 April 2025
Photo: Juliana Lima Vasconcellos
Source of Pleasure
Lavazza
Lavazza takes the ritual of coffee drinking to an immersive level with Source of Pleasure. The 18-metre-wide installation, crafted by Brazilian architect and designer Juliana Lima Vasconcellos, steeps visitors in brew-like hues, as they navigate through 130 years of the Italian coffee brand.
Where: Palazzo del Senato, Via Senato, 10, Milan
When: 8-13 April 2025
