Design is human
From April 7 to 13, 2025, Milan will host the 9th edition of the Isola Design Festival, one of the most important events of Milan Design Week 2025.
The festival, organized by the Isola Design platform, will take place in the Isola district and celebrate the connection between design and people, with the tagline “Design is Human,” emphasizing the importance of the human dimension of design. It is an invitation to reflect on the role of people in the creative process, placing humanity, well-being, and sustainability at the center.
Isola Design: A Global Journey Between Tradition and Innovation
Isola Design has established itself as a global platform for contemporary design, giving voice to emerging and independent designers. With its presence in Milan, Dubai, and other international cities, the platform supports talents from around the world, connecting designers, curators, companies, and journalists. Isola Design has created a network that promotes sustainable, innovative, and artisanal design. Founded in 2017, the platform stands out for its curatorial selection of projects and its commitment to environmental sustainability.
Over the years, Isola Design has expanded its reach, participating in internationally significant events like the Dutch Design Week in Eindhoven and the Dubai Design Week. In 2024, it launched Isola Studio, a consultancy lab for brands and designers, further strengthening its commitment to the design of the future. The Isola digital platform has seen impressive growth, with over 1,400 designers from 65 countries and more than 2,300 projects published, offering a virtual space for connection and idea-sharing among creatives.
Design is Human: The Themes of the 2025 Festival
The 2025 edition of the Isola Design Festival brings the concept of “Design is Human” to the forefront, a design that originates from and for humans. Festival will explore the fusion of traditional craftsmanship and innovation. It will promote solutions that improve daily life, health, and well-being, without compromising our planet. The exhibitions, installations, and workshops on the agenda will be a celebration of humanity. Stories that have shaped design and the creativity that makes it authentic and meaningful will be honored.
Festival will focus on relevant themes such as sustainability, social responsibility, and the use of locally sourced materials. The intersection between digitalization and craftsmanship will also be explored. This will give rise to a design movement that not only creates but reflects on how design impacts people’s lives.
A New Location: BasicVillage
With the expansion of the Isola district, BasicVillage becomes the beating heart of the 2025 festival. Located at Via dell’Aprica 12, Milan, BasicVillage is a former industrial facility that transforms into a vibrant creative ecosystem. This space will host several collective exhibitions curated by the Isola Design team, such as Conscious Objects, Isola Design Gallery, and Openspace. Each exhibition will explore new approaches to contemporary design.
In addition to hosting innovative installations, BasicVillage will also be the venue where prominent players in the design world will come together. DesignWanted, IAAD, Accademia Italiana, and SAE Institute will offer a rich program of events and workshops. These moments will promote interaction and the growth of design.
Within the exhibitions at BasicVillage, Isola will present a unique sensory experience. Three exclusive fragrances will be introduced, created by Narici, an Italian fragrance startup founded by master perfumer Alessandro Commisso. Each fragrance, developed in collaboration with Italian farms and distilleries, is centered around a rare natural ingredient. The result will be an olfactory journey that enriches both the environment and the design.
The Conscious Objects Exhibition: A Sensory Exploration of Sustainable and Interactive Design
“Conscious Objects” is an innovative exhibition that engages visitors through a complete sensory experience, stimulating the senses of hearing, play, touch, taste, and interaction.
Some objects require the active participation of users, such as a chair that works only if shared, objects adaptable to the user’s needs, or a board game with cards to savor. The exhibition, blending sustainability, functionality, and playfulness, showcases objects designed with a human-centric approach, merging digital, robotic, and human craftsmanship.
Each piece reduces environmental impact through the use of innovative materials and ethical production. Visitors can explore creative and technical processes through interactive screens, product insights, videos of production stages, and immersive digital experiences. Part of the setup is made with glass-ceramics from Carro srl.
The participating designers and design studios include: Alessandra Galli, Anouk Verstuyft, Archeomaterico / Davide Balda, Atelier Makr, Biomaterials Library, Davina Atallah, Elisa Kim, Eva Korae, Feral, Ilaria Critelli, Isaac Regier, Ksusha Fedya, Lee Szmelcman, Lynn Gong, Martina Gentile, Matthew Berkshire, Michela Puglia, MONOLIT, Natalia-Anastazia Bakula, Nima Biodesign, NOI Creative, Nowo By Oliwia Ledzinska, Patch Design, Sangosanya Annahololade, Shaghayegh Ranjbar, Siyu Liu, Sølvbergbols, Studio Dina Lebbar, Studio Tuut, Sungjun Yu, Yarden Shahar, Yile Zhang & Xinchen Wang, Yosuke Shimano, Yu Xinnan, Yuya Zhou, Zhichen Qian.
Isola Design Gallery 2025: The Sixth Edition of Design for Collectors
The sixth edition of Isola Design Gallery celebrates the uniqueness of collectible design, with works created by the designers themselves that tell stories and offer customizable experiences. Curated selection of exclusive pieces will transform the space into an immersive showcase of creative visions, bringing together designers from diverse backgrounds.
Exhibition will offer an overview of setups, from futuristic living concepts to contemporary interiors, where each collectible piece harmoniously integrates with the others. The dynamic setup will highlight how spaces can be designed to reflect and adapt to different ways of living.
Openspace: A Dynamic Hub for Innovation and Collaboration in Design
Openspace will be a reference point for companies, brands, and startups active in the fields of technology, eco-technology, materials research, and digital fabrication. Exhibitors will present cutting-edge solutions, offering visitors a glimpse into the future of design.
The space will also serve as a networking platform, allowing enthusiasts and emerging talents to connect with industry leaders, explore collaboration opportunities, and discover new innovations in materials and production processes.
A dedicated area for talks and workshops will enhance the experience, with design seating provided by HeFlies srl.
Among the participating designers and design studios are: Forge Mobili, Lux Temporis, Mosh x CabinetOseo, Murals Wallcoverings, Studio Shablool, Thayra Correia, and Youssef El Hadi Studios.
ENHANCE 2025: Design as a Catalyst for Change at BasicVillage
The second edition of ENHANCE, curated by Juan Torres for DesignWanted, will explore the role of design as a driver of positive change, aligning with the seven Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) identified by the World Design Organization.
The exhibition challenges the conventional boundaries of design, highlighting its potential in reshaping society.
ENHANCE offers visitors an immersive experience, showcasing innovative projects that transform experimental research into concrete and impactful solutions. Among the participants are Bundle Studio, Debonademeo x CHROMA COMPOSITES, Emeline Ong, Home by Zeo, Monostudio Associati, Shellf Life, Studio Basse Stittgen, Studio Joshua Klappe, and Wah.
Awarded Projects and Collaborations
Following the awards ceremony in Dubai last November, the Isola Design Awards Winners’ Showcase brings the 10 winners of the 2024 edition to Milan. During the Isola Design Festival, the open call for the 2025 edition will also be launched.
With 10 categories in competition — Furniture, Seating, Lighting, Tableware, Textile, Product, Material, Sustainability, Outdoor, and Innovation — the competition continues to encourage designers to push the boundaries of creativity. The winners include: Alonso Hernández, Deft Studios, House of Piranesi, Jehnna Yang, Luca Maibach, Manuela Bucci / Missbucci, Moritz Scheffer / Luis Somasundaram, Nella Figueroa, Parali By Aarushi, and Rosana Sousa.
Bravery Bar
IAAD, the Italian Academy, and SAE Institute present Bravery Bar, a cultural and educational event dedicated to inclusive design. The new chapter, BE AWARE, will explore the boundaries of creativity, focusing on accessible and innovative design, under the patronage of the Italian Paralympic Committee and curated by Danilo Ragona. The event will feature immersive workshops and the Truly Design exhibition, bringing together emerging designers and companies to develop innovative solutions in design and sports.
Studio Proba and Very Simple Kitchen
Very Simple: Kitchen, at the BasicVillage showroom, unveils the collaboration with Studio Proba. The result is a unique reinterpretation of Alex Proba’s modular steel kitchens, characterized by a fusion of creativity and colors that highlight the sculptural aesthetics of the brand.
SuperForma
Finally, SuperForma’s additive manufacturing customizes the bar counter at BasicVillage using 3D-printed elements in recycled PLA. This material, recovered through a network of partners since 2020, will be reused and reintroduced into the production cycle at the end of the event, providing a tangible demonstration of how design can be zero-impact.
When: From April 7 to 13, 2025
Where: Isola District, Milan and BasicVillage (Via dell’Aprica 12, Milan)
Opening hours:
Monday, April 7: 14:00—19:00
Tuesday, April 8 – Saturday, April 12: 10:00—19:00
Sunday, April 13: 10:00—15:00
Official website of Isola Design Festival: https://isola.design/home
