ONE WEEK ABOUT Milano Design Week 2026
Day 2 – Report by Florien Hazenberg
Buongiorno da Milano! Between design, espresso, and installations, I’ll take you along for my day at Milan Design Week.
I recently graduated with an MA in Fine Art (Curatorial Practice) in Bath, England. I’ve now been interning at Transnatural Art & Design Gallery in Amsterdam for two and a half months as a co-curator and co-producer. When Arjen Bangma told me that we’d be traveling to Milan with the gallery for Milan Design Week, I was immediately excited. I already had experience curating and installing exhibitions, but never on such a large scale. Plus, I’d never been to the Salone del Mobile before, so this felt like an amazing opportunity.
So far, I’ve found it incredibly educational to experience everything behind the scenes: from carefully packing the works and transporting them to Milan, to the exhibition design and the final installation. Together with fellow interns Karlijn and Arjen, I’ve been busy over the past few days unpacking and installing the various works. The exhibition SOLIDIFIED, curated by Sanne Kaal and David Heldt, brings together a beautiful mix of familiar and new designs. Some works, such as the Transience Mirrors by Lex Pott & David Derksen, have previously been on display at the Transnatural gallery. Other pieces, such as the Sphere in Motion series featuring work by Lars van Vianen & Chris Kievid, Alissa van Asseldonk & Nienke Bongers (A+N Studio), and Jetske Visser & Michiel Martens (Studio Martens & Visser), among others, are being presented here for the first time. These works transform the space through patterns and color combinations that change depending on where you stand and from which angle you view them. It’s really fun to help set up such a dynamic exhibition featuring work by various designers.
I knew Milan was famous as a design capital, but as I walked around the city last weekend, it really became clear just how deeply art and design are woven into everyday life. There’s something to discover everywhere you look. One of the most striking installations is the giant octopus at the Moncler pop-up store, part of the “Puffy Summer” series. The tentacles protrude from the building and reach out toward the street.
I also walked through Chinatown toward the ADI Design Museum, where designs that have shaped Italian design history are on display. It was interesting to see the differences and similarities between Dutch Design and Italian Design, and how they have evolved over the years. What struck me most as I walked through the ADI was that, both there and in the exhibition space I had just left, you can see the same attention to materials and the care that designers—both past and present—put into their work. They create objects that are not only pleasant to use and look beautiful in someone’s living room, but also stand the test of time.
During this week, international design comes together, revealing contrasts and connections. The Dutch designs we’ve brought with us engage in a dialogue with the Italian design that can be seen throughout the city. This aligns perfectly with the vision of curators Sanne Kaal and David Heldt for SOLIDIFIED: an exhibition featuring diverse works, united by a strong focus on materials. Textures, colors, and shapes reinforce one another and together create a vibrant, layered atmosphere in which every corner offers a new perspective.
It’s truly special to be a part of this and to be surrounded by so much creativity. I’m looking forward to exploring further for the rest of the week—both within the exhibition and out in the city—and gathering new ideas for my own art and curatorial projects.
Photography: Florien Hazenberg
