Milan '25: Design That Stimulates the Senses
During Milan Design Week, the strong emphasis on sensory experience stood out. Not only light, but also sound and scent played a clear role in how brands and designers presented themselves.
This approach shows how, by consciously appealing to inner experience, you can leave a stronger impression and actively contribute to the atmosphere, depth, and comfort of a space.
What follows below is not a list of trends in materials, colours, or shapes, but rather a look at how sensory stimuli were, and can be, applied in various ways.
Hearing
In various locations, the large, eye-catching speakers were impossible to miss. The music—ranging from classical to ambient to abstract sounds—filled the space, with the bass sometimes literally being felt. The speakers were not just sound objects, but also visual elements that enhanced the overall experience.
Smelling
Scent was notably in the spotlight. Aesop presented The Second Skin, a sensory installation centered around skin and aroma. Moooi collaborated with EveryHuman on an AI-generated interior fragrance, Studiopepe explored scent and space with À.RIA, and several scent installations were also featured at Alcova. These presentations demonstrated how scent can deepen design and create connections with emotion, identity, and even technology.
Seeing
From the perspective of Rare Studio, sight is of course the most important sense to focus on. A growing trend is the use of artificial light to influence mood and well-being. Extra warm light through tunable red and sunset dimming, dynamic lighting that follows the rhythm of the day, and an increasing number of low-glare fixtures, these are all examples where experience takes center stage. The common thread: light has a powerful impact on how you feel.