With 17.1% more visitors than in 2023, the Salone del Mobile.Milano 2024 saw a record turnout with 361,417 presences overall (100,000 more than in 2022). An excellent result for professional presences, which were up 26.8%, 65.8% of them from abroad. With a special focus on EuroCucina / FTK, Technology For the Kitchen and International Bathroom Exhibition biennials in particular, these two sectors were shown to strongly committed to experimenting new aesthetics and functions in highly technical projects increasingly geared to a sustainable approach.
The top 15 market geographies saw China make a great comeback, followed by Germany, Spain, Brazil, France, the United States, Poland, Russia, Switzerland, Turkey, India, the United Kingdom, South Korea, Japan, and Austria. An atlas that has thrown open new business opportunities, also thanks to the numerous delegations from the United States, India, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, France and Saudi Arabia.
Public interest over the weekend (the days in which the fair was also open to nonprofessionals) was consolidated, with 32,567 fans attending, testament to the fact that an extremely high calibre offering, rounded off by a Cultural Programme of international range, serve as both a powerful magnet for industry professionals and an unmissable opportunity for design fans who visit the fair to scope new proposals and triggers for reflection.
The Keyword: Evolution
In essence, 2024 was not just a year of record-breaking numbers for the Salone but also a testament to its ongoing evolution and commitment to shaping the future of design. Building on the triumph of Euroluce 2023, the event underwent a transformation, reworking exhibition layouts and visitor paths in collaboration with Lombardini22 and drawing on insights from neuroscience.
Under the key theme of Evolution, the Salone embarked on an ambitious international Road Show, spanning 16 capital cities across continents, from the Far East to Europe and North America. This journey not only forged new relationships but also leveraged the Salone’s digital platform to extend its reach, fostering a global dialogue on the transformative power of design.
Renowned figures such as Patrick Jouin and Konstantin Grcic joined the Salone, contributing their expertise to discussions on design’s evolution. As part of an integrated promotion strategy, the Salone del Mobile.Milano platform served as a central hub, offering a continuous narrative before and during the event, enriching the visitor experience and showcasing exhibitors’ offerings.
Collaborations with creators like Francesca Crescentini brought daily narratives to life, captivating an audience of over 1.5 million social media followers. Experimentation was key, with innovative initiatives like the Design Kiosk and the Comunità Continua photographic project highlighting Milan’s role as a global design hub.
Further enhancing the event’s intellectual dimension, the launch of the Salone Library and the Corraini Mobile Bookshop aimed to foster multidisciplinary reflections on the future, creating a shared repository of contemporary thought.
Cultural Immersions
The 2024 Cultural Programme, overseen by Annalisa Rosso, captured significant public attention. It featured three notable installations, starting with Interiors by David Lynch, a contemplative space conceived by the acclaimed director himself. Following this was Under the Surface, a project by Accurat, Design Group Italia, and Emiliano Ponzi, highlighting innovative approaches to sustainable water solutions. Lastly, All You Have Ever Wanted to Know About Food Design in Six Performances offered immersive insights into the intersection of food and design over six days of captivating performances.
Alongside these installations, Drafting Futures hosted compelling discussions with luminaries such as Francis Kéré and Jeanne Gang, offering fresh perspectives on the future of design. The event also included Round Tables covering diverse topics, from the synergy between sailing and design to discussions on artificial intelligence and the latest trends in the hospitality industry, all while engaging in sensory experiences with Aesop.
25 Years of SaloneSatellite
This year too, SaloneSatellite put the spotlight on the creativity of more than 600 young designers, celebrating a special anniversary with talks, round tables, live (specialist) ping pong matches and a great exhibition at Triennale Milano, open to the public until 28th April: Universo Satellite. 25 Years of SaloneSatellite, curated by
Beppe Finessi with exhibition design by Ricardo Bello Dias. A Wunderkammer, in which a selection of projects presented at previous editions of the showcase for designers under 35 are accompanied by an ongoing diary documenting the evolution of Marva Griffin’s magnificent ‘invention’ year by year. A training ground for thought, relationships and projects that has enabled over 14,000 young talents to exhibit alongside the brands that have written the story of design, once again confirming the value of the keyword for the 62nd edition of the Salone: Evolution.
