Emerging Swiss design returns to Milano Design Week

Shared Matter is a collective exhibition presented at SPAZIOVENTO, in the Brera district. Initiated by designers for designers and treated as a blank canvas, SPAZIOVENTO’s singular architecture provides an ideal setting for exploring a range of design positions.

The exhibition foregrounds collaborative design practices by presenting a curated selection of projects that were instigated with international partners during research trips, residencies, and self-initiated practice around the world. As Marie Mayoly, Responsible for International Platforms and Delegation for Design at Pro Helvetia, explains:

«Shared Matter highlights how designers work across contexts through research, exchange and collaboration – reflecting a sustained commitment of Pro Helvetia. The exhibition draws attention to the trajectories behind each project, emphasising that meaningful support is not only about final outcomes but also about the processes that shape them.»

About the exhibited projects

After developing an initial prototype in a luthier’s workshop in Athens, Akuto Studio spent several months in China producing Chord Machine AKT-0.1, an intuitive musical instrument that reimagines the possibilities of chord playing. Working with four European companies to maintain a short and responsible supply chain, iiode created Re27, a sustainable LED bulb offering tuneable natural light through a recycling-based design. Working with Tajimi Custom Tiles (JP), Noelani Rutz developed Fleeting Landscapes, a tile collection that translates the ephemeral qualities of snow into material form. In close collaboration with Italian lighting company From Lighting, Panter&Tourron developed a multimodal, sculptural floor lamp crafted from aluminium, with a limited edition produced in partnership with the BWB Surface Technology for anodisation. Paper Glasses is the outcome of a research residency during which Silvio Rebholz developed a natural, biodegradable alternative to single-use plastic cups. Continuing their collaboration, Vera Roggli and Filipino designer Julia Villamonte created Sapin-Sapin, a multifunctional mat inspired by the mat-making traditions of their respective countries of origin.

All projects were selected through an open call by an international jury composed of Milan-based designer and architect Maddalena Casadei and London-based design writer and editorial director at Dezeen Max Fraser. The selection was based on design quality and innovation, as well as on the cultural and production contexts in which the projects are embedded.

The exhibition scenography was conceived by Swiss design duo Gini Moynier in collaboration with graphic designer Nicolas Bernklau. A monochromatic graphic intervention, realised with the support of Blēo (DK), structures the space, guiding visitors through different stages of design practice, from research and experimentation to material realisation. An adjoining installation developed with Karimoku New Standard (JP) extends the exhibition into a convivial setting for informal exchange and professional encounters.

Shared Matter highlights collaborative and relational design practices based on exchange between designers, partners and production contexts, reflecting Pro Helvetia’s mission to promote Swiss creation internationally and its commitment to fostering dialogue through design.