The House of Switzerland Milano is set to return to Milano Design Week in 2025, marking its third edition with a compelling focus on collaboration. Under this central theme, the exhibition will highlight the vital role of collaboration within the global design industry, fostering connections and shared creativity among designers from around the world.
Bringing together emerging designers, independent studios and established brands and institutions, the House of Switzerland Milano will return to Milano Design Week to showcase the dynamic quality and expertise of the Swiss design scene. Evolving on from the 2024 theme of JOY, this year’s open call posed the theme of COLLABORATION, with designers interpreting it uniquely, examining both personal and collective meanings while addressing its growing importance in an interconnected world.
Selected by an international jury, the final curation of projects will address not only the positive synergy that can be experienced through collaboration across borders, cultures, practices and sectors, but also how collaboration has been a cornerstone in the country’s own development. The cross-section of narratives addressed within the projects impressed this year’s judges with Johanna Agerman Ross commenting
‘The idea of collaboration, between people, between people and machines and between people and other animals, are key criteria in the design process and the selection for this year’s House of Switzerland Milano gives an indication of the different directions this can take.’
Happy to see a varied pool of emerging talent represented, Janni Vepsäläinenstated,
‘I was excited to see how each project was exploring the idea of collaboration from a slightly different angle. There are projects that approach it from a material point of view while others from a human perspective.’
Located within Casa degli Artisti, visitors will step into an interactive workplace referencing the golden era of seventies-inspired offices fused with contemporary co-working environments. With the visionary minds of Swiss design duo Gini Moynier and graphic design studio Spectrodrama bringing this year’s theme to life through immersive art direction and scenography, the thought-provoking installations will reflect upon the relevance and critical significance of the theme while taking place within a cohesive backdrop that fosters and encourages interaction. And, with the exhibition itself being an accelerator for collaboration, it presents a tangible glimpse into the inherent manifestation of teamwork and how it is embedded at multiple levels into design as a practice.
House of Switzerland Milano 2025 Jury:
Johanna Agerman Ross, Conran Foundation Chief Curator, Design Museum (DK/UK)
‘The idea of collaboration, between people, between people and machines and between people and other animals, are key criteria in the design process and the selection for this year’s House of Switzerland gives an indication of the different directions this can take.‘
Maddalena Casadei, Designer & Art Director (IT)
‘Ideas generated through collaborations among people from diverse backgrounds can intertwine in unexpected ways, revealing new perspectives and sensitivities that drive innovation. This wealth of viewpoints enables us to reach a broader, more diverse audience, fostering deep connections with people from all walks of life.‘
Max Fraser, Editorial director, Dezeen (UK)
‘The thread of collaboration running through all the projects is encouraging and essential at a time when we all need to be working together and stretching our individual skill sets. The great power of Milan design week is the international audience that is attracted to the city and as much as the exhibition already encapsulates the spirit of collaboration, I would hope that new and unexpected opportunities and collaborations spawn across the globe as a result.‘
Marie Hesseldahl, Design Director, +Halle (DK)
‘I believe brands today should be more open to collaborating with emerging designers. In my view, there are several reasons why this collaboration is not only beneficial but essential for brands to remain relevant and innovative in today’s fast-evolving design scene. Emerging designers bring fresh, forward-thinking ideas that challenge status quo and their ability to think beyond traditional boundaries allows brands to explore new creative directions and discover unique solutions. In collaborating with new talent, brands not only stay relevant but also foster growth within the design community, helping shape the future of creativity in a way that will benefit everyone.‘
Janni Vepsäläinen, Creative director, Iittala (FL)
‘I was excited to see how each project was exploring the idea of collaboration from a slightly different angle. There are projects that approach it from a material point of view while others from a human perspective. I’m super happy to see such varied pool of young talent being inspired by the theme.‘
Official suppliers Faust Linoleum und Forbo Flooring Systems
Technical partner Brigade Studio
In association with Consolato generale di Svizzera a Milano and Casa degli Artisti Milano
House of Switzerland Milano
In its third edition, the House of Switzerland Milano is a collaborative exhibition that will return to Milano Design Week (7 to 13 April 2025) thanks to the ongoing partnership between the Swiss Arts Council Pro Helvetia and Presence Switzerland, a unit of the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA).
