salone del mobile 2024: what to expect for the milan fair's 62nd edition

back in full swing: salone del mobile 2024

Milan’s annual trade fair Salone del Mobile, is back in full swing for its 62nd edition, taking place this year from April 16th to 21st, during Milan Design Week 2024. Maria Porro, President of the Salone del Mobile.Milano, expects the fair to welcome around 2,000 exhibitors, in line with last year, and over 300,000 visitors from around the globe. There will be a special focus on young designers as this year marks the 25th anniversary of SaloneSatellite, an important platform which spotlights young designers under 35. Meanwhile, while 2023 marked the year for the biennial Euroluce, this year’s Salone will host EuroCucina — the biennial kitchen and bathroom exhibition. What’s more, organizers are excited to announce a new layout for the trade show, its human-centric routes developed through a collaboration between architects and neuroscientists.

Salone del Mobile is held at Milan’s Rho Fiera trade grounds | image © Ruggiero Scardigno (banner © designboom)

Spotlighting Young Talent: SaloneSatellite Celebrates 25 Years

Salone del Mobile 2024 marks the 25th anniversary of SaloneSatellite, a platform geared specifically toward young designers under 35. Founded and curated by Marva Griffin Wilshire, SaloneSatellite has been instrumental in launching the careers of countless up-and-coming design stars. To celebrate this momentous occasion, a special, free exhibition will be held at Pavilions 5 and 7 at the fairgrounds, showcasing the work of emerging designers from around the world. Additionally, a large exhibition will be held at the Triennale Milano museum, exploring the history and impact of the event over the past quarter century. Discover designboom’s roundup of ten emerging designers from SaloneSatellite 2023 here!

SaloneSatellite celebrates its 25th anniversary in 2024 | image courtesy Salone del Mobile

eurocucina to showcase kitchen design

2024 is the year for EuroCucina, the biennial kitchen exhibition which was first held in 1974 and has since been among the most important kitchen events internationally. This year’s edition will have a special focus on food design. Visitors can expect to see a variety of live food demonstrations, as well as exhibits showcasing the latest trends in kitchen design and technology. Sustainability is a major theme for Salone del Mobile. Both EuroCucina and the International Bathroom Exhibition will feature installations dedicated to water conservation and eco-friendly product design. Maria Porro explained during the New York City stop during the Road to Salone tour: ‘It will be an immersive experience where you will learn from numbers how design can reduce the water consumption in our daily life.’

Once again, a number of talks and workshops will be held throughout the week, exploring the latest trends in sustainable design. The talks will give visitors the chance to slow down their fast-paced visit, and hear from design industry leaders. Last year, the program included talks by humanitarian architect Shigeru Ban at Euroluce, as well as legendary designer Gaetano Pesce at the SaloneSatellite Arena.

while 2023 marked the biennial Euroluce, 2024 is the year of EuroCucina | image courtesy Salone del Mobile

optimized layouts for efficient routes

To improve the visitor experience, organizers have planned a new layout for Salone del Mobile 2024. The re-designed floor plans have been created through a collaboration between Milanese architecture studio Lombardini22, and a team of neuroscientists (find out more here). It will feature a more open and user-friendly organization, with pavilions arranged concentrically and exhibition booths facing outwards for better visibility. Additionally, the pathways in EuroCucina and the International Bathroom Exhibition have been redesigned to optimize visitor flow and make the most of the available space. According to organizers, the new layout will ‘optimize time and space to further simplify visits, making them fuller and more efficient, ensuring equal accessibility and visibility to all the exhibitors.’ ‘Salone is huge,’ Maria Porro says. ‘For those who have never been: bring sneakers! So efficiency is important.’

‘We studied the layout for the pavilion. Instead of a normal grid, we create four main roads, so that navigating is easier,‘ she continues, explaining the newly designed layout. ‘A large concrete wall divides the pavilion and creates a very strange effect. We think in architectural terms and keep the companies next to the walls in order to hide them and create a better perception of the space.

‘We test the perception of the space together with a neuroscientist working with Lombardini22. Compared to the old layout, one hundred percent of people were happy with the new layout. What’s more, those testing even remember their experiences more.’