The Design Week & Design Events Guide

The creator of the Design Week and Design Events Guide is Roberta Mutti, an Italian journalist specializing in industrial and contemporary interior design. Roberta Mutti started following Milan Design Week and Fuorisalone when they did not exist yet. Back then, there was only the Salone del Mobile, which took place in Milan the third week of September, and in the 1980s, there were few exhibitions and a few collateral design events. The visitors were primarily designers, retailers, fashion and design journalists, architects, all international, but mainly from Europe and the United States, a few from Japan.

Milan Design Week and Fuorisalone

By the end of the 1980s, there were about 80 events related to the Milan Furniture Fair. In 1991, the Salone moved to April, with the rearrangement of the Milan Fair calendars. From 1991 to 1997, events increased more and more. Interni magazine in 1991 published the first “Guide to Design Itineraries in Milan,” which in 1997 became the first “Fuorisalone Guide.” Along with the Guide, Interni magazine had come up with signage with totems to mark the sites of events along the route.

The other Design Weeks 

From its humble beginnings, Milan Design Week has evolved into the ‘mother’ of all Design Weeks, inspiring similar events worldwide. The first Design Weeks emerged as complementary events to fairs focusing on contemporary interior design and furniture. Maison & Objet Paris, a fair dedicated to home decoration, was established in 1994. In the late 1990s, the Paris On/Off initiative was born, a series of events linked to the fair. Over time, these initiatives have become more structured, leading to the establishment of Paris Déco Off in January and Paris Design Week in September.

The World Design Weeks

During the 1990s and 2000s, several major cities began similar initiatives. Thus in London, first started 100% Design, a fair on contemporary design, and then the London Design Festival, which lasts two weeks and runs in September. In New York, ICFF – International Contemporary Furniture Fair spawned NYCxDesign. Then came Dutch Design Week in Eindhoven. And so on, all the way to the Design Weeks that adhere to the World Design Week organization.

Design Weeks, Design Week-Ends, and Design Festivals are not just events, but strategic initiatives. They are often spearheaded by public institutions to boost the design economy in cities. For instance, Clerkenwell Design Week in London is a private initiative aimed at promoting creative activities and design. These events serve as platforms for designers, architects, and design enthusiasts to showcase their work, network, and stay updated with the latest trends in the industry.
However, it should be remembered that the first Design Weeks originated as side events to contemporary design fairs. Therefore, the Design Week Guide also lists the leading trade fairs dedicated to contemporary design.

To learn more about Milan Design Week, you can read Roberta Mutti’s book, History of Milan Design Week. You can purchase it at Designdiffusion.com