LABÒ is crafting tomorrow, rising ideas for milan design week 2025

LABÒ is ‘crafting tomorrow, rising ideas’ for mdw 2025

LABÒ returns to Milan Design Week 2025 with its third edition, reinforcing its role as a hub for collectible design and contemporary art. Set in the former industrial spaces of Fondazione Rodolfo Ferrari and SPA – Società Prodotti Antibiotici in Milan’s Barona district, LABÒ continues its exploration of design as a catalyst for transformation, blending method with intuition, and precision with experimentation. Taking place from April 6 to April 11, 2025, the cultural projects hosts a new selection of international designers, artists, and companies, handpicked by curatorial duo The Design Blender, composed of Elsa Lemarignier and François Leblanc di Cicilia.

curated by Design Blender, LABÒ unveils its third edition, transforming the former industrial spaces of Fondazione Rodolfo Ferrari and SPA – Società Prodotti Antibiotici in Milan | © Nicolò Panzeri

unexpected connections, fresh perspectives, and new avenues

The 2025 theme, ‘Crafting Tomorrow, Rising Ideas,’ celebrates design’s ability to forge unexpected connections, offer fresh perspectives, and open new avenues for creative exploration. Perpetuum Mobile: a textile art installation The vision for this edition is further embodied in a renewed collaboration with Paris-based studio Undo-Redo, founded by Nicola Aguzzi. The studio presents a site-specific installation that interprets the essence of the exhibition. Designed in collaboration with Vimar1991 – an Italian textile manufacturer acquired by Chanel in 2020 – Perpetuum Mobile transforms textile machinery into a hypnotic work of art.

The project reimagines the machines that wind yarn into skeins, blurring the boundaries between industrial production and artistic expression. The aesthetic of industrial devices is elevated through the use of Vimar1991’s yarns, crafted from production scraps. This installation captures the poetry of movement, turning artisanal heritage into a contemporary and immersive experience.

the event explores the transformative power of design through material, form, and innovation | © Nicolò Panzeri

contributors from the global design landscape meet at LABÒ 2025

The exhibitor lineup for this edition reflects a strong international scope, bringing together outstanding contributors from the global design landscape. Notable institutions dedicated to craftsmanship, design, and innovation will once again be part of LABÒ, including Ateliers de Paris (BDMMA) and Le JAD – Jardin des Métiers d’Art et du Design, which serve as incubators supporting young designers, artisans, and artists.

Further strengthening the connection between design and cultural heritage, Mobilier National, the historic French institution committed to preserving and promoting artisanal savoir-faire, will present a curated selection of projects that merge tradition with modernity.

taking place from April 6 to April 11, 2025, LABÒ is hosting a new selection of international designers, artists, and companies | © Nicolò Panzeri

Adding to the international dialogue, the Royal Danish Academy, one of the leading institutions for research and education in design and architecture, present Star Homes Project. This initiative explores innovative approaches to developing affordable, durable, and insect-resistant housing to improve health conditions in rural areas. Led by an interdisciplinary team of architects, public health specialists, and entomologists, Star Homes Project has been in development for over a decade, spearheaded by Jakob Knudsen, Lorenz von Seidlein, and Salum Mshamu.

LABÒ 2025 continues its partnership with EDIT Napoli curators Domitilla Dardi and Emilia Petruccelli, fostering a dialogue between two platforms that share a mission to promote contemporary design through an innovative and multidisciplinary approach. Additionally, LABÒ is handing the stage to the winners of EDIT Napoli 2024: Parasite 2.0 x Bianco67 and Atelier Nuanda, both of whom embrace design as a medium for research and material culture

the exhibitor lineup for this edition reflects a strong international scope, bringing together outstanding contributors from the global design landscape | © Nicolò Panzeri