The supersalone, the special event curated by architect Stefano Boeri as part of the Salone del Mobile.Milano, opened its doors from September 5 to 10, 2021 as the first major design exhibition. It provided a platform for creative experiments, showed what an international furniture fair should look like in the future, and reaffirmed Milan's and the Salone's central position in the international design, culture, and innovation scene.
After the world was put into pandemic-related lockdown from March 2020, fairs and events were no longer conceivable. Companies and designers had to reorganize processes, question visions, find new paths, and invest in digital solutions. With the supersalone, a special event was put together in just a few months that gives hope for a fresh start. However, it also raises questions about how sustainable, flexible, and hybrid a modern furniture fair should be, what aesthetics are in demand, which audience one wants to address, and what offerings are necessary for this. The first four of the total 24 pavilions of the Fiera Milano were used, featuring about 1,900 projects on nearly 69,000 square meters.
Instead of elaborately designed living environments, a product essence of the exhibitors was presented in a rapid sequence along the designated aisles. Since only a few staff members were allowed on the premises, QR codes for scanning and a dedicated supersalone app met the need for further information. Virtual presentations of products and brands, interviews, and podcasts were offered in parallel.
Sustainability and Craftsmanship
Two themes that seemed to hover over every booth: sustainability and craftsmanship. Furniture should be durable again: multifunctional, usable in all living areas, and modular in construction, without sacrificing comfort or aesthetics. Instead of one-sided function, a realistic approach and the possibility of customization that goes beyond changing the cover or selecting the color counted.
Questioning the Existing
Questioning existing perspectives and transforming them into a new form was an approach reflected by many product innovations at the supersalone. Corners and edges were rarely seen – instead, organic shapes, gentle rounding, and soft covers in natural tones were highly favored.
New Value Creation
While established manufacturers work on optimizing processes, the considerations of the younger generation are more under the heading of value creation. The works in the exhibitions "The Makers Show," dedicated to self-producing designers from around the world, as well as the projects of students in "The Lost Graduation Show," showed numerous material experiments: for example, alternatives to leather or the replacement of plastic fibers with jute, flax, and hemp from local production. Supporting these is also intended to reduce transport routes and grant new opportunities for economic upswing to producers located in decentralized areas.
What Remains Now from the supersalone?
After all the months without physical events, it offered a mood board for the themes that have come to the forefront in design since the outbreak of the pandemic: the search for a formal essence in which a new appreciation for craftsmanship and natural resources culminates. The experimental format was certainly ideal for trying out new ideas and making the production and presentation of product design more inclusive and sustainable. Which elements of the Salone del Mobile will be transferred to the regular fair will be revealed next spring.
