Design meets humanity: highlights from Isola Design Festival 2025
Design is Human was the theme of the ninth edition of Isola Design Festival during the recently concluded Milan Design Week: a call to design for humanity again, starting from real society’s needs.
To be a designer is, in many ways, to be an anthropologist. Indeed, the human experience should remain both the starting point and the destination, with social impact, human needs, and care for the planet as the three fundamental pillars of the creative design process. The Isola.design platform brought this theme to Milan Design Week 2025, focusing on a humanity-driven approach and making it the concept of the ninth edition of Isola Design Festival.
The title of the festival couldn’t have been clearer: Design is Human — a necessary reflection on the role of people in the design process. This year’s edition of the Isola Design Festival highlighted the work of designers, creators, and studios focused on social impact, environmental issues, and innovation, presenting projects that enhance the well-being of both people and the planet.“Design has to begin with a focus on the human experience and every decision and innovation should be guided by empathy, understanding, and respect for the diverse needs of all people. – affirmed Gabriele Cavallaro, co-founder and CEO of Isola Design Group.
The theme Design is Human was conveyed throughout the entire Isola district, demonstrating how human stories and traditions truly nourish design creativity. The whole neighbourhood hosted exhibitions, installations, workshops and talks, with the BasicVillage location serving as the festival’s centrepiece.
To tell the story of the 2025 edition of Isola Design Festival, we have selected ten projects that best capture its spirit. Here are the highlights from Isola Design Festival 2025.
Design is Human – Highlights:
Mess Dining Table by Salak
Designing pieces that blur the line between sculpture and furniture, Salak is a Polish design studio – founded by Alice Korbut – that focuses on minimalism and longevity. The studio’s Mess dining table was showcased at the Isola Design Gallery – a curated exhibition by Isola – demonstrating the perfect combination of bold shapes and impeccable craftsmanship. Described by Alice as “a table that exceeds the boundaries of design,” Mess is much more than a functional object: it is a sculpture, minimalist and geometric in form, yet featuring an unusual structure.
The hallmark of the piece, and indeed of Salak’s aesthetic philosophy, lies in the two hand-turned wooden spheres embedded in its base, which give the table its unique character.
Object111 Chair by NG DESIGN
Each year, the Isola Design Gallery exhibition is a celebration of one-of-a-kind design pieces – exquisite examples of craftsmanship that meet the contemporary market. Within this projects, Object111 by NG DESIGN has found its perfect spot.
A Poland brand with a passion for unconventional design, NG DESIGN produces handmade furniture to the highest standards of quality, transforming functional pieces into works of art.
Object111 is a minimalist chair whose clean and elegant lines emphasise its modern style and versatility. The unpolished metal surface offers a tactile experience inviting touch and exploration.
Take 5 Rubber® by Yosuke Shimano
Showcased at the Conscious Objects exhibition, Take 5 Rubber® is a project designed by Yosuke Shimano — with the support of Tosho Rubber Industries — that aims to bring rich craftsmanship into everyday life.
Using the advanced technology of Artisan Silicone®, Take 5 Rubber® enables anyone to safely produce durable objects in various shapes and colors, encouraging the exploration of inner creativity and perfectly aligning with the concept of the whole Isola Design Festival.
Unlike industrial silicone rubber, Take 5 Rubber® is odorless and harmless to the human body, making it easy and comfortable to work with and use. “Take it out of the refrigerator and bake it in the oven for 5 minutes” is Yosuke Shimano’s simple instruction that initiates a new era of “rubber pottery.”
Telare la Materia by Archeomaterico
Designed by Davide Balda, founder of Archeomaterico, the Telare la Materia project responds to the devastating environmental impact of the textile industry. Developed during an artistic residency at Fabrica, the research center of the Benetton Group, the project took shape in collaboration with the company’s sustainability department, exploring new ways to reuse production waste. Davide’s sustainable approach transforms unsold garments and fabrics into both synthetic and organic textile fibers that can easily become raw materials for future applications. Telare la Materia regenerates waste through two innovative methods: Building Material and Nuno Felt.
Building Material is a material experiment in which textile fibers are mixed with clay residues and a geopolymer base to create structural components and load-bearing elements for products, objects, or artifacts.
Nuno Felt uses synthetic fibers derived from plant and animal origins. The fibers are felted using water and Marseille soap through an artisanal process. This process enables 100% recycling of the waste, as all types of fibers are reused without generating further waste. The components made from Nuno Felt are used to create products and furniture that interact with both the interior light of homes and the natural light of the sun.
OnCue by Alessandra Galli
Inclusivity is another key pillar in designing for the needs of individuals and society. And inclusiveness is at the core of Alessandra Galli’s project. Exhibited at Conscious Objects, OnCue is a modular and ergonomic keyboard designed to improve the quality of life for people suffering from Parkinson’s disease.
In today’s primarily digital world, keyboards are tools used on a daily basis. However, for the 8.5 million people living with Parkinson’s disease worldwide, using keyboards can be problematic and frustrating. OnCue’s wearable cuffs combine haptic and visual cues to alleviate Parkinson’s symptoms, and its compact design promotes a natural posture. Vibrations from both the keys and cuffs help maintain rhythm, while AI-driven visual cues guide typing.
Heato by NOI Creative
“Designing products that shape the way we experience the unseen.” NOI Creative, an international creative agency, presented a design piece from a collection that fully embraces the theme of the Isola Design Festival. Indeed, Heato — a heater from the FLOW collection — was exhibited at Conscious Objects, demonstrating how design is not merely about function, but about human experience.
Heato is a compact smart heater designed to bring effortless warmth and comfort to any indoor space. With its minimalist design, Heato seamlessly blends into various environments and offers an exceptionally intuitive user experience.
Aiming to enhance everyday environments, NOI Creative proposes solutions that demonstrate how objects can actually shape well-being.
Mudra by Beyond Dreams
Curated by Nidhi Chandak and Varun E S, Rasa – The Indian Collective celebrates the artistry, skill, and rich craftsmanship of Indian makers, along with projects whose creative expression evokes deep emotional experiences.
The ability to inspire emotional responses lies at the heart of Mudra, a furniture collection designed by Beyond Dreams and showcased at Rasa – The Indian Collective. Inspired by the ancient art of mudras — symbolic hand gestures used for centuries to channel energy, foster balance, and encourage mindfulness — the collection reflects a deep-rooted connection between tradition and contemporary design.
The furniture itself, by incorporating mudras into its lines, creates spaces that embody wellness, harmony, and strength. Every element is carefully crafted to resonate with these values.
Wave Bench by SWETHA VEGESANA/ INTENT MADE
Wave Bench by SWETHA VEGESANA/ INTENT MADE is another great example of “contemporary Indian design meeting traditional craftsmanship”. Also exhibited at Rasa – The Indian Collective, Wave Bench comes from a collection, Crafted Alchemy, that blends intricate patterns, exquisite textures, and refined finishes, resulting in furniture that is both functional and visually captivating.
This solid, handcrafted bench boasts a perfectly balanced geometric composition while also presenting an unusual and striking form.
Pilaro by raw objects
Each year, the Isola Design Awards competition celebrates fearless creativity and groundbreaking innovation, inviting its global community to present visionary projects that push boundaries and leave a lasting mark on design history. Among last year’s winners was the Pilaro collection by Raw Objects Studios (Luca Maibach & Izy Munuera Gomez), a luminaire series designed for a multifunctional space.
Luca and Izy’s creative process always begins with an exploration of materials, colors, and shapes. They often draw inspiration from everyday objects, finding unexpected beauty in the familiar. Believing that lighting plays a central role in any living environment, they developed a collection that offers complete flexibility — providing both illumination and atmosphere across a variety of interiors.
Indeed, with just three simple gestures — slide, tilt, or turn — the form and function of each luminaire seamlessly shift from soft ambient lighting to a sharp, focused spotlight, immediately adapting to every situation.
Tilt, The lamp by Kaarbhaar
Light is the essential component in another standout project from this year’s edition of the Isola Design Festival. Exhibited at Rasa – The Indian Collective, Tilt is a lamp designed by Kaarbhaar, a design studio that blends traditional craftsmanship with contemporary aesthetics to carry forward a timeless narrative of perseverance and artistry deeply rooted in Indian culture.
“We design for the present, with the awareness of the past; for a future that is essentially unknown,” affirms the team at Kaarbhaar.
Tilt is an object of contemplation, where refined design emerges through the dialogue between sharp geometry and subtle materiality. Its architectural silhouette emphasizes balance, movement, and interaction, qualities brought to life by a small central wooden sphere. This essential detail allows the shade to pivot effortlessly, providing directional light with the lightest touch.
More than just a lamp designed to illuminate spaces, Tilt serves as a beacon of the relationship between material, function, and user.
