DAY #5: a trend is confirmed, design is booming in Eastern Europe

A daily blog by Margriet Vollenberg featuring events, exhibitions and personal impressions about the Milan Design Week 2018

Yesterday I had lunch with the Museum of Architecture and Design (MAO) Ljubljana, for who I did the curation of the BIO23 Biennale in 2012.

Six years later we are again talking about how we can collaborate in the future.

They confirmed a trend that I’ve been detecting; design is booming in Eastern Europe.

With Ventura Projects I am currently looking into the possibilities of organizing an event in Tbilisi, Georgia, an emerging design capital.

After the meeting I headed to the city to see some exhibitions. I saw Dutch Invertuals, every year one of my favorites.

My plan to zigzag from location to location fell apart because I bumped into a lot of familiar faces.

Knowing so many people in Milan might keep me from finishing my design itinerary, but it is so much fun to see everybody again during this week.

A highlight of the day was definitely the interview that was published yesterday on Dezeen in which I reflect on the status quo of Milan.

Marcus Fairs, editor-in-chief of Dezeen, read another interview I did recently in which I referred to Brexit and the consequences for Milan.

He decided to hear me out on my vision on the future of Milan.

I was glad to read that my ideas are shared by the design critic Alice Rawsthorn and by the designers of Formafantasma.

My dear Milan is developing and will continue to play an important role in the (design) industry.

In the evening I first sat down at dinner with Richard Hutten, who I’ve know for, what feels like, centuries.

And of course we danced at la famosa festa of Stefano Giovannoni.

Only two more days to go…. A domani!