Seeking Inspiration? Put These Design Fairs On Your Calendar This Year
Sarah Myerscough Gallery at Design Miami Paris 2023. Image courtesy of James Harris for Design Miami … [+] Paris.
James Harris for Design Miami Paris
Inspiration is everywhere—but it’s especially overflowing at design fairs. From the innovative installations at Milan Design Week to thought-provoking conversations at Design Miami, there’s plenty to inspire both industry insiders and the general public. Whether you’re eyeing the newest creations of legendary designers, looking for under-the-radar brands or plainly in search of a creative spark, mark your calendar with these design events all over the globe.
Maison & Objet Paris
A permanent stop on the design circuit, Maison & Objet Paris reached its 30th milestone in January and it was a joyous celebration of the best in home decoration, design and lifestyle. The Paris Nord Villepinte exhibition center welcomed 600 brands across 15 sectors, and it also served as a setting for an installation by Designer of the Year, Mathieu Lehanneur. The revelry is set to continue at the September edition, which promises not only a trove of exciting exhibitions but a whole lot of creative interaction from an engaged community of design enthusiasts.
September 5-9, 2024; maison-objet.com/en/paris
Stockholm Furniture Fair
Every year in February, the best furniture and lighting brands brave the freezing temperatures in Stockholm to present their latest collections to a crowd of designers, decorators, architects and buyers. Naturally, Scandinavian brands dominate the fair but it is still a pretty international gathering. This year, their Guest of Honour is Formafantasma, a boundary-pushing design practice established by Andrea Trimarchi and Simone Farresin in 2009. The Italian duo will create an installation at the entrance hall, which is their first ever exhibition in Sweden.
February 6-10, 2024; Open to public on February 10 from 10 am to 5 pm; stockholmfurniturefair.se
The NON SIGNAL ZONE work by designer Sara Ricciardi, one of the most visited works of the Milan … [+] Design Week in the interior spaces of Siam on October 08, 2020 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Lorenzo Palizzolo/Getty Images)
Getty Images Salone del Mobile
Anyone who’s anyone in the design world makes their way to Salone del Mobile in Milan with their comfiest trainers in tow. You’ll easily reach 10,000 steps at the expansive Fiera Milano Rho, which houses multi-storey booths by brands presenting their latest wares—it’s in these halls where trends are born. But it’s a shame to spend your entire time indoors as the coolest events unfold outside the fair (aka FuoriSalone). Hit the city’s Brera district and Cinque Vie to get a taste of the local scene, swing by Nilufar Gallery, DimoreStudio and Rossana Orlandi to for a serious dose of inspiration, then rub shoulders with design cognoscenti at Bar Basso come night time.
April 16-24, 2024; salonemilano.it/en
3 Days of Design
This design festival is exactly as it is named: it offers a design immersion over three days through a diverse and thoughtful program. Established over a decade ago, 3 Days of Design (3DD) is not confined to a single venue but uses the entire city of Copenhagen to showcase the power of design. Hop from boutiques showcasing their latest collections then attend a cocktail with a fireside chat—it’s a “choose your own adventure” type of fair that’s just as fun as it sounds.
June 12-14, 2024; 3daysofdesign.dk
Bullseye Projects – Sophie Southgate, Acid, 2023.
Image courtesy of Collect. Collect
Even as the number of design shows flourish worldwide, Collect in London stands out as one of the few devoted to contemporary craft and design. Presented by the Crafts Council, this year marks the fair’s 20th anniversary and they’ll return to the storied Somerset House with exhibitions, collaborations and a robust talks program. The upcoming edition will have a showstopping 40 international galleries representing over 400 artist makers, creating everything from handcrafted decor to fine jewelry. With works priced as low as £500 sitting alongside those over £50,000, it’s a perfect place for new and established collectors looking for unique objets d’art.
March 1-3, 2024 (previews on February 28 and 29); craftscouncil.org.uk/collect-fair/collect-art-fair-2024
Design Miami
Arguably the most influential design event globally, Design Miami calls itself “the global forum for design” and the buzzing fairs are proof of its claim. Collectors and critics alike head to the three editions in Basel, Paris and Miami, held between June to December, to see the latest in contemporary furniture, lighting and iconic design. The newest edition is Design Miami / Paris, which opened in October 2023 at the L’hôtel de Maison and ran alongside Paris+ par Art Basel.
June 11-16, 2024 Design/Miami Basel; October 16-20, 2024, Design/Miami Paris; December 2024, Design Miami; designmiami.com
A woman walks inside the National Museum of Qatar complex on November 13, 2022, ahead of the Qatar … [+] 2022 World Cup football tournament. (Photo by Andrej ISAKOVIC / AFP) (Photo by ANDREJ ISAKOVIC/AFP via Getty Images)
AFP via Getty Images Design Doha
From Jean Nouvel’s National Museum of Qatar to Zaha Hadid’s Al Janoub Stadium, Qatar is home to some of the world’s most beguiling architectural masterpieces. So it comes as no surprise that its capital, Doha, is celebrating its thriving design scene with the first edition of Design Doha, opening on February 24. This biennale aims to spotlight the region’s rich design history and be a platform for talent across the Middle East and North Africa with the launch of the Doha Design Prize. Don’t miss the headline exhibition, Arab Design Now, to be held at M7 and open until August 2024.
February 24-28, 2024; designdoha.org.qa/en
NYCxDesign
Tagged as “New York City’s official celebration of design”, NYCxDesign Festival aims to cement the city’s reputation as a veritable design capital, not that it was ever in doubt. The weeklong event is stacked with activities, from trade shows ICFF and WantedDesign to community events and exhibitions. Last year, they held over 250 activations across the five boroughs witnessed by 160,000 visitors from across the globe. The local support was rock solid, with 1,000 New York-based designers participating in the event.
May 16-23, 2024; nycxdesign.org
Carl Hansen & Son, Helsinki Design Week, Merikortteli, Aleksi Poutanen
Aleksi Poutanen Helsinki Design Week
With homegrown brands like Artek and Iittala and the legacy of beloved architect Alvar Aalto, one can be convinced there’s something in Finland’s water that makes them more creative. The Finnish capital punches above its weight when it comes to design, and that all comes together during Helsinki Design Week. The entire city comes alive with over 150 events including showroom openings, design dialogues, film screenings, architecture walks as well as children’s activities like workshops.
September 6-15, 2024; helsinkidesignweek.com
Design Shanghai
Entering its second decade of operation, Design Shanghai continues to “explore how Eastern and Western design philosophies can work together synergistically” and serve as a dynamic stage for regional talent. Held at the Shanghai World Expo Exhibition & Convention Center, the fair has four halls: Furniture and Lighting, Kitchen and Bathroom, Living and Lifestyle, New Materials and Application.
Visitors can also peruse the numerous exhibitions like “Rong·Casting” wherein 46 designers and artists are invited to explore traditional casting craftsmanship in new ways; Talents 2024, a young designer showcase themed under “Quest the Question”’; as well as Design Street, where top design studios share the making of their products in a relaxed house-style setting.
June 19-22, 2024; designshanghai.com
