Water & Innovation: My Milan Design Week 2024 Highlights

A few weeks ago, I took a trip to Italy to immerse myself in the captivating realm of design innovation (and, of course, eat a lot of pizza and pasta)! Milan Design Week treated me to a refreshing array of exhibitions, each offering unique perspectives on sustainability, water efficiency, and the future of daily rituals like laundry and showering. Among the various exhibitions, four standout displays caught my attention, resonated with our core user base, and sparked conversations about our precious earthy resources. So, join me as I look closer at these water-centric wonders that made waves at Milan Design Week.

Milan Furniture Fair

The heart of Milan Design Week is the Milan Furniture Fair (Salone del Mobile Milano), the world's largest furniture and design trade fair showcasing the latest innovations in the industry. Navigating through the bustling halls and vibrant displays, I was met with an extraordinary collection of chairs, tables, and lamps—all very beautiful but far beyond my potential price range.

As I was here for Lylo, I made my way over to the bathroom section and began to explore the vast array of shower solutions on show. One exhibition that caught my eye was by Kohler, who have focused on bathroom design for over 150 years. I was immediately greeted by a huge sculpture comprising various fish swimming in circular formations. Is it something I could envision being in the Lylo offices one day? Yes. Would Joanna kill me? Also, yes. Kohler had much to show, with plenty of sinks, taps and toilets on display. Concrete basins by Kast were mounted to a wall, showcasing vibrant expression through high-intensity hues and contemporary waveforms (I'm also a sucker for a bit of Terrazzo). Kallista was showcasing their Bandeau showering collection, a range of showerheads that feature oval contours and artful embellishments, drawing inspiration from historical wearable decoration.

Kohler finished by displaying some of the craziest, most luxurious shower technology I'd ever seen - using the Anthem controller, they showcased a range of showerheads and body sprayers that would rival a car wash. Each shower had four different water jets designed to maximise coverage, and everything was controllable, from the water's speed and temperature down to the sprayers' oscillation frequency. While this isn't what I expect student showers to look like anytime soon (one can dream), it is exciting to see where technology and design are currently at, as it can help us optimise our product for users further down the line.

One exciting aspect of the show was the focus on aesthetics within the bathroom space instead of purely functional design. Not only are shower heads and handles becoming elegant art pieces, but the showers themselves are also being redesigned and rethought. Here's an example of a ceramic shower tray inspired by natural contours and rock formations.

I then headed to the technology section to explore the ever-innovating world of washing machines. First up was Whirlpool and their Supreme Silence Washing Machine, which boasted an 8kg load capacity, 'Water Save Technology' and a 30% energy-saving compared to similar machines with the A-Class minimum requirement. This was echoed across the range, with the accompanying dryer also running quieter (at 58 dB(A)) and consuming less energy. Both machines featured '6th Sense' technology, which adapts water and energy to the actual load. While I could not gain any in-depth information on how every feature worked, it's clear there has been a focus on improving the consumption and invasiveness of these appliances - something we can learn from and implement into our product.

The LG booth was the next on my list. While they didn't appear to have any washing machines on display, they did have some information regarding their internal parts and technologies. For laundry, they drew attention to their Inverter Direct Drive Motor, which maximises washing performance and leads to 18% more fabric protection with AI technology.

Finally, I went to Samsung's booth, where their entire line of products pushed toward bringing AI into the home (a common occurrence across this year's vendors). Their new laundry combo features a 7-inch touch-screen and personalises washing and drying by suggesting cycles that suit your habits and seasonal needs. Their AI Wash & Dry senses the weight of your laundry and uses the right amount of water and detergent (it also detects the fabric and monitors the level of soiling). And to top it all off, they've even put Bixby (their voice assistant) directly into the washing machine to (and I quote): "Never miss a call while doing laundry. Answer directly on your washing machine, no smartphone required". This is a scenario that I can assume has affected precisely one person, ever.

To preface what I'm about to say, I'd like to praise these companies for continuing to innovate and release new and cutting-edge technology into the consumer market - we know first-hand that it can be challenging, so credit where credit is due. However, except for a few features (e.g., AI weight detection), it appears that companies like Samsung are being innovative for innovation's sake and solving trivial problems instead of tackling severe issues (a few of which we've identified) plaguing our water infrastructure.

While it's great to focus on user habits, there should be more focus on protecting the planet and the environment. Potentially less optimisation for the person and more optimising the person for the earth— through eco-support and advice. I'm happy to bite my tongue and be proven wrong if this technology makes it to market and addresses consumer's actual needs - I only interacted with these displays briefly, and I'm not an expert.

Aqua - A Design Exploration

Next on my list was the 'Aqua' exhibition by Archiproducts, an immersive experience inspired by water. It was designed to celebrate water's vital role as an element that adapts to everything it encounters. After queueing and filling out the most prolonged sign-up form of the entire trip, I eventually stepped foot into the exhibition and was greeted with flowing surfaces, plays of light, wall and ceiling reflections, and colourful vibrations—all creating an evocative atmosphere.

The most striking aspect of the exhibition was the use of water as a colour filter - I noticed that a green-blue light illuminated some scenes, and others gradually transitioned from violet to deep blue, with each section unveiling a new spectrum of hues inspired by the underwater realm. The choice of lighting and materials refer, in different ways, to the effects of light on water, between reflections and transparencies. Hence, translucent and reflective surfaces like metal, glass, ceramics, and mirrors were used.

The inspiration of water is also evident in the forms used. First is the nautical reference, with portholes that welcome visitors to the exhibition, which, inside, become windows to underwater worlds and cruising landscapes. The fluid and organic shapes of some furniture and upholstery visually evoke the ocean waves, such as the sculptural counter at the entrance.

Despite being an interior design display and not directly applicable to our work at Lylo, exploring and seeing how our precious resource can be interpreted was still fascinating. I came across a range of CMF (colour, material, finish) decisions that could be incorporated into or used to enhance/complement the industrial design of Lylo's portable washing machine later down the line.

Ikea 1st

I did take a quick pit stop to swing by Ikea's showroom, which explored what it's like to be a young person experiencing your first moving-out journey with an exhibition titled "1st". This turned out to be a range of products that resonated with our core user base of students, as we, too, want to make a difference in the lives of young adults and set them up for the future.

I will only spend a little time on this section, but on display was a range of quirky, affordable furniture and household accessories, all perfect for spaces of any size and colour. There were sofas, chairs, speakers, shelves, and even beds (which you could nap on, but I didn't because I didn't want to take my shoes off). We're all about promoting helpful innovations, so if you're embarking on your first moving-out journey, then Ikea's range may be worth a look - and who knows, one day, Lylo's portable washing machine could be a part of that journey, too.

Isola Design Festival 2024

Last up was the Isola Design Festival, with this year's program featuring an eye-catching tagline of 'This Future is Currently Unavailable'—aiming to prove that design is more than just sustainability; it's a powerhouse for tackling real-world issues. As the IDF comprises a range of smaller exhibitions, I'll focus on a specific one, the Isola Design Gallery, which showcased a vast amount of exhibitors from the fields of collectable design, industrial design, new craftsmanship, and contemporary bespoke products by independent designers and studios.

Just a few of the designs that caught my attention were Ohmie (a lamp made from Sicilian orange peel and was an example of circular economy), teCHxtile_00 (a garment created by 3D printing a TPU grid pattern onto pre-stretched wool fabric), Turn Me (a 3D printed multifunctional table/stool, made from recycled plastics) and Inferences (a light object created from several blue and fluorescent green acrylic circles, with differently illuminated and engraved wave patterns that interfere with each other - definitely a future Lylo office decor contender). But my favourite was the VANK_CUBE, a modular system of flax and hemp biomaterial cubes that allows setting up an eco-friendly workspace for any size and purpose - and rearranging it easily. It minimises synthetics and contributes to combating climate change - something we can absolutely get behind.

Located within the design gallery was an exhibition by DesignWanted called ENHANCE - which focused on projects with a positive social impact - so you can understand why it was a must-visit on my list. Ten projects were displayed, each aligning with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) relevant to the industrial design community. The exhibition design is a play on colour, light, and transparency with polycarbonate panels, contrasting the space's brutalist industrial look.

Of the ten projects on display, there were two that I can happily say we've seen before. The first was Birdie, an indoor air quality monitor created by Andreas Kofoed Sørensen and Hans Høite Augustenborg. When your air quality is poor, the bird will drop until you open your windows and bring it back to life. I first met Birdie when pitching for the 2022 D&AD awards, where we both walked away with a Wood Pencil.

The second project was Ambessa Play's DIY Flashlight, created by Sara Berkai. It emerged as a response to a global crisis and redefined aid through education kits co-designed with children. Joanna first met Sara through the InnovateUK 'Women in Innovation' program. It's incredibly inspirational to see our fellow designers launch products and be celebrated at an international design festival. So please check out the fantastic things they're doing and share the Lylo love!

It's time I bid farewell to Milan Design Week; from exhibits exploring the aesthetic properties of water to innovative designs reimagining everyday essentials, this year's showcase was nothing short of enlightening. My journey through the exhibitions was a feast for the eyes and a deeply educational experience.

Reflecting on my time at Milan Design Week, I can't help but dream big. Who knows? Maybe one day, you'll find Lylo among the exhibitors, showcasing our own innovative product inspired by the same principles of sustainability and creativity that I saw in Milan. Until then, I'll continue to be inspired by the incredible work of designers worldwide. Here's to the future and the exciting possibilities it holds for us all!