Publisher of Design Folio Magazine Claire Sullivan is heading to the Salone del Mobile design fair in Milan. Check back throughout the week for her updates on the latest trends.
Each year 400,000 people descend upon the city of Milan in Italy for the Salone del Mobile - the world's largest design fair. Half the attendees are media folk like me, and half are buyers, architects, and designers.
It's a colossal affair, with more than 3000 installations presenting a huge array of designs, from traditional to contemporary and modern. And just like fashion, the world of furniture design has its own band of big name design stars like Philippe Starck and Marcel Wanders whose creative exploits attract huge crowds, all desperate for a glimpse at the unveiling of the next big design trend.
This year holds great hope.
After a long period of worldwide financial gloom that's greatly affected an industry which prides itself on newness and extravagance, I am interested to see what impact the gradual loosening of the manufacturers' wallets will have on the creativity of the designers who create the masterpieces.
Each day I'll be preparing a visual diary of my findings - from tangible ideas for your own home to the wacky and avant-garde.
Check back daily for a visual feast from the crazy world of design.
* Claire Sullivan also has a design blog at designfolio.co.nz.
