Celebrating its 10^th anniversary at Milan Design Week 2025, held from April 7 – 13, 2025, Tortona Rocks embraced the theme of Unframed Design, challenging traditional frameworks and highlighting the transformative power of creativity. This year's event was a showcase of innovation bridging the intersections of art, technology and sustainability. STIR brings forward the installations and narratives that shaped the dialogue around design’s role to inspire, connect and reimagine the world around us.

The journey began with Saint Laurent and its creative director, Anthony Vaccarello, paying homage to one of the most visionary figures in 20th-century design: Charlotte Perriand. The Saint Laurent – Charlotte Perriand curatorial project, exhibited at the Padiglione Visconti at Via Tortona 54, celebrated creative freedom and simplistic elegance, forging a compelling dialogue between fashion and design. Vaccarello carefully selected four furniture pieces by the French architect and designer, conceived between 1943 and 1967, which had either never been produced or existed only as prototypes. These rare designs, which include the Canapé de la Résidence de l'Ambassadeur du Japon, Bibliothèque Rio de Janeiro, Table Mille-Feuille and Fauteuil Visiteur Indochine, were unveiled for the first time as limited editions.

These pieces exemplify Perriand’s poetic rigour and forward-thinking vision, blending modernist sensitivity with artisanal spirit. Each item, reissued with dramatic flair, reaffirms her ability to harmonise form and function, nature and culture, art and daily life. The design exhibition reflects a desire to preserve and celebrate cultural heritage.

Following this tribute, the design event extended its ethos with the Curious X: Sensorium Piazza, an inventive reimagining of the Italian plaza that fused art, technology and soundscapes into a captivating interactive experience. Created in collaboration with Seletti and IQOS, the installation invited visitors to become participants, shifting the dynamic of traditional design exhibits. Digital tools allowed audiences to shape their sensory environment, blending visuals and sounds to create a fluid, responsive space. This participatory approach symbolised the merging of human creativity and technological innovation, emphasising the power of design to engage and inspire.

IKEA’s return to Fuorisalone was a moment of reflection and transformation. Showcased at Via Vigevano 18, the exhibition presented a debut collection that combined classic elements with contemporary design, highlighting the brand’s enduring relevance. Additionally, Do Something. Change Everything, designed by Midori Hasuike and Emerzon, posed a call to action. By illustrating how everyday choices could drive meaningful change, the exhibit focused on sustainability and accessibility, using innovative materials and thoughtful solutions to encourage a more conscious way of living. This dual approach underscored the potential of design in everyday life, skillfully coalescing functionality and social responsibility.

NEXT PLACE HOTEL, curated by Giulio Cappellini in collaboration with Roberto Cuneo and Luca Fois, took visitors on a journey into the future of hospitality. Located at Via Savona 35, the installation merged cutting-edge design with strategic innovation, exploring concepts like wellness, sustainability and multifunctional spaces. It envisioned hospitality as a dynamic, adaptive field where aesthetics and functionality coexist harmoniously. Cesar Giraldo’s contributions brought a distinct visual and tactile dimension, creating an immersive experience that resonated with architects, designers and investors alike.

Livintwist’s Belvedere collection by Matteo Ragni brought a nostalgic yet forward-thinking perspective to outdoor furniture. Inspired by the lightness of the 1960s, the furniture designs focused on emotional well-being and the need for digital detox in today’s hyper-connected world. Pieces like convertible swing seats, multifunctional pouffes, and tables embodied this philosophy, encouraging human connection and relaxation. By featuring retro sensibilities with modern practicality, Ragni’s work offered a thoughtful reflection on how design can frame our relationships with time and space.

Another exploration of outdoor living was found in TA Design’s Timeless Nature exhibition. Led by artistic director Enrico Cesana, the project drew visitors into serene, meditative spaces designed to harmonise with the natural world. Through its careful use of materials and its celebration of nature’s rhythms, the installation demonstrated how outdoor environments can be both functional and calming. It invited viewers to consider how design can foster deeper connections with the environment, blurring the lines between the built and nature.

Schindler's X8 initiative immersed visitors in the future of vertical mobility, shaping how movement is integrated within urban landscapes. Through an interactive installation by Studio Habits, the exhibition demonstrated how advanced engineering and creative design eliminate past limitations, opening up newer possibilities for architectural freedom and dynamic movement in cities.

Abet Laminati offered a subtle but critical contribution to the district with MEG-H panels used for signage across Zona Tortona. Renowned for their durability and environmental resilience, these panels showcased the practical side of design. Beyond their utility, the panels enhanced the visual cohesion of the event, reflecting the importance of thoughtful material choices in creating a seamless and engaging experience.

Adding another distinguished layer to the showcase was Italdesign’s multisensory installation that brought human ingenuity, nature, and technology together. Founded by Giorgetto Giugiaro, the company has long been known for its visionary designs and this year’s offering encapsulated its ethos. The installation featured the Quintessenza show car, returning from its debut at CES in Las Vegas, as the centrepiece of a space where automotive design, transportation and product design engaged in a dialogue between the past and the future, organic materiality and technological innovation. Designed as a continuous flow, the exhibition unfolded as an interdisciplinary journey where all elements intertwined, shaping the principles of contemporary design.

Gruppo Buoninfante’s X-ReM installation brought a focus on well-being through design. Featuring the innovative X-Bio mattress, the experiential showcase revealed how technology and material science could transform sleep quality. From advanced thermoregulation systems to energy-efficient recovery features, the installation emphasised the importance of design in promoting physical and mental rejuvenation.

Concluding its 10^th year, Tortona Rocks celebrated design as a dynamic and multifaceted discipline capable of reshaping societal narratives. The installations and projects presented forged pathways toward new sustainability and technological advancement paradigms. This edition reminded the design world of its capacity to inspire, innovate and adapt, leaving an indelible mark on Milan Design Week.

Keep up with STIR's coverage of Milan Design Week 2025, where we spotlight the most compelling exhibitions, presentations and installations from top studios, designers and brands. Dive into the highlights of Euroluce 2025 and explore all the design districts—Fuorisalone, 5Vie, Brera, Isola, Durini and beyond—alongside the faceted programme of Salone del Mobile.Milano this year.