12 Visionary Designs from Isola Design Festival at MDW 2025

Isola Design Festival is emerging as one of its most compelling platforms especially during Milan Design Week as it throws light on innovative projects. Known for showcasing independent designers and experimental studios, Isola presents work that redefines craftsmanship, sustainability, and storytelling.

In 2025, Isola continues to push boundaries by curating a roster of designers who intertwine narrative, material innovation, and culture. This year, we spotlight 12 standout designers and studios whose creations at Isola not only reimagine function but elevate emotion and memory.

Totemic Play with Margherita and Sophie: C’EST UN CEST

In the hands of Milan-based duo Margherita and Sophie, traditional weaving becomes an act of playful rebellion. Their project, Tous-Totem, questions practicality in favor of form, color, and irony. Each sculptural piece is handwoven with rattan—a material known for flexibility—into bold, whimsical shapes.

“Tous-Totem is a praise for unique pieces that neither claim any practical utility nor aspire to have it,” they state. Their Tutto-Tondo and Alto-Piano sculptures are visual puns on natural elements, characterized by spherical and undulating layers that evoke a primordial, almost mythic sensibility. These totems are vivid, unapologetically tactile, and deeply rooted in craft traditions.

The material—wicker derived from Asian forest reeds—is both ancient and sustainable. Yet what sets the pieces apart is their emotional undercurrent: “The goal is to shape a vision in manual reality; to return to design the direct experience by means of through, to return to the origins and craftsmanship.” Their work reasserts the importance of slowness and touch in an era of digital speed.

The Bark of Function in ‘Plane Tree Stool’: Dublo Studio

Hailing from Germany, Dublo Studio brings forward a materially conscious and visually elegant response to ecological challenges. Their Plane Tree Stool reimagines fibreboard—a common and often hidden material in furniture—as a visible, celebrated design element.

Inspired by the natural peeling bark of the plane tree, the stool features bark-like graphics or real bark inlays, integrated through CNC milling with precision and repeatability. The result: a form where clean, Japanese-inspired geometry meets the wildness of organic pattern. Their approach addresses sustainability on multiple fronts—material usage, ease of disassembly, and low-impact transport.

When asked about the designer’s experience of being a part of ISOLA, they say, “Being part of the ISOLA community as a designer means joining a global network that values creativity, diversity, and thoughtful design. For us at DUBLO studio, exhibiting within Isola is an opportunity to connect with like-minded creatives from around the world. The group exhibition format fosters new dialogues and collaborations, while the curated mix of objects from designers of different origins creates a vibrant and dynamic tension that enriches the overall experience. It’s a space where our work stands alongside global voices, sparking fresh perspectives and unexpected connections.”

Light becomes a co-designer here. As it dances across the stool’s surface, it creates ever-changing patterns that echo nature’s unpredictability. The project is part of a broader initiative called euca wood, aiming to eliminate harmful substances in everyday objects.

“Being part of the ISOLA community as a designer means joining a global network that values creativity, diversity, and thoughtful design,” they reflect. Their work is a quiet, refined argument for rethinking what constitutes value in design.

A Family Romance in Metal and Thread: Basia Pruszyuska

Polish designer Basia Pruszyuska crafts memory into light with her deeply personal Serwetka Lamp, a fusion of metalwork and embroidery rooted in her family’s legacy. Inspired by her great-grandfather Roman, a blacksmith and carpenter, and great-grandmother Halinka, a textile artist, the lamp brings together aluminum, raw wood, and delicate fabrics in poetic tension.

“I invite the softness and warmth of embroidery into the cold, industrial metal and raw wood,” Basia says. She uses her grandmother’s embroidered doilies as technical drawings, translating the ornate cutwork into minimalist lamp forms. In this design, ribbons replace screws, and metal becomes pliable—a gesture of emotional rather than structural strength.

“By intertwining my great-grandparents’ crafts in a metaphorical ‘romance,’ I sought to explore a new generation of craftsmanship,” she adds. The Serwetka Lamp challenges modern design’s obsession with sleekness, offering instead something tender, ancestral, and deeply intimate.

The Power of Dialogues: Kiadyratovoson / Kr.atelier

Kr.atelier is an Antananarivo based design firm founded by Kiady Ratovoson. His designs combine his Malagasy heritage with global influences gathered while studying in Shanghai and Milan, highlighting natural materials, forms, and artisanal techniques.

The designer showcases the Ary Chair which embodies what “Design is Human” to Kiady.

“It’s a story, a story crafted through human hands, shaped by heritage, and inspired by movement between cultures. Built on the cantilever principle, it stands on just two legs, giving a sense of lightness, and strength, while maintaining ergonomic balance,” he says.

The Ary Chair is an interplay of form, materiality, and cultural storytelling. Handcrafted by Malagasy artisans using locally sourced wood and sisal from Madagascar, it brings together worlds that are rarely connected.

“It fuses my Malagasy heritage with the international identity I’ve developed while studying in Shanghai and Milan. A contemporary object that speaks to a global audience while remaining deeply rooted to my roots and the landscapes it inspired its creation,”

The Ary Chair is a conversation—a dialogue—and a celebration of the intersection between craftsmanship, culture, and innovation. “A reminder of the power of design to tell stories that matter,” emphasises the designer.

A Love for Craftsmanship: Mugen By Sana Alam

Mugen is an Indian design firm by Sana Alam born for a love of Indian craftsmanship.

Through the collection showcased at ISOLA, the designer aimed to express heritage not only through materiality and technique but in spirit—honouring the rhythm, imperfection, and soulful depth that exists both in the natural world and in handmade work.

“Our work for ISOLA 2025 was born from a desire to shape rare natural occurrences into meaningful, everyday objects. With the BARRAQ collection, we drew inspiration from geological phenomena—particularly the raw beauty of volcanic ash plumes and the ethereal forms created by lava-carved clouds. These fleeting, dramatic moments in nature became the foundation for sculpting miniature, almost otherworldly forms that bring a fragment of Earth’s wildness into domestic spaces.”

The collection is, at its core, a meditation on nature’s quiet drama,” says Sana.

The experience at Milan Design Week and ISOLA has been particularly enriching for Sana as a designer to be in the midst of a similar minded tribe.

“It’s a space where experimentation is celebrated, ideas flow freely, and craft—in all its forms—is honoured. There’s something powerful about being surrounded by designers from all corners of the world, each creating from a place of deep curiosity and care,” says Sana.

Tradition as Structure: Nermin Habib

Bahraini artist cum designer Nermin Habib calls herself a cultural nomad exploring the “in-between” through ceramics. With a background in creative strategy and filmmaking, her work blends tradition and innovation, using clay as a vessel for storytelling, memory, and transformation.

Flow is an exploration of form guided by forces beyond the artist’s hand. This contemporary ceramic sculpture, masterfully woven with traditional fibers, challenges the limits of its materials while celebrating the beauty of motion. Each organic curve and fold evoke a sense of flow, blurring the boundaries between the rigid and the fluid. It is a testament to the harmony between past and present, honoring craftsmanship while embracing new expressions.

“I don’t force the clay into shape—I let gravity guide it. As it hangs, it finds its own movement, its own rhythm. My hands just respond, shaping it in conversation with the material. It’s a dance between control and surrender, between what I intend and what the clay wants to be.”

Woven palm fibers—integral to Bahraini craftsmanship—are not just embellishments but structural elements within the piece. Hand-spun with burlap, these fibers provide reinforcement while paying homage to traditional weaving practices, seamlessly blending heritage with contemporary design.

“One of the most unforgettable moments at Milan Design Week was seeing my piece Flow exhibited at Isola and witnessing how people from all over the world connected with it. Being surrounded by such a diverse, creative community—sharing stories, exchanging ideas, and forming new friendships—was incredibly inspiring. Experiencing design across so many disciplines reminded me of the universal language of craft and its power to spark meaningful dialogue and connection,” says Nermin.

The Science of Design: Philipp Aduatz

Austrian based designer Philipp Aduatz creates limited edition functional objects that are highly sculptural in nature. Working with innovative materials and fabrication technologies, Philipp is influenced by scientific matters such as chemistry, physics and material technologies.

The Sinking Chair that was displayed at ISOLA was inspired by the psychological tension of Kubrick’s, according to the designer.

“The shining chair explores how design can reflect the weight of memory and emotion. Its clean, architectural form contrasts with a vivid red resin base, suggesting something slowly being submerged—caught between presence and disappearance,” he says, “The piece invites reflection on how past experiences shape our present, subtly touching on themes of fragility, resilience, and the role of design in navigating complex human stories. It also responds to the quiet return of authoritarian thinking, reminding us of design’s power to provoke awareness and empathy.”

Echoing the other designers, Philipp is equally thrilled to be at ISOLA surrounded by a pool of very talented designers, “I’ve always loved the Isola district of Milan—the atmosphere is relaxed, authentic, and full of creative energy. The people I’ve met through the ISOLA community strike me as down-to-earth, passionate, and genuinely engaged with design. The projects are thoughtfully curated by the ISOLA team, which gives the whole platform a strong sense of purpose and quality.”

“As a designer who’s been in the field for a while, I really value the opportunity to collaborate with and be inspired by younger creatives—both within the ISOLA team and among the other exhibitors. There’s a refreshing energy and openness to new ideas that makes the experience incredibly rewarding. ISOLA feels like a vital part of Milan Design Week because of its eclectic, international spirit and its commitment to pushing boundaries in an inclusive and meaningful way.”

Stories of Greek Mythology: Phèdre Barbas

Phèdre Barbas is a French-Greek artist and designer whose installations explore the role of aesthetics in shaping collective imaginaries. With a practice of mixing metalworking, textile, image collection, and writing, her work is formed upon a constant dialogue between storytelling and making.

 “My project was inspired by the Hecantoncheires. These creatures of the Greek mythology are the giants with a hundred hands and 50 heads. Working with scrap pieces of steel and copper tubes, adding them together, this creature emerged from the material, the cold aspect of the steel balancing the warmth of the copper tubes, reminding me of the tension of the giants: they are the builders of the residency of the gods of Mount Olympus, and the keepers of hell. The chair is therefore the result of a controlled but instinctive approach to found scrap materials,” she explains.

A Game to Move Forward: Maria Yared

Lebanese designer Maria Yared has dipped into the culture of the land to come up with a game that invites the players to move forward, much like the ethos of the people from Lebanon who are constantly stuck down by violence.

A game and a collector’s piece, the chess set by Maria Yared is called Shataranj, and it is inspired by the duality of light and shadow.

“It was designed in Lebanon’s tumultuous context, where patience is relearnt through life’s simple pleasures, reminding us that sometimes beauty emerges from chaos. It invites us to move forward.

“The set is also a tribute to craftsmanship as it was handcrafted, in a numbered edition of 11, by a Lebanese father-and-son duo of master woodworkers. The set of pawns are crafted from solid beech wood and are then tinted with a water-based paint, while the checkerboard and the packaging box are made of solid oak wood,” says Maria.

Maria shares the excitement of being surrounded by design at the Milan Design Week and says, “During the exhibition, I met so many designers and members of the Isola team who share the same leitmotif: to make some room again for humans, craftsmanship, small scale production and sustainability in the international design scene. As this sums up my ethos, being part of Isola’s community is not only a plus professionally, but above all socially enriching and therefore a source of joy and pride!”

 “Between a panel talk I participated in with fellow designers and the visits to magnificent exhibitions, it’s hard to choose the most unforgetful moments during the MDW, perhaps it’s seeing two people playing chess with Shataranj or the moments I accorded myself to wander around town, soaking up Milan’s light and architecture,” she adds.

With Love from Armenia: Studio Shoo

Armenia designer Studio Shoo has created a Pencil Cabinet whose inspiration is from Armenia’s iconic tuff stone, which gives Yerevan its distinctive pink hue and character. Tuff isn’t just a building material – it’s part of the city’s visual language and emotional landscape. It holds memories, stories, and the everyday creativity of locals who often use its surface as a canvas, sketching with chalk, leaving flowers, suns, and names behind.

“With the TUFF Pencil Cabinet, I wanted to translate that sense of warmth, playfulness, and creative spontaneity into a functional object. It’s a tribute to the spirit of Yerevan – a city where art and life blend effortlessly,” says the designer.

“Being part of the ISOLA community means being surrounded by a network of designers who celebrate culture, craft, and storytelling through design. It’s a space where thoughtful, intentional work is appreciated – and that’s incredibly empowering. For me, presenting the TUFF Pencil Cabinet here is more than showcasing a product; it’s about sharing a piece of Armenia’s identity and inviting others into that story,” she says.

The experience of people interacting with the product is an all-time high for the designer while she agrees that “Milan Design Week is a celebration of ideas, but it’s also full of warmth and beauty.”

 From Earth to Earth: Tom Schoonhoven

Tom Schoonhoven, a Dutch artist from Eindhoven, designs objects and tools that embody both function and spirit.

Inspired by history and traditional crafts, he focuses on the making process, aiming to encourage a slower, intentional lifestyle where tools are cherished as part of our shared history.

“My work is inspired by material research and finding a handcrafted solution to use the rough material in a soft and delicate lighting object,” he says.

Tube Lamp is a sculptural lighting piece crafted using the rammed earth technique. This ancient method compresses layers of soil into a solid, stone-like structure, preserving the raw essence of the earth.  Tom tells the story of using a widely available material; earth, in a way that it can be applied in every home. “The way the lamp is made in a wooden mold also gives it a personal feeling rather than industrial, it wears down after each use,” explains the designer.

Formed within a meticulously hand-carved wooden mold, the lamp’s smooth, organic silhouette stands in striking contrast to its rugged, textural materiality. This duality reflects Tom’s deep exploration of materiality—honouring tradition while pushing its application in innovative way.

A Green Wall: Arkitettoria

Arkitettoria is a design label based in Lindau on Lake Constance by two designers Federico Gianni and Tanja Foretic committed to preserving and promoting Europe’s rich craftsmanship heritage, using innovative language to produce limited-edition design and architectural objects.

About their latest product which was arrived at when they thought about the future of architecture and how everyday habits change and asked themselves whether furniture should change too?

“With this in mind, we designed the Continua bookcase, a modular system that adapts to any space. However, in the face of increasing digitalisation, a bookcase is already running out of books to hold, so we turned it into a green wall! We put some plant pots on it and connected them with low-tech irrigation pipes. The system is almost invisible because it is integrated into the structure,” they explain.

Together, these twelve designers highlight the breadth of voices and ideas that define Isola Design Festival. From sensory mirages and playful weaves to sustainable reinventions and intergenerational homage, their works reflect a shared desire to restore soul and story into the objects we live with. In a world saturated with design for design’s sake, these creators remind us: the most powerful designs are those that make us feel, remember, and imagine.