FROM MILAN TO OSAKA: SALONESATELLITE’S TIMELESS VISION TAKES THE GLOBAL STAGE

Images courtesy of Salone del Mobile.Milano

7 to 20 September 2025: SaloneSatellite’s Permanent Collection 1998–2025 at the Italy Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka

This September, the spirit of Salone del Mobile.Milano travels east—bringing with it a legacy of innovation, collaboration, and design excellence. From 7 to 20 September 2025, the SaloneSatellite Permanent Collection 1998–2025 will be presented as a special guest at the Italy Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka. The exhibition marks a pivotal moment in the global narrative of design, where emerging visionaries meet masterful makers.

A Creative Chronicle, 26 Years in the Making
Born in 1998 as a platform for designers under 35, SaloneSatellite has since evolved into a crucible of global talent—many of whom have shaped contemporary design as we know it. This upcoming showcase features 47 standout projects that began as prototypes at SaloneSatellite and were later brought to life by Italian manufacturers. The collection stands as a living archive of design evolution: a genealogy of ideas transformed into objects, where each piece reflects shared values of sustainability, accessibility, material intelligence, and form.

These aren’t just objects—they are stories of dialogue. Each design exemplifies the chemistry between young international minds and Italy’s unparalleled production landscape.

For Maria Porro, President of the Salone del Mobile.Milano, this debut in Osaka is more than geographic expansion—it’s cultural resonance. “Osaka represents a strategic destination: the beginning of a new international chapter, where we bring the story of design as dialogue—between cultures, between generations—to one of the most design-sensitive regions in the world.”

Presented by Magran Living

Japan and Italy share a rare affinity for beauty grounded in simplicity, form, and function. This connection has manifested in decades of mutual admiration: from Carlo Scarpa’s poetic interpretations of Japanese aesthetics to Tadao Ando and Shigeru Ban drawing inspiration from Italian architectural philosophies. Today, this legacy is continued by contemporary Japanese designers like Oki Sato (Nendo), Nao Tamura, and Takahide Sano—all of whom found a launchpad at SaloneSatellite and continue to collaborate with Italy’s finest producers.

A Cultural Bridge, Designed for the Future
As Ambassador Mario Vattani, Commissioner General for Italy at Expo 2025 Osaka, affirms: “Bringing the SaloneSatellite Permanent Collection to Expo 2025 allows us to showcase not only Italian excellence but also the diverse global voices that contribute to its vitality. Japan, with its ability to anticipate and embrace design, offers the ideal stage.”

Included in this Osaka edition are works by prominent Japanese designers—Nendo, Makoto Kawamoto, Yuri Himuro—further underscoring the shared design language that transcends borders.

Today, the SaloneSatellite Permanent Collection boasts over 400 designs, each a testament to Salone’s enduring commitment to mentorship, experimentation, and cultural exchange. Its arrival at Expo 2025 is not just a retrospective; it’s a manifesto for design as a catalyst for global connection.

Curated by Marva Griffin Wilshire, founder and curator of the event, the exhibition is a concrete tribute to the fertile alliance between young talent and Italian companies and perfectly interprets the theme of Expo 2025 Osaka: Designing Future Societies for our Lives.

From the halls of Milan to the heart of Osaka, the conversation continues—fluid, inspired, and deeply human.