A Mirror in Milan: Design Week Debut

Earlier this April, I had the opportunity to exhibit internationally for the first time, joining a group of emerging designers at the Isola Design Gallery, one of several exhibitions curated under Isola Design Festival, held during Milan Design Week 2025.

Housed in the industrial-chic Basic Village in the heart of the Isola District, the gallery brought together an eclectic mix of young designers from around the world, all responding to the theme “Design is Human.” The result was a collective showcase that felt warm, diverse, and genuinely human, not just in content, but in atmosphere.

Getting to Milan turned out to be a little more eventful than expected; the kind of misadventures that remind you design weeks are shaped as much by what happens outside the venue as inside. Because of visa regulations, I first had to route through the Netherlands, where I stayed a night with my sister before continuing on to Italy. During a subway transfer, my mirror bag got stuck in a turnstile. For a brief moment, I was sure the piece had shattered before it ever saw an audience. Thankfully, it hadn't.

On the opening day, I slipped on the stairs of metro and sprained my ankle. My sister, who had joined me by then, stepped in as a part-time nurse, helping with ice packs and a pharmacy run. And just when I thought I’d checked off my bad luck quota, I dropped my phone into a toilet. Thankfully, Apple’s waterproofing held up. (Not an ad.)

None of it derailed the experience; if anything, it made the week feel even more alive. A little chaotic, yes, but that somehow made it all the more memorable.

I exhibited a piece from my Baggage Claim Mirrors series called Baggage Claim-M, chosen for its compact size and strong presence. (Details are on the product page.) Though I brought just one mirror physically, I designed an accordion-style brochure to share the full series along with previews of my upcoming striped poufs, armchair, and sofa. It was my way of showing where I am now, and where I’m heading.

The curation was casual yet thoughtful. My mirror was styled atop a beautiful wooden bench by another designer Nickholas Alexander; a gesture that subtly represented the exhibition’s spirit of collaboration and contrast. Many objects were shown as standalones, yet the occasional pairing added a nice rhythm to the space, showing how different voices can speak in harmony.

From day one, the venue was busy, a good kind of busy. Designers, students, professionals, and curious passersby filled the space in a steady stream. One of the things that struck me most was how kind and curious everyone was. Each participant had poured care into their work, and conversations flowed freely, not only about design but about everything in between.

It was a notably international community. Many of us were exhibiting for the first time, while a few had returned after previous editions and shared a similar sentiment: the Isola experience is defined by openness and friendliness. There were workshops, talks during the day and DJ sets every evening, which made connecting with both visitors and fellow designers feel easy and natural.

Despite my best-laid plans to explore more of Milan Design Week, my sprained ankle limited how far I could wander. Still, I managed to catch a handful of installations, and they didn’t disappoint.

Google’s Making the Invisible Visible offered a beautifully atmospheric take on digital presence and interaction, while ALCHEMICA, designed by Patricia Urquiola for Elle Decor, explored the home as a fluid, ever-evolving system shaped by life’s rhythms and transitions. Grohe’s Aqua Gallery and Loewe’s sculptural teapot collection each delivered sensory experiences in very different registers; one immersive and fluid, the other intimate and precise. Hermès impressed with a monumental installation that felt almost like stepping into a cathedral.

One of the moments I was most excited for was Es Devlin’s Rotating Library. She’s long been one of my favorite designers, and seeing the structure being built in the early days of the week felt surreal. But as the installation opened, the line to get in grew impossibly long, and for a while, I thought I might miss it entirely. On the very last day, during a careless walk through Brera, I got lucky; the queue had vanished, and I finally made it in. It was quiet, atmospheric, and everything I’d hoped for.

However, the highlight for me was Capsule Plaza at Spazio Maiocchi, a collective exhibition that blended contemporary design and culture in a way that felt both thoughtful and vibrant. The listening session in the space by Friendly Pressure and Stone Island, created an atmosphere unlike anything else I experienced that week: mellow yet electric, with music, people, and space in perfect sync. It wasn’t just a showcase, it was a mood. One that lingered well after I’d left.

I didn’t get to see everything I hoped to, but what I did manage to catch reminded me why Milan remains the beating heart of the design world. Even when you’re limping through it.

If I were to sum it up in one line: I’m so glad I did it. Exhibiting abroad was a big step, and it gave me the courage to think bigger for what’s next. I’d love to show a more complete selection of my work in the future; and to do so within a more professional, curated setting where I can meet experienced curators, established designers, and potential collaborators or clients who align with the long-term vision of my practice.

Isola was the right place to begin and from here, it’s exciting to keep evolving.

*All photographs and videos featured in this article were captured by the author unless a specific image states otherwise.