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Collection by Kelsey Keith

Best Booth Designs at Salone 2013

As you may have noticed, Dwell is in Milan this week to scout for new furniture, accessories, and lighting at the Salone Internazionale del Mobile and the various satellite fairs around town. It's a veritable circus of design: Last year, over 330,000 visitors ascended on the fairground at Rho, and the experience comprises way more than a sofa here or lamp there. Companies spend years developing the products and prototypes they unveil in Milan, and just as much thought goes into the exhibition design. Designers like Luca Nicchetto (remember that name; you'll be hearing it a lot more!) and Konstantin Grcic introduce a handful of products each year, and booths to boot. Take a look at some of our favorites.

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Arper's pale wood and translucent scrim arrangement was designed by the company's branding agency, the New York graphic design firm 2x4.
Arper's pale wood and translucent scrim arrangement was designed by the company's branding agency, the New York graphic design firm 2x4.
Luca Nicchetto's booth design for FontanaArte: The exterior shell is plastic, embossed with lamp silhouettes, while the interior is a connected series of brightly colored rooms, one hue for each of the company's new lighting introductions.
Luca Nicchetto's booth design for FontanaArte: The exterior shell is plastic, embossed with lamp silhouettes, while the interior is a connected series of brightly colored rooms, one hue for each of the company's new lighting introductions.
Michael Anastassiades booth in Euroluce. Sadly none of our photos do the wooden jewel box justice, but believe when we say the brass fixtures set off by the warm wood cladding was a joy to see.
Michael Anastassiades booth in Euroluce. Sadly none of our photos do the wooden jewel box justice, but believe when we say the brass fixtures set off by the warm wood cladding was a joy to see.
A massive, neon green Cat's Cradle in the Lasvit booth sets off the blown glass lighting to spectacular effect.
A massive, neon green Cat's Cradle in the Lasvit booth sets off the blown glass lighting to spectacular effect.
Casamania was another color-themed booth; this one is less about the surrounding architecture than the arrangement of objects within a space. What can we say, we're suckers for color blocking. (See more via Dwell's Vine.)
Casamania was another color-themed booth; this one is less about the surrounding architecture than the arrangement of objects within a space. What can we say, we're suckers for color blocking. (See more via Dwell's Vine.)
Flos was a major attraction at Euroluce. It can be hard to arrange lighting in a way that's easy to capture in a snapshot, but from dramatic pendant lamps (left) to architectural installations (right), Flos knocks it out of the park.
Flos was a major attraction at Euroluce. It can be hard to arrange lighting in a way that's easy to capture in a snapshot, but from dramatic pendant lamps (left) to architectural installations (right), Flos knocks it out of the park.
Vecchetti's exuberantly colored plastic sheeting (and upholstery to match) was a bright pick-me-up at the end of a long day.
Vecchetti's exuberantly colored plastic sheeting (and upholstery to match) was a bright pick-me-up at the end of a long day.
Bonus round: Though we weren't crazy about any of the individual lighting on display in this booth, points for the bold Monopoly theme!
Bonus round: Though we weren't crazy about any of the individual lighting on display in this booth, points for the bold Monopoly theme!
Bonus round two: Fritz Hansen's showroom in Brera is showing the new Ro chair by Spanish designer Jaime Hayon. In addition to the nine regular upholstery options available for the bergère-style armchair, Hayon designed custom versions that represent cities around the world, from Copenhagen to Paris. Those are installed on mirrored platforms to show both the construction of the underside of the chair (impeccable, of course) and a cityscape photo hung from the ceiling.
Bonus round two: Fritz Hansen's showroom in Brera is showing the new Ro chair by Spanish designer Jaime Hayon. In addition to the nine regular upholstery options available for the bergère-style armchair, Hayon designed custom versions that represent cities around the world, from Copenhagen to Paris. Those are installed on mirrored platforms to show both the construction of the underside of the chair (impeccable, of course) and a cityscape photo hung from the ceiling.