As Milan design week returns for its first full-scale event since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, we pick this year's must-see shows and installations, from a feminist exhibition to an installation by an Academy Award-nominated director.
A major part of Milan design week is Salone del Mobile, the world's largest and most important furniture fair. It was cancelled in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic while last year a scaled-back version called Supersalone was held.
But this year marks the return of the furniture and lighting fair, which is also celebrating its 60th anniversary, as well as numerous independent design events and exhibitions that will be held all over Milan.
As a result, visitors can expect a packed schedule at this edition of Milan design week, which takes place between 6-12 June.
See Dezeen Events Guide's guide to Milan design week 2022 for details of many of the hundreds of events taking place across the city.
Meanwhile, here's our pick of the crop:
Twenty by Tom Dixon
British designer Tom Dixon is showing his Twenty exhibition at Milan design week, commemorating twenty years since he established his studio.
At the historic Palazzo Serbelloni, Dixon will showcase some of his most recognisable collections, including Mirror Ball and Melt, pictured, which have been upgraded or otherwise altered.
He will also show sculptures made from a new packaging project that the brand is working on, which is made from mycelium.
Palazzo Serbelloni, Sotheby's Milan, Corso Venezia 16
Matter by Norwegian Presence
The Matter by Norwegian Presence exhibition, held in Brera's Galleria Milano, will showcase products from 10 Norwegian design talents as well as projects by the country's manufacturers.
Curated by Oslo creative studio Kråvik and D'Orazio, the exhibition aims to explore how Norway's natural resources, such as wood and stone, have influenced its design identity. It will also show the transition from raw material to finished product in its Material Lab.
Galleria Milano, Via Daniele Manin
Eileen Gray E-1027 Master Bedroom at Milan design week
Furniture brand ClassiCon, which holds licenses for many designs by modernist designers, will exhibit a full-scale walk-in installation of designer Eileen Gray's main bedroom, as designed for her holiday home E-1027.
The project is curated by Gray experts Carolina Leite and Wilfried Wang, and will let visitors experience the room's interplay between materials and colours.
Alcova
Independent design platform Alcova will play host to multiple exhibitors at Milan's Centro Ospedaliero Militare di Milano, an old military hospital, opening up a new never-before-seen area of the complex to the public.
This year, Alcova is launching Curated by Alcova, a new platform for international designers. Visitors to Alcova can also expect more food and drinks experiences this year in the large exhibition space, which spans 20 hectares and covers both the indoors and outdoors.
Tajimi Custom Tiles
Japanese tile brand Tajimi Custom Tiles will launch its first exhibition outside of Japan at this year's Milan design week. The exhibition will feature a brand new large-scale installation in collaboration with designers Ronan and Erwan Boroullec.
Also on show will be sculptural designs by British designer Max Lamb and Korean designer Kwangho Lee.
Gallery Assab One, Via Privata Assab 1
New Times (Made in Slovenia)
The New Times exhibition, created by Centre for Creativity – a platform created to support Slovenia's creative sector – will explore designs that aim to "break with established social habits."
In total, 22 products will be on display, including crockery made from wild urban clay and ocean plastic that has been turned into a terrazzo-like material.
Opificio 31, Officina 1, Via Tortona 31
Misschiefs
Swedish feminist collective Misschiefs will take over the Fabbrica Bini space, a cultural hub in a former factory that has been transformed by founder Gentucca Bini.
Here, fashion designer Bini will showcase 15 uniforms inspired by the 15 women involved in Misschiefs, as well as a conceptual installation of pieces from her fashion archive – including the Pussybag, created to raise funds for victims of domestic violence.
Fabbrica Bini, Viale Giovanni da Cermenate 18
IKEA
Furniture brand IKEA is taking part in Milan design week with its IKEA Festival, which will encompass installations as well as events and entertainment.
The company will show upcoming collections and designs that it is workin on with a number of designers, including Ilse Crawford and Sabine Marcelis. The events will be held at cultural space BASE Milano.
BASE Milano, Via Bergognone 34
Studio Luca Guadagnino
Academy Award-nominated director Luca Guadagnino's interior architecture practice Studio Luca Guadagnino (SLG) will make its public debut in Milan, with an installation called By the Fire.
This will include fireplaces and coffee tables designed by SLG, juxtaposed with design pieces by other brands and a selection of vintage furniture. The installation will take the form of two living rooms informed by mid-century Italian architect Carlo Scarpa.
Spazio RT, Via Fatebenefratelli 34
Design Academy Eindhoven in Milan
Design Academy Eindhoven is celebrating its 75th anniversary in Milan this year, by bringing together original graduation works from the history of the design school.
The exhibition will feature over 150 objects with a "mix of generations, mediums and materials" that showcase the creativity and talent of the school's graduates.
Perpetuum Mobile
Pieces that the late architect Enric Miralles of studio EMBT designed for his own home will be on display at the Perpetuum Mobile exhibition, which is showing at the University of Milan.
Supported by the American Hardwood Export Council, the exhibition comprises recreations of nine furniture pieces and other objects that Miralles designed alongside his partner, Benedetta Tagliabue, for their home. These include sculptural tables and shelving units, as well as stools and benches.
Outside the main auditorium (Aula Magna), Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Festa del Perdono 7
Certosa Initiative
Founded by architects Beyond Space and design platform Organisation in Design, the Certosa Initiative is a new exhibition in Milan that will showcase both emerging talents and global brands.
Set in a 10,000-square-metre industrial building, the Certosa Initiative will display designs including a puffer coat stuffed with single-use face masks and a kinetic-light artwork.
Milan design week 2022
Milan design week 2022 takes place from 6-12 June 2022. See our Milan design week 2022 guide on Dezeen Events Guide for information about the many other exhibitions, installations and talks taking place throughout the week.