At Milan Design Week 2025, Czech Design Was Not Afraid to Shine

Milan vibrated differently this April – it hosted one of the world’s largest design showcases.

Milan Design Week, held this year from April 8 to Sunday, April 13, offered an exclusive glimpse into visions aimed at changing the world. At exhibitions where the history of beauty was being rewritten, Czech designers proved that they not only have something to offer but also something to surprise with. Young creators and established visionaries alike presented work oscillating between craftsmanship, ecological awareness, and poetic form.

The Rho exhibition grounds in Milan became a place where global design met new faces, showcasing what modern interpretations of beauty look like. This is also where the Salone del Mobile, the main furniture and interior design fair, takes place annually. This time, however, we focused on other locations. In addition to international applause at the prestigious SaloneSatellite – a yearly exhibition of talents under 35 – we also visited the Rossana Orlandi exhibition. This renowned gallerist annually curates the best of both established and emerging designers – and Czech names were present once again.

Jiří Krejčiřík – Design as Philosophy

Jiří Krejčiřík is not just a designer. He’s a creator whose work, always original and uncompromising, acts as a bridge between philosophy and functionality. He draws from classical antiquity but with an eye toward the future. At this year’s SaloneSatellite in Milan, he presented the Kalokagathos collection, which goes beyond form to explore deeper reflections on aesthetics and the meaning of everyday life. His table, perfect in its proportions, balances robustness and elegance, with each piece telling a story about the human desire for harmony and beauty.

Studio Karlen – Design That Touches the Body and the Conscience

Petra Mlejnková and her Brno-based Studio Karlen embody the new wave of Czech design – playful, conscious, and deeply sensory. At SaloneSatellite, her collection showed that functionality doesn’t have to be boring. The Esteban chair conceals small massage beads made from memory foam within the upholstery, turning rest into therapy. The Pierluigi bedside table combines beauty with sustainability – made from concrete containing 100% recycled construction and demolition waste. Her Yolanda lamp, crafted from a single piece of bent metal, resembles an elegant sculpture in motion. And the Oskar mirror with an integrated shelf? Subtle mastery, where form meets the everyday.

David Valner – Glass as Urban Poetry

At Rossana Orlandi’s gallery, synonymous with refined taste and a radar for future design trends, David Valner presented his new collection. His Urban Eclectic vases (photo right) resemble micro-architecture of a metropolis – organic yet precise. Textures, color gradients, monumental form – Valner’s objects tell a story of urban landscapes, their restless beauty, and ever-changing nature. In his hands, glass becomes a language. Each piece is a manifesto of life between concrete and dreams.

Václav Mlynář – When Furniture Breathes

For Václav Mlynář, design is a fusion of geometry and elegance. His Trio table is a fascinating composition that gives the impression that furniture is not just a static object but a living entity in space. The table comes in three variants, ranging from a compact monolith to a large banquet table – each demonstrating a different aspect of this "tool" that elevates the everyday into an exceptional experience. Also featured were his ODYSSEY light objects, a limited edition of four pieces created exclusively for the gallery last year.

Hana Vopravilová – Poetry in Recycling

Her Leftovers collection is a gentle revolt. Hana Vopravilová recycles overlooked materials and gives them new dignity. Glass containers that would otherwise end up in the landfill are transformed into objects of beauty and contemplation. Her design is quiet but powerful. It’s not just about aesthetics – it’s about responsibility and rediscovering value.

Hana Hillerová – Spring in Glass

Sculptor Hana Hillerová, until recently living in Houston, brought her collection The Riot of Spring to Milan – an explosive celebration of natural forces. Her vases flow like molten streams, organic forms filled with light and life. Her works feel like glass symphonies – strong, spontaneous, and profoundly feminine.

Maxim Velčovský – Trophies

The Triumph of Trophies – that was the title of Maxim Velčovský’s exhibition, and it was exactly what it promised. Symbols of recognition became symbols of questions. What do we reward today? And why? Velčovský, with humor and seriousness, deconstructed the culture of victory. His design is conceptual but also tangible.

Lasvit and Czech Design

The Czech brand Lasvit stood out at this year’s Milan Design Week with an exhibition that connected glass, light, and human well-being. Installations like Splash by designer Martin Gallo or hailstorm-inspired glass lighting by Jan Plecháč showed how Czech design can create not only beautiful but also deeply meaningful artistic expressions. Also included was Loomo, a lamp by Maxim Velčovský, seamlessly complementing design styles from modern minimalism to eclectic elegance, casting a soft ambient glow.

Clay House – UMPRUM

Also featured in Milan was the Clay House project by students of UMPRUM, which introduced a revolutionary perspective on ceramics and its use in architecture. This installation was not only a fascinating artwork but also a space for reflection on material and its relationship to living environments.

Milan Design Week 2025 once again showed us that Czech design is not just a trend – it is an art form that speaks to the world.

Photos: brand archives