Salone del Mobile: Innovation Is the Key to Success
By Astrid Helene Seier Ellemo
How does Salone del Mobile manage year after year to attract thousands of design enthusiasts from around the world? The answer is constant development, global collaborations, and uncompromising standards, says President Maria Porro.
Salone del Mobile in Milan is the global meeting point for furniture and interior design, as well as the biennials for kitchens and lighting. No other furniture fair in the world attracts as many visitors, year after year, making it natural to ask the fair’s President, Maria Porro, how they tirelessly stay ahead of the curve.
“We simply do not compromise on even the smallest details. We stand by our core value that design must be functional. It’s not enough for a product to be aesthetic. We also need to understand what lies behind the product — and not least its lifespan,” says Maria Porro, who, upon taking office five years ago, faced many complaints when she removed the red carpets as part of a move toward greater sustainability.
The red carpets had traditionally covered all the walkways in the exhibition center, but the tradition had to give way in order to meet new standards in the design industry. Since 2021, Salone del Mobile has earned a sustainability certificate, something Maria Porro is particularly proud of.
“The development our furniture fair has undergone over the past five years is very important, as we continuously strive to improve everything we do. This applies across the board - certifications are only one part of it. We work only with the best - whether they are employees, exhibitors, or very young and unknown talents,” explains Maria Porro, who, since childhood, accompanied both her father and grandfather to work at the exhibition center through the family business Porro S.p.A.
Trendsetting Laboratory
Maria Porro’s lifelong experience with Salone del Mobile makes her eager “to give something back”, and she is proud of, how the fair consistently acts as a trendsetting and curated laboratory for innovation — from design and materials to the use of AI and robotics.
Maria Porro
“Our starting point is the global context, and of course we are also influenced by the turbulent world situation. We stay relevant as a global meeting place by, for example, this year unveiling next year’s project, Salone Contract 2027, but also by traveling around the world to meet the industry,” says Maria Porro, continuing:
“We have entrusted the masterplan to Rem Koolhaas and David Gianotten from OMA, and it will shed light on themes related to the changing ecosystem of the furniture industry. We are also working on enhancing the visitor experience, integrated resource consumption, and strengthening the B2B network.”
Another major piece of news is Salone Raritas, a new platform for vintage design, with Formafantasma responsible for the exhibition design.
“We encourage everyone to ‘get lost’ in the many small new paths in the pavilions, which are filled with rare designs with a truly unique identity. Well-designed furniture gains more and more value year after year — they age gracefully, and their durability is proven by the fact that many were first presented at Salone del Mobile 60 years ago,” concludes Maria Porro, who is looking forward to the 64th edition of the fair, whose stands are already fully sold out.
