During Milano Design Week, one continuously shifts from one scale to another: from the expansive exhibition halls of the Fiera to the intimate showrooms of Brera, from the precision of industrial design to the unique mark of handcrafted work. In 2026, Vicode's journey unfolded precisely between these two extremes.
We didn't conceive of objects as isolated display items. We placed them within already highly characterized environments, observing how different shapes, surfaces, and origins could alter the perception of space.
Two contexts, one shared quest
The Living Divani stand and the Ditre showroom represented two different situations. At the Fiera, objects were part of a rigorous design, constructed through controlled geometries, proportions, and surfaces. In Brera, however, the dialogue was freer and more domestic, open to incorporating pieces found during our travels.
In both cases, the starting point remained the same: to understand how a handcrafted object can inhabit a contemporary interior without losing its identity.
Material doesn't necessarily have to dominate a room. Sometimes, an irregular surface, an unexpected shape, or a slight variation in color is enough to change its balance.
The rigor of the Living Divani stand
At Pavilion 11, the space of Living Divani was defined by an essential language: sharp volumes, refined materials, and a composition in which even empty spaces played a precise role.
Inserting Vicode's selections into this context required restraint. The objects should not interrupt the stand's architecture but introduce variations capable of making it feel more lived-in.
A hand-modeled ceramic, placed next to a perfectly designed surface, creates a contrast that is almost imperceptible yet significant. The precision of the furniture highlights the irregularity of the object; at the same time, the handcrafted material softens the overall rigor.
The void
Objects were placed with ample space, avoiding overlaps and overly decorative compositions.
Proportion
Each piece was chosen considering its relationship with tables, seating, perspectives, and viewing distances.
Contrast
The manual surface of the ceramics introduced a material variation within an environment defined by design precision.
From Bisbal d’Empordà to via Solferino
Leaving the Fiera, the journey continued into the heart of Brera, at the Ditre Italia showroom on via Solferino. Here, we also presented some objects encountered during a research trip to La Bisbal d’Empordà, in Catalonia.
The Catalan city boasts a long tradition linked to ceramics. In the workshops and studios, we sought pieces capable of telling the story of that region without becoming mere souvenirs: objects with small irregularities, colors difficult to replicate, and shapes born from precise but not mass-produced processes.
Placed alongside Ditre’s contemporary furnishings, these objects created a freer ensemble compared to the Fiera. The envisioned home in the showroom could accommodate diverse origins, without the need to unify them.
Blue Terracotta Sculpture
A sculptural form with deep reflections, chosen for its balance between volume, color, and manual craftsmanship.
Malles Ceramic
A dark surface, marked by fire and hand-modeling, capable of creating a strong contrast with contemporary furnishings.
Traditional Botijo
An object belonging to Spanish daily culture, observed not as a folkloric element but as a form still relevant today.
From travel to installation
Vicode’s research often starts from a direct encounter: a visited workshop, a technique observed up close, or an object discovered off the beaten path.
The next step involves understanding how that form can be integrated into a project without losing its connection to its origin. Not everything we find during a journey is selected. We look for pieces capable of maintaining their character even when moved to a completely different environment.
Milano Design Week allowed us to verify this principle in two opposite contexts: the precision of the exhibition stand and the more domestic atmosphere of a showroom in the city center.
In both cases, the ceramics were not treated as final accessories. They contributed to the construction of the environment through material, color, volume, and origin.
What we take away from the Salone
A Design Week doesn't end with the dismantling of the stands. The observed combinations, conversations with designers and companies, and new possibilities imagined for objects remain.
The selections presented in Milan become part of the work that Vicode develops with architects, interior designers, and showrooms: scouting for pieces, personalized compositions, and research for objects capable of completing a project without making it predictable.
Our goal is not to fill a space, but to identify what can make it distinctive.
