Chinese design glitters in Milan

China took center stage at Italy's prestigious International Milan Furniture Fair and Design Week (Salone Del Mobile), now in its 62nd edition.

Marco Sabetta is the event's General Manager and told CGTN Europe the event saw record crowds. "We think we will have (had) over 300,000 visitors these days coming from 180 different countries," said Sabetta.

‌The Satellite Salone is dedicated to young designers and seen by some as the event's jewel in the crown. Leyun Cai is among dozens of students from Tongji University's Shanghai International College of Design and Innovation who are participating.

‌They designed a multi-media spacecraft for their project titled 'Fly Me to the Moon.'

Leyun described Salone Del Mobile as a unique event, "a really good opportunity for us for the exchange of culture and ideas".

Liu Yu is a student from the Academy of Arts and Design at Tsinghua University and said the fair is an opportunity to show the world original Chinese works.

His designs explore the intersection between tradition and innovation, "like my bookshelf, it can fit in the modern room, but it reflects unique oriental feelings."

Sabetta believes China is gaining increasing international recognition as a design hub.‌ "There are a lot of important design schools in China, so we are happy to have them here for the Salone Satellite," he said.

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It's not only at the fair where Italian and international designers are showcasing their work but also on the streets of Milan, with events, exhibitions, and installations across the city.‌

The 'Zona Sarpi' is the Chinese hub for Milan Design Week and is where renowned architect Ma Yansong unveiled his new chair for Italian company Boloni.

‌Ma Yansong says design is a dialogue. "You can use design to communicate, between different nations, different cultures and between the designers and users. For example, my chair, which is inspired by nature, invites the user to sit in various positions and to reflect," said Ma.

Vittorio Sun Qun is the Founder of the Zona Sarpi Project at Milan Design Week and is astounded by the participation of Chinese institutions and companies. He said: "We have 13 cities, 7 universities, and 63 brands that have joined our exhibition."

Michele Brunello is the Artistic Director of the Zona Sarpi Project and praised the "incredible boost of energy, curiosity, relations" at the event. Brunello added: "What is more important is that we create the platform to exchange with the local community of Milan design."

Milan Design Week officially finished on Sunday but organizers say their work with the Chinese community will continue.

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