May 29, 2026

Words: Mairi Beautyman

The Smartest Designs Spotted At Milan Design Week 2026

What is smart design? We think the definition goes far beyond digital technology. At Milan Design Week 2026, we saw objects that can adapt, multitask, and quietly improve everyday life through thoughtful engineering and human-centered thinking. From robots designed to assist with household chores to hydroponic growing systems and spa rituals reimagined for the home, these projects demonstrate how innovation today is increasingly measured not only by novelty, but by usefulness, flexibility, and a smarter way of living.

Don’t miss all our 2026 Milan Design Week highlights, from SaloneSatellite to Alcova and more.

Smart Design Takes The Spotlight In Milan

NEO by 1X

  • A humanoid figure in a beige suit presses the lever on a white SMEG toaster with two slices of toast, standing at a wooden counter in front of a wood-paneled wall.
    Photography courtesy of SMEG.
  • A humanoid figure holding three white SMEG kitchen appliances in front of a wooden wall.
    Photography courtesy of SMEG.
  • A humanoid figure in a beige bodysuit vacuuming the floor with an orange and white vacuum cleaner against a plain gray background.
    Photography courtesy of 1X.
  • A side view of a humanoid robot with a textured, fabric-like surface, round black eyes, and a circular detail on the side of its head, against a plain gray background.
    Photography courtesy of 1X.

“Life’s too short to vacuum” is the playful premise behind NEO, a consumer-ready humanoid robot, developed by U.S.-based AI and robotics company 1X, that aims to revolutionize modern living. Designed to assist with everyday household tasks, the 66-pound, five-foot-six robot demonstrated its remarkably lifelike movements live at SMEG’s booth during Eurocucina, Salone del Mobile’s kitchen-focused exhibition. Operating at a sound level comparable to a refrigerator, NEO offered a glimpse into a future where domestic labor may increasingly be delegated to intelligent machines.

Anamon by Kris Van Puyvelde

  • Four modern floor lamps, three white and one black, stand upright on a smooth surface with a blue gradient background and soft shadows.
    Photography courtesy of Anamon.
  • A black patio umbrella with a round base stands on a smooth floor, casting a shadow on a plain white wall behind it.
    Photography courtesy of Anamon.
  • A closed beige umbrella stands upright next to a similar pole without an umbrella, both against a plain, neutral background.
    Photography courtesy of Anamon.

Inspired by coral-dwelling sea life observed during a scuba-diving trip, Anamon transforms from parasol into a sculptural lamp—greeting day and night in one fluid motion. Just like tube-dwelling anemones, the wireless, battery-operated parasol gracefully unfolds, and two outdoor needs—lighting and shade—are solved with the turn of a handle.

Eames Pavilion System by Charles and Ray Eames for Kettal

  • A modern, box-shaped structure with glass walls and geometric colored panels sits in a spacious, well-lit gallery with photos on the walls and a few chairs arranged nearby.
    Photography by Salva López.
  • Modern loft interior with wooden walls, a black metal staircase, glass-paneled upper level, and minimal furniture including a white chair, lounge seat, and indoor plants.
    Photography by Salva López.
  • Modern interior featuring a glass-walled structure with black metal frames, two yellow chairs, indoor plants, and a large mural of trees on the wall behind.
    Photography by Salva López.
  • Exhibition space with modern geometric art installations featuring large orange and black circles and an enclosed area with transparent walls, on a wooden floor with black stanchions.
    Photography by Salva López.

Could the dream of elegant, civilized prefab living be just an Eames house away? If you’ve ever admired the welcoming, minimalist living spaces crafted by Charles and Ray Eames, well now they’re within reach. Presented by Spanish manufacturer Kettal in partnership with the Eames Office, the Eames Pavilion System is a prefabricated home kit at a moderate price point that can be built with ease around the globe. Developed from prototypes from the Eames archives, the adaptable steel-framed structure reimagines the forward-thinking architectural vision the design couple explored with their iconic houses built in the 1940s and ’50s—and underscores just how ahead of their time these designers were. During Milan Design Week, the project was the focus of an 8,600-square-foot exhibition at the art and design museum Triennale Milano.

Rituale del Vapore from Gessi

  • A modern ceiling shower fixture with bronze and black accents, emitting water and steam simultaneously against a brown background.
    Photography courtesy of Gessi.
  • A woman with her back to the camera stands under a circular ceiling device emitting steam or mist, with her arms raised and touching her shoulders.
    Photography courtesy of Gessi.

Pushing the boundaries of convenient self-care, Rituale del Vapore from Gessi offers a spa-style steam experience in the comfort of your own home. Combining steam with colored light and aromatherapy, the Italian bathroom manufacturer’s innovative therapeutic system gently sends steam from above down to cover the entire body for a bathing ritual that goes beyond cleansing to muscle relaxation, clearing pores, and opening airways.

What Grows Between by Crafting Plastics

  • 3D-printed white plant structures with various green plants growing in them are set outdoors in a grassy area with trees in the background.
    Photography by Clemens Photography.
  • A close-up of a white modular vertical planter with pockets holding soil and growing herbs and leafy green plants outdoors.
    Photography by Clemens Photography.
  • Several white, abstract sculptural forms stand upright in tall grass in front of large evergreen trees and a stone wall.
    Photography by Clemens Photography.

An ingenious soil-free hydroponic system lies at the heart of “What Grows Between” by Crafting Plastics. Spotted at contemporary design platform Alcova, the modular plant towers are constructed from pH-responsive bioplastic that visually indicates through color shifts when growing conditions become suboptimal for the plants nestled inside. Nourished through a closed-loop, adaptable system using circulating water and an integrated nutrient system, the installation proposes a more sustainable and responsive approach to urban cultivation.

Olympia by Rouge Absolu for Tréca Paris

A neatly made bed with a patterned headboard, two bedside tables with lamps, large windows with sheer curtains, and a beige armchair in a bright, elegant bedroom.
Photography courtesy of Tréca Paris.

Sometimes a bedroom needs to adapt. Géraldine Prieur, founder of interior design studio Rouge Absolu, found her clients asking for a more flexible solution for those moments when two beds work better than one—yet nothing on the market allowed for an effortless transition. So she designed her own. With one smooth motion, the Olympia bed for Tréca Paris glides from a single to a double configuration without disrupting plugs, lighting, or the room itself. A simple wheel lock completes the transformation.

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