Milano Design Week 2025 – Report Vol.2

April 6: Opening Day!
The first day kicked off with a bustling press preview, drawing in many industry professionals. The opening party followed soon after, unfolding into a glamorous, surreal celebration so characteristic of Milan.
For us, it was a thrilling and unforgettable experience — a moment of emotional exhilaration and relief after completing all the preparations.
We’ll also be sharing scenes from April 7 onward in this report.

Venue Layout – Palazzo Litta
Our BASE TIMES Kawaguchi space was located in the Second Room, directly facing the entrance on the venue map.

Opening Party on Press Preview Day
During the press preview’s opening party, cocktails were served as part of the Italian “aperitivo” tradition, and the main stage of the venue was bathed in vivid red lighting, creating a festive and otherworldly vibe.
Despite the jet lag and exhaustion, we fully embraced the Milanese hospitality — sipping fine drinks and soaking in the joy of the moment.

April 7 – First Day Open to the Public
From the very first day, massive crowds gathered outside Palazzo Litta, with long lines forming daily.
Our exhibition space welcomed 3,000 to 5,000 visitors each day, often making it difficult to even find a moment to explain the works.
Over the course of 7 days, more than 26,000 people visited the installation. In addition to high praise for the design itself, we received countless compliments on the technical craftsmanship behind it. Many expressed serious interest in purchasing items from the Kawaguch-air series.

Visitors Drawn In Nonstop
Visitors were continuously drawn into our space, almost like being “swept up” by it.

Designing for Smiles
We created a space filled with elements designed to bring out smiles.
Like turning the pages of a picture book, visitors moved through the space in a layout meant to spark continuous excitement — pausing, peeking in, sitting down, snapping photos of the reflected views, gently swaying… and smiling.
So many smiles.

A Reminder That Design Is the Ultimate Communication Tool
Even with language barriers, it was clear that visitors were expressing joy and excitement with their entire bodies.
This experience reaffirmed our belief that design is the most powerful form of communication.
And we felt, once again, that the skills of our local factories truly have global potential.

We’ll be sharing Report #3 soon — stay tuned!
Ciao, a presto!