The artefacts presented here – despite their functionality – explore aesthetics structured by a high visual impact. A realistic dialogue between industry, craftsmanship and experimental making, developed from the studies of new materials, consume behaviour shifts and design as self expression. Inspired by the project created for Brasilia, a pivotal moment to celebrate national culture and reveal the lightness of the local craft beyond European canons. Piloto, the title behind Lucio Costa's vision for the new capital, is synonymous with experimentation, to create something from scratch. This project could not me named differently.

A contemporary take on urban living. This is the motto behind  Piloto Milano, a design exhibition with its first showing during the FuoriSalone 2024, from 15 to 20 April.

Living experiments in the making

More about Piloto Milano

Curated by creative director and design journalist Ricardo Gaioso, the Piloto Milano show features established professionals such as Patricia Anastassiadis, Ronald Sasson and Guilherme Wentz. Alongside upcoming talents as Leonardo Lague, Paola Vilas, whose ode to the female body through jewellery has now inspired a homeware collection, and Melina Romano, with a minimalist and architecturally functional look, among other independent design studios. 

The show will take place at AINT Studio, the creative agency behind projects for brands such as Off-White™, Luxottica, and Reebok, strategically located in a Liberty building in Piazza Tricolore, just a short distance from the Quadrilatero della Moda. Project partner, the studio also handled graphic design for Piloto with creative direction by Brazilian-born and Milan-based Mari Di Pilla, who is also a correspondent for Vogue Brazil. 

The exhibition layout was designed by architect and curator Alberto Dapporto. Through materials typically seen in interior and industrial design, the space evokes a map-like place with routes and directions on an urban scale. Backdrops and passages create different perspectives on the space and the pieces, as if these were located at precise spatial coordinates, one by one revealing an implied urban path.

Also collaborated with Piloto: Águeda Santini, Alison Bartlett, Chiara Cognigni, Claudio Fagnani and Lucie Alessi.

Guilherme Wentz 

Juliana Vasconcellos

Leo Lague 

Melina Romano

Paola Vilas

Patricia Anastassiadis 

Ronald Sasson