Designboom, the world's first design web magazine, turns 25

Founded in 1999 by designers Birgit Lohmann and Massimo Mini in Milan, designboom was the world's first illustrated web magazine dedicated to architecture and design. At a time when Italian newspapers were merely repurposing print content online, Lohmann and Mini launched an image-based platform in English. The magazine grew quickly, publishing up to ten articles daily, and pioneered the pop-up market format in 2005 at ICFF in New York, hosting young designers like Oki Sato (Nendo) and Joe Gebbia (Airbnb co-founder). In 2022, designboom was acquired by Swiss NZZ Media Group, publisher of Architonic. Lohmann recently presented the new curatorial project 'Not Compromised' during Milan Design Week at Liceo Parini, featuring experimental seating made from elephant dung processed by Thai architect Boonserm Prenthada. The material, colored with natural indigo and shell pigments, aims to shift perceptions of waste and promote sustainable design. Lohmann and Mini have stepped back from daily operations to focus on slower-paced projects, with 'Not Compromised' as the first chapter of their third career phase.