Dezeen's Top Ten Emerging Designers from Salone Satellite 2026

Rima Sabina Aouf, a contributing editor for Dezeen, has chosen ten up-and-coming designers and studios from Salone Satellite, the annual event in Milan for creatives under 35, which took place from April 21 to 26 at Salone del Mobile, Fiera Milano, Rho. This selection showcases groundbreaking creations that merge traditional craftsmanship with digital techniques, featuring textiles designed like music, 3D-printed lamps influenced by Chilean heritage, and vessels crafted using a delicate robotic arm. The SaloneSatellite Award's first prize was awarded to Danish studio Russo Betak for its Ark lighting series, made from 3D-printed biomaterial sourced from discarded seashells. Third place went to German studio Jüngerkühn for its Soft Touch project, which utilizes a custom machine for porcelain carving. Other notable designers include Aya Kawabata (textiles), Aiko Design (3D-printed lamps), Dong Liu (deconstructive objects), Invalid Syntax (mobile room dividers), Popcorny Unicorny (furniture inspired by Korean folklore), Masaya Kawamoto (minimalist sheet metal furniture), Nikola & Florian (sustainable flatpack designs), and Takuma Yamazaki (performance furniture exploring animacy).