Myles Igwebuike bridges Nigerian Igbo traditions and contemporary design at Milan Design Week

Nigerian-born designer Myles Igwebuike, founder of London's RCA Africa association and Nteje Studio in Enugu, Nigeria, presented works at Milan's Fuorisalone in collaboration with Technogym. His practice reinterprets traditional Igbo art motifs—such as symbols from the Ekpe male society's Ukara fabric—into contemporary furniture, notably a series of chairs. For Technogym, he decorated one of their multifunctional benches with these symbols. Igwebuike, who studied at the Royal College of Art, emphasizes collective intelligence and community collaboration, having also founded the Africa Society at the Royal Academy of Arts to support young African creatives. His studio in Enugu works with local artisans and materials, bridging traditional craftsmanship and global design. He participates in events like Lagos Design Week and sees Milan Design Week as a vital platform for future-oriented projects, especially the Salone Satellite section for under-35 designers.