Tortona Rocks returns for its 11th edition at Fuorisalone: an international platform where design becomes an active force to transform society and the present
Despite global uncertainties and the complexity of the future, the world of design does not stand still. Tortona Rocks, the project by Milano Space Makers that has animated the heart of the Tortona district for eleven editions, announces its participation in Milan Design Week 2026 with a theme as ambitious as it is necessary: Design to Change Everything.
This edition is not merely a showcase of objects; it is an act of determination. Design is interpreted as a structural force capable of responding to the social and economic tensions of our time. Design to Change Everything invites us to view the project as a “rebel” experience, where creativity merges with technology to propose concrete alternatives to the inertia of the present.
Opificio 31: The Pulsing Heart of Innovation
The headquarters at Opificio 31 confirms its status as Milan’s most transformative agora—an open-air laboratory where major international brands engage with cutting-edge research. Here, the concept of Design to Change Everything comes to life through installations that challenge the senses.
Among the most anticipated highlights:
- IQOS & Devialet: Presenting Soundsorial Design, an immersive landscape shaped by water and voices, where every visitor becomes part of a living sonic archive.
- Archiproducts Milano: With the Fòco project, curated by Studiopepe, the tetralogy of elements concludes. Fire, a primordial force, is translated into interior design through material contrasts and harmonies.
- Swatch AI-DADA: A laboratory where Artificial Intelligence meets the brand’s historical archive to generate unique NEW GENT watches in real-time, based on visitor input.
Pop Visions and Generational Memory: From McDonald’s to Italdesign
The Tortona Rocks 2026 circuit extends beyond industrial courtyards, occupying the district’s most dynamic trajectories. At Via Tortona 58, McDonald’s celebrates 40 years in Italy with POOL – Unlocking a Memory, an exhibition curated by Nicolas Ballario. Through a dive into a pit of colored balls and a dialogue with works by Damien Hirst, the public is invited to explore the boundary between play, memory, and contemporary art.
On the industrial design front, Italdesign showcases its “end-to-end” approach, demonstrating how design methodology can span from automotive to robotics, featuring the Honda NSX Tribute—a homage to a mobility icon.
New Perspectives: Design that Changes the Gaze
Tortona Rocks 2026 promotes change also through spatial perception. The Japanese collective Bud Brand invites visitors to “look up”: objects are positioned above eye level, forcing a gesture of openness and aspiration.
Similarly, the brand REBEL by Hans Boodt Mannequins challenges commercial seriality by presenting mannequins created from 3D scans of real bodies, introducing imperfection and identity into the world of display.
Design to Change Everything is more than a slogan: it is the responsibility to design the world not for what it is, but for what it can become. Tortona Rocks confirms itself as the epicenter of this transformation, offering a multidisciplinary vision where industry and culture converge.
USEFUL INFO
- Event: Tortona Rocks #11 – Design to Change Everything
- Locations: Opificio 31 (Via Tortona 31), Via Savona, Via Bergognone, Milan.
