Next in our 'Milan Insiders' series is Stylecraft's Tony Russell, who shares his impressions and highlights from the 2014 furniture fair with us.

Name: Tony Russell

Occupation: Product and Brand Manager

Location (where are you based): Melbourne

Company:  Stylecraft

How would you describe the 2014 Milan Design Fair in one sentence? 

Overall a very successful and vibrant Milan Design Week. A lot of new product releases with good commercial opportunities, the early bloom of Spring weather added colour to the Fuori events and the city.

What has/have been your favourite three products this year?

Zinta bench, in its 3 variations for commercial, public and domestic settings, by Arper,

Agnese armchair, a reissue from the 1950’s by Tacchini,

and Touchwood chair, designed by Lars Beller Fjetland for Discipline.

Exhibitor/stand? 

Arper, with their portrayal of the increasing blurred lines between Work and Home environments;

Stua, for embracing the early arrival of spring in Europe with their bold, floral graphics, and the elegance of Ritzwell, designed by Japanese architect Masakatsu Matsuyama.

Party/event?

Dinner within the garden setting at Corso Como, 10 on Saturday night. Now a Stylecraft tradition it’s the perfect chance to relax and unwind after a hectic week and debrief with Australian designers and our European suppliers on their highlights of Milan.

Newcomer’s stand?  As it’s only their third year exhibiting, I’ll class Discipline as still being a newcomer. Their courtyard garden with pop up exhibition in central Milan offers a sense of tranquility amongst the craziness of Design Week, as well as showcasing their latest furniture and accessories.

What is the 2014 Milan: 

Colour: Pastels were predominant across the majority of stands, with various shades of blue and green still popular.

Texture: Tending towards the extremes – either finely crafted stitch details or very bold weaves with a play on colour.

What was THE place to be for this at Milan 2014?

The Brera design district is always a highlight for me. The sheer volume of exhibitions and displays during Design Week encapsulates the vibe of the city for the week. Being interspersed with some of Milan’s best restaurants and bars also allows a glimpse into how the locals live in this vibrant neighbourhood.

What has been the highlight of your time in Milan?

This year it was a chance meeting with Patricia Urqiola, but the first day of the fair is always a highlight when you first see the new products and you’re full of expectation for the week ahead.

For more indesignlive coverage of the 2014 Milan design fair visit: indesignlive.com/category/articles/in-review/milan-14