Since its founding, Swatchbox has laid its roots with careful proximity to global design hubs.

Headquartered globally in the US and in London for Europe, it only made sense that Milan should be the next stop.

During the third week of April, Swatchbox unveiled its Milan Sample Hub – a showroom in the heart of the Tortona Design District in Milan.

The launch coincided with Milan Design Week, a globally recognized festival attracting more than 300,000 individuals from the design community and beyond.

Whether you joined the Swatchbox team in Milan or want to get an inside look at how the event went, here's a brief recap of what took place.

Introducing the Swatchbox Sample Hub at Milan Design Week

The Swatchbox Sample Hub brought together material samples from top brands across Europe for display in front of hundreds of thousands of designers from all over the world.

On display was a curated selection of samples from brands like:

• Archi.Tile
• PPG Architectural Coatings
• Interface
• Sian Zeng
• Lapitec
• Novamix
• Industville
• Durat
• PaperStone
• 2tec2
• Steeel
• Parkside

Designers were encouraged to pick up, feel, and interact with samples. Then, they could simply scan the QR code connected to each material using the Swatchbox App to request a free sample delivered to them after the festival.

Why Milan Design Week?

Milan Design Week is perhaps the most globally recognized – and well-attended – design event in the world. Spanning the genre from art to fashion to architecture and everything in between, the weeklong event truly validates Milan as “The City of Design.” 

Milan Design Week is special because it attracts designers, architects, manufacturers, and buyers from all over the world. It’s the most global opportunity for professionals to see new and innovative designs, as well as to showcase their own work. The event showcases a wide range of design disciplines, from furniture and lighting to fashion and technology, which can inspire professionals to explore new ideas and push the boundaries of their own work.

The Swatchbox Sample Hub opened in the heart of the Tortona Design District, a neighborhood in southwestern Milan that is known for its high concentration of design studios, boutiques, and showrooms. The unique nature of Tortona also happens to make it a logical part of the Fuorisalone, a part of Milan Design Week that encompasses events and experiences across the city. More than 100,000 individuals found their way through Swatchbox's new home in Tortona during Milan Design Week.

Designer Observations from Milan Design Week

To get an idea for the pulse of the design community at an event like Milan Design Week, all you have to do is listen. At the Sample Gallery, the conversation understandably focused on the state of samples & material inspiration.

First, visitors to the Sample Hub expressed their frustration with investing time and energy into securing product samples and getting mediocre results. They were clearly excited about the existence of a sample provider like Swatchbox.

It also became clear that design professionals have strong opinions about the circularity of sample delivery. The commitment to reducing carbon through aggregated sample delivery and the ability to return samples for reuse struck a clear tone with just about every visitor to the Sample Hub.

Find Swatchbox at Clerkenwell Design Week

So what's next for Swatchbox? Well, our team will be engaging with the design community once again at Clerkenwell Design Week in London from 23-25 May.

You can find Swatchbox in the St. James Church Garden as the official Sample Gallery for Clerkenwell Design Week. Join us throughout the show, including for drinks on Wednesday 24 May from 4:00pm. RSVP here.

Connect with Swatchbox

Want to learn more about how Swatchbox is engaging with the global design community? Visit our site to learn more, reach out to our team directly to schedule a meeting, or follow us on LinkedIn.

Swatchbox, an Anguleris brand, is the premier sample platform that connects architects and designers with the world’s top building product manufacturers. With proprietary software designed by design community insiders, Swatchbox delivers material samples to architects and designers with speed, intelligence, and style. Learn more and join Swatchbox as an architect or manufacturer at www.swatchbox.com.