With Milan Design Week fast approaching and a ton of preparation to be done on my end, I’m skilfully mapping out my destinations via a tiny little preview post – for both my own sanity and perhaps to help a few others plan out their own week too. The press releases have been scoured, the invites have been researched and the world wide web has been searched. All that’s left to do is head to Bar Basso and get the hell on it with trend spotting and designer hunting. You can join me too via my Instagram or by coming back after all the fun for a full update. Grazie!

London print and fashion studio Eley Kishimoto have joined forces with interiors brand Kirkby Design (remember that iconic designjunction sofa?) to explore their shared passion for pattern and make all my dreams come true. This coalition of geometric lovers will result in a five-room apartment in Brera covered in a collaborative collection of fabrics and wall coverings that will be sure to hurt your eyes. When two of your favourite brands collide – all I can say is – yes, yes, yes!

It wouldn’t be a design festival without Mr Broom making an appearance and MDW marks ten years of the award-winning British furniture and lighting designer. To celebrate, Broom will be taking over a vault in historic Milano Centrale train station, unveiling his landmark tenth anniversary collection entitled ‘TIME MACHINE’. The installation will feature an edit of furniture, lighting and accessories from Broom’s ten-year career, all re-imagined in a completely white colour palette to bring about a sense of uniformity and purity. You never know fully what to expect from a Lee Broom installation but this one looks to delve even further into conceptual design and I’m sure we can expect a completely immersive and jaw-dropping experience.

Cos installations are continually inspiring and imaginative and this year looks set to be no different with the fashion brand collaborating with interdisciplinary designers, Swine Studio. Set at the cinema arti, an inactive 1930s theatre built by Italian architect Mario Cereghini, the installation aims to reflect optimism and renewal for the new year. Entitled ‘new spring’, we can hope to see a sensory exhibition, challenging current cultural issues, while bringing positive and joyful thoughts and memories. From the imagery above, it also looks like we can expect to see the incredible play on light and dark from previous Cos exhibitions – hooray!

I was in awe of Norway’s ‘Structure’ exhibition last year and I still have the A1 poster proudly framed to prove it. Returning to Milan, Norway presents ‘Everything is Connected‘, a craft and design showcase that will present 30 of the most exciting designers the country has to offer via their prototypes, new concepts and designs from furniture to textiles to lighting, ceramics and glassware. Curated by Katrin Greiling, Everything is Connected aims to paint a creative portrait of a country, telling the story of craft and design from concept to creation, and exploring how geography, education, material resources and production networks all play their part in shaping the products a designer or craftsperson conceives. The beautiful matchbox from Sara Polmar giving just a small indication of the craftsmanship you can expect.

Designed by De Allegri and Fogale, ‘Mystical Solace’ has been created in collaboration with Casone in the spaces of Dome Interior Milano — the atelier dedicated to interior design and architecture. The installation, completely contained within a triangle structure, gathers forms and symbols and allows visitors to cross a threshold into the heart of commercial Milan. Of course, I was immediately struck by the geometric nature of the installation and from the tagline of ‘finding comfort in the metaphysical during times of great distress’, I’m sure there’s something even more magical about it in person.

Lambrate is by far my favourite of the design districts thanks to how it champions young designers and manages to look effortlessly cool all at the same time. With IKEA now focused on upping their involvement in the design world it seems like the perfect area for them to make a temporary home. In a warehouse in the heart of the young and vibrant district, the Scandinavian brand will show some of their ongoing and new collaborations, six new collections alongside an energetic mix of workshops, installations, interviews, music, live prototyping and happenings. Be sure to check out their collaboration with Tom Dixon too!

If you’re knocking around Brera then be sure to pay a visit to Refin Stufio, the recently discovered prestigious spaces designed by Studio Sottsass in the early 90s, which Refin Ceramiche have taken over. Launching their new Twist collection, patterns and geometries are the centre of attention (yes please!) and the collection and staging were designed by Arianna Lelli Mami and Chiara di Pinto, creative directors of the incredible Studiopepe. From taking a look at the early imagery, this looks set to be one for the abstract lovers and those that like a pit of pattern in more of a muted colour palette.

It will be my first time heading to the fair in Milan and while I’m certainly under the impression I’m going to be somewhat overwhelmed, I’m looking forward to scouting out trends. One of the emerging designers I’ll most certainly be keeping an eye on is Natalia Geci who has just launched a nomadic desk that users can dismantle and pop straight into a bag for travelling, moving home or just going on a creative adventure. Keep your eyes peeled for her Marie Kondo-inspired structures popping up at the Argentinian stand.