Tactile Baltics exhibition introduces Baltic contemporary design in Milan

The Tactile Baltics exhibition will present furniture, lighting, textiles, tableware, craft, and collectible design, all driven by a commitment to material experimentation, sustainability, and circular design principles. Focusing on the tactile nature of design, visitors will engage with how traditional craftsmanship intersects with cutting-edge technology, exploring the dynamic interplay of form, function, and heritage. With a blend of established and emerging designers, Tactile Baltics will unveil a compelling mix of designs from Latvia, Estonia, and Lithuania, illustrating the diverse, innovative spirit of the Baltics.

Contemporary craft and sensorial experience in Latvian design

The functional Māra shelf is part of Gateris Works‘ latest collection, inspired by the Latvian visual code and its transformation into everyday objects. Rooted in vernacular carpentry, it celebrates naivety and clumsiness in a contemporary form, its robust form takes inspiration from the Māra cross, a Latvian folk symbol. Crafted from solid wood, it pays tribute to Latvian identity and is built to last for generations.

Designer Dace Sūna will present a new version of her ethereal Vertical Fractal Helium Candles. Handcrafted from translucent tubing filled with helium, the candles emit soft yellow-pink glows. Inspired by the self-replicating Vertical Fractal pattern, these sculptural lighting pieces seamlessly blend science and design.

Studio Sarmīte, led by Latvian designer and material researcher Sarmīte Poļakova, focuses on transforming industry waste into circular concepts, exploring material lifecycles through hands-on experimentation. Reminiscent is a luxury three-piece furniture collection clad in PineSkins that transforms pine bark—a by-product of tree cutting—into a rich sensory experience.

The award-winning Latvian architectural and design practice Ēter will showcase its ASMR-themed collection, featuring a mattress, daybed, and table that transform ASMR’s sensory qualities into calming, functional pieces for wellbeing and healthcare spaces. These designs integrate natural forms with ergonomic comfort, redefining relaxation.

Th renowned Latvian glass artist Artis Nīmanis‘ striking minimalist sculpture New Line, has been crafted using advanced techniques with titanium coatings, to create a symphony of light and form. The reflective surface enhances its visual allure, inviting introspection and imagination.

Contemporary textile and visual artist Emma Sofia’s Desire gobelin, made from cotton, wool, linen, and silk, explores mental health, addiction, and self-denial. Through tufted textiles, she contrasts soft materials with with powerful messages, inviting reflection on personal obstacles and the tools we possess to create a better future.

The Sweet Water collection by ceramic design studio Boterra, created by Irita Tilane Pakalniņa, draws inspiration from northern lakes, blending natural textures and various clays. Each handcrafted ceramic piece captures the raw beauty of nature, reflecting the uniqueness of its surroundings and transforming the essence of the Latvian environment into artful design.

Conceptual experimentation and design heritage from Estonia

The latest works, Axiom-1 and Axiom-2, by Tallinn- and London-based experimental designer Heiter X, are sculptural objects made of cork and raw clay. Inspired by altars and standing stones, Axioms defines the atmosphere of a space while serving as vessels for plants, objects, or offerings.

The textural P Wise pendant lamp and Lo Blox furniture by Myceen will be showcased at Tactile Baltics in new colours. Created from mycelium-based materials, these pieces offer sustainable, multifunctional designs by award-winning Estonian designer Siim Karro.

In the Estonian Academy of Arts’ Slow Design project, ceramics and product design students created joyful and boldobjects for modern homes. The exhibition will feature the Tilt Collection, a set of porcelain drinking vessels, by the emerging ceramicist Teresa RA, inspired by bamboo water pipes. The set includes two carafes and several drinking vessels, whose form balances between simplicity and playfulness.

Textile designer Annike Laigo’s elegant Archipelago rug collection, crafted from renewable wool, is inspired by the contours of Nordic landscapes. These organic forms of the rugs overcome the limitations of traditional rug shapes, offering something more fluid and adaptable.

Designer Kertu Liisa Lepik will present the playful mirror series Ade at the Tactile Baltics exhibition. They are made of Plymax, a composite material created in Estonia in the 1920s, which combines birch plywood and polished stainless steel. In the series of objects, the material is transformed into abstract works of art that also serve as functional mirrors.

Legendary Estonian workplace furniture manufacturer Standard celebrates 80 years of design at Tactile Baltics with the re-edition of the iconic 1973 armchair, designed by Maile Grünberg and Juta Lember. Featuring bent tube construction and upholstered bent plywood, it embodies the bold colors and design of the 1970s.

Stockholm-based experimental glass artist Maarja Mäemets will present Thirst, a collection of sculptural glass watering cans created by blowing glass into moulds and hand-sculpting it. The watering cans symbolise nurturing and growth, continuing the theme of mindfulness started in the conceptual glass dome collection Sand Castles, which will also be on show in the exhibition.

Lithuanian design explores the relationship between people, nature, and culture

The T SW bookshelf by designer Mantas Lesauskas is both a functional and poetic object designed specifically for small books. The shelf’s expressive legs are created using a 3D scanned swan model, fusing the digital and material worlds in the design. Balancing transparency and secrecy, solidity and permeability, the shelf echoes broader themes of visibility, containment, and transformation.

Experimental designer Vilius Dringelis will present the candle holder Dinner in Brussels, made of pewtered aluminium. Inspired by a kebab foil wrapper found near the European Parliament building, the accidental find has been transformed into a design object that symbolises social and cultural transformation.

Devoted Surfaces No. 2 by Vilnius-based Marija Puipaitė explores the human body’s essence, inspired by 16th-17th century anatomy. Crafted from birchwood and leather, this furniture piece blends sensuality with scientific inquiry, forging an intimate connection with the user, echoing Puipaitė’s research on desire’s agency.

Liepa Gradauskaitė’s Pod, crafted from Lithuanian willow, is a sculptural, functional furniture inspired by childhood drawings. Handmade using traditional techniques, it combines aesthetic beauty with practical storage, celebrating cultural heritage and inner freedom, while appealing to modern sensibilities with its sustainable and biodegradable design.

Swamp for Laumės Table by Paulina Vasiliauskaitė draws inspiration from Lithuanian mythology, blending ash wood, glass, and stainless steel. Fusing traditional folklore with industrial techniques, the table explores themes of destiny, the unconscious, and the passage of time through metaphorical design and contemporary craftsmanship.

Liucija Kostiva’s Secret Garden tapestry, made from cotton, invites interaction by revealing hidden secrets beneath its top layer. Drawing from topiary aesthetics, it examines our impulse to sculpt nature, reflecting both the pursuit of perfection and the wild, untamed aspects of existence through woven art.

Copenhagen-based duo, lighting designer Ruta Palionytė and architect Ieva Baranauskaitė, present Daydreaming Objects’ Stem Light, part of the Soft Solids series. Using natural wax, steel, and light, the modular design explores growth and regeneration in nature, reflecting on the potential of «soft solids» in contemporary design while blending function with storytelling.

About Tactile Baltics

Following a successful debut at London Design Festival 2021, where it received an enthusiastic response, Tactile Baltics continues to serve as a platform for contemporary Baltic design, fostering appreciation and international recognition.

The Tactile Baltics exhibition at the Milan Design Week 2025 will be on view from April 7 to 13 at Palazzo Litta (Corso Magenta 24, 20121) in room 16 as part of the MoscaPartners Variations group exhibition.

Tactile Baltics in Milan is organised by the Latvian Design Centre, the Estonian design agency NID, and the Lithuanian Design Forum. Curated by Dita Danosa, Latvia; Triin Loks, Estonia; Audronė Drungilaitė, Lithuania. Graphic design by Kirils Kirasirovs (Augusts). Exhibition design by Brigita Bula (Brigita Bula Architects).

Tactile Baltics at Milan Design Week 2025 is funded by the Baltic Culture Fund, Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Latvia, Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Estonia and supported by the Embassies of the Republic of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania in Italy.

More information on the exhibition on the Tactile Baltics website and Instagram account.

About MoscaPartners

MoscaPartners Variations is the exhibition organised by MoscaPartners, founded by Caterina Mosca and Valerio Castelli in 2011, which returns to Palazzo Litta during Milano Design Week 2025. This year’s theme, Migrations, explores design as a catalyst for cultural exchange and creative innovation. Bringing together international architects, designers, and artists, the exhibition transcends geographical boundaries, fostering dialogue between diverse perspectives. By showcasing new approaches to contemporary design, it transforms the historic venue into a dynamic space for experimentation and discovery. Through research-driven projects and site-specific installations, MoscaPartners continues its commitment to promoting visionary talents and new creative languages.