With over 1500 exhibitors at the Salone del Mobile, the world's best designers know that their invitations are the first representations of the products they've spent the year refining. Invitations ranged from the elegant to the humorous and this year there was no shortage of artistry in these oversized calling cards. Here are some of our favourites from Milan.
Invitation for Wallpaper* Handmade... in Italy, printed on Japanese washi paper, designed by graphic design and letterpress specialist Kelvyn Smith
A Japanese Cypress luggage freshener from BCXSY
Elegant black and white flip cards from Bottega Veneta
House of Stone preview invitation from John Pawson and Salvatori
Geometric origami from Arketipo
Wood print invitation from Kristiina Lassus, Harri Koskinen, Hannu Kahonen and Anne Kyyro Quinn
Skitsch beckons us to its first birthday party
Newspaper-style invitation from Moncler featuring a collage of comics and clippings from The China Times on the front page
Simplicity from Studio Nitzan Cohen for Mattiazzi
Dizzying stripes for Design Miami and Fendi’s Design Vertigo
Graphic card from Patricia Urquiola and Giulio Ridolfo for BMW, Kvadrat and Flos...
... while embossing adds texture to the invitation inside
ClassiCon celebrated 20 years with a chronologically mapped presentation of their pieces
Laser-cut invitation from Established & Sons...
...while the Established & Sons and Stella McCartney dinner invitation is given special treatment
Illuminating poster for Wonderlamp by Studio Job & Pieke Bergmans
The Boffi invitation comes complete with an ice cube tray
Die-cut layers from Living Divani
Neon orange type from Scholten & Baijings...
... and on the back, a textile leaf on paper
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The bespoke Jaguar E-Type GTO melds elements from every era of the classic sports carECD Automotive Design’s one-off commission caters to a client who wanted to combine the greatest hits of Jaguar’s E-Type along with modern conveniences and more power
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Casa Sanlorenzo debuts in Venice as a new hub for contemporary artThe luxury yachting leader unveils a stunning new space in a palazzo restored by Piero Lissoni – where art, innovation, and sustainability come together
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Once vacant, London's grand department stores are getting a new lease on lifeThanks to imaginative redevelopment, these historic landmarks are being rebonr as residences, offices, gyms and restaurants. Here's what's behind the trend
