For the first time ever, the Salone del Mobile furniture fair this year hosted an entire showcase dedicated to graduate design including students from 48 different schools and 22 different countries.
More than 170 projects by recent graduates were on display at The Lost Graduation Show, which formed part of the trade show's special "Supersalone" edition during Milan design week.
The Lost Graduation Show (above) showcased projects including the Helix syringe (top image by Studio Piercarlo Quecchia)
As many students who graduated in the past year were unable to showcase their work at a physical degree show due to the coronavirus pandemic, the exhibition was conceived as a way to make up for this loss.
Set up in the middle of one of the fair halls, amongst the stands showcasing consumer goods, it included projects ranging from hempcrete stools to an experimental sports car and a sanitary pad washing device for refugees. Many of the projects focused on important topics such as climate change, future technologies and sustainable development, curator Anniina Koivu told Dezeen.
A sanitary pad washing device for refugees is among projects on show
"There were a lot of utopian ideas flying about, which they didn't shy away from testing," said Koivu, who was invited to create The Lost Graduation show by Supersalone curator Stefano Boeri.
"There were a lot of projects related to the human body and wellbeing, and a lot of medical awareness as well, which I hadn...