News DeskDubai, UAE – Kartell, the icon of Italian design, has returned to Downtown Design Dubai 2025 with an immersive exhibition titled ‘The Shape of What’s Next’, showcasing a forward-looking collection defined by innovation, sustainability, and a lighter chromatic universe.
Running from November 5 to 9 at the Dubai Design District (d3), the presentation reaffirms Kartell’s global legacy as a pioneer in plastic furniture, blending advanced technology with timeless craftsmanship to envision the living spaces of tomorrow.
“Downtown Design Dubai is the perfect stage for Kartell to share our vision of innovation and beauty,” said Lorenza Luti, Marketing & Retail Director of Kartell. “Each new creation speaks to our belief in a design language that is both forward-looking and deeply human, where sustainability, versatility, and creativity coexist harmoniously.”
The Evolution of AI and Sustainability
At the heart of the Dubai showcase is A.I. Lite, the latest evolution of Philippe Starck’s globally acclaimed A.I. chair. First created in 2019 as the world’s first design generated by artificial intelligence, this new version strips away the armrests for a cleaner, lighter silhouette.
Crafted from recycled plastic and offered in a fresh palette of colours, A.I. Lite embodies Starck’s “less is more” philosophy, balancing comfort, functionality, and sustainability for both domestic and professional settings.
Starck also introduced Camomille, a poetic and rechargeable lamp offering up to 100 hours of battery life, transforming lighting into an emotional, functional presence ideal for terraces and dining spaces.
New Collections Embrace Tradition and Technology
The exhibition highlights several new collections by celebrated design duos:
- Ludovica Serafini and Roberto Palomba introduced the Albert table, which reinterprets 18th-century craftsmanship with a modern, lightweight aluminium base and glossy porcelain tops suitable for indoor and outdoor use. They also unveiled Belvedere Vienna, a chair that gracefully merges traditional Viennese wickerwork with modern recycled plastic, alongside its durable outdoor counterpart, Belvedere Tech.
- The same duo expanded the popular HiRay family with a new sofa, featuring generous shapes, thicker cushions, and a galvanised and painted steel frame with waterproof Trama fabric upholstery, designed for superior comfort in hospitality and outdoor environments.
Modular Systems and Organic Forms
Modular seating and nature-inspired pieces underscored the brand’s commitment to flexible, adaptive living:
- Patricia Urquiola’s Aaland collection introduced interconnected seating, allowing armchairs, sofas, and pouffes to be arranged like islands to create versatile, fluid spaces.
- Urquiola also presented Corteza, a family of tables and planters made from recycled materials, featuring a tactile, bark-like veining and organic shapes that blur the lines between indoor and outdoor living.
- Piero Lissoni added architectural minimalism with Wisewise, a modular wooden bookcase system designed to function as evolving shelving, a room divider, or a display piece. Lissoni also expanded the Trays classic and the Asia collection into new eco-leather and outdoor variants.
Further updates include a new matte finish and vivid colours for Starck’s iconic H.H.H. – Her Highest Highness chair, and an outdoor variant of Lissoni’s Thierry table.
Kartell’s ‘The Shape of What’s Next’ presentation captures a new era for the brand, focusing on lighter forms, brighter colours, and sustainable materials while retaining the hallmark elegance and innovation of Italian design.
