With the world’s most anticipated design event—Milan Design Week—having just wrapped up, it’s only natural to wonder how much design, and especially designers, influence the creation of eyewear. There are countless examples of cross-disciplinary language giving rise to new aesthetic alphabets. One such case is Zaha by VM L’Atelier (featured in the opening photo), a tribute to Zaha Hadid by Naomie Hadida, who won a design competition with this project. The frame is crafted using high-resolution 3D printing and features a patented coloring process. The lenses are seamlessly integrated into the structure through an ingenious mechanism, while the flexible hinges are hidden between the temples and the front—mirroring the sinuous, dynamic movement of the frame, perfectly aligned with the fluid architectural language of the iconic designer, who passed away in 2016.

Soft blue curves, instead, evoke the unique vision of a fashion pioneer like Pierre Cardin. The Evolution 11-Wave model turns a glance into a futuristic vision, projecting us forward in time.
The collaboration between Morel and internationally renowned French architect Jean Nouvel also continues. Known for his love of glass structures and the play of light through transparency, Nouvel translates this philosophy into eyewear. His design—defined by the purity and minimalism of the circle, the only geometric shape selected for this creative venture—is paired with essential colors, enhanced by the sophisticated interplay of titanium and acetate for even more luminous, refined effects.

During MiArt and Milan Design Week, the capsule collection Unparallel Visions made its debut, created by the eclectic artist and designer Matteo Cibic. In collaboration with Punto Ottico Humaneyes in Milan, Cibic developed three asymmetrical models in a limited edition of just 50 pieces. Made of acetate, they were designed to counterbalance the distortions and irregularities of everyday life—true to the designer’s playful and dreamlike spirit.
But it’s not just architecture and fashion that spark new expressive codes—art plays a key role too. Embrace is the name of the capsule collection by Vanni, designed by artist Elisa Alberti, winner of the 2023 VANNI#Artistroom award, held annually at the Artissima fair in Turin. The encounter of two contrasting color pairings—black/white and black/blue—with soft, rounded, enveloping shapes gives life to two limited-edition models.

Another essential aspect of design is undoubtedly the union of shape and materials, which are taking on increasingly central roles thanks to their textures and patterns that create rich, sensory experiences. For years, W-Eye has explored the full potential of materials and their combinations through a refined, sustainable, and thoughtful approach—always starting with wood. The Red Moon model features an irregular hammered copper surface, delicately brushed to create a chiaroscuro effect that enhances the natural light and color of the metal. Made of seven layers of wood and two sheets of copper, Red Moon is a model that fully expresses the brand’s artisanal expertise. Its tactile, almost lunar surface (hence the name) invites us to look upward—toward the stars.
Because this, too, is what design is about: inspiring dreams.