Baltic Design Takes Centre Stage at Palazzo Litta

Tactile Baltics has wrapped up an extraordinary eight-day showcase at MoscaPartners Variations during Milan Design Week 2025. Set against the 17th-century Baroque elegance of Palazzo Litta, the exhibition welcomed over 52,000 visitors to this grand Milan venue — placing Baltic design firmly on the global design map.

“We were truly honoured to exhibit in the beautiful Palazzo Litta as part of MoscaPartners’ Variations programme. The response to our presentation was incredibly rewarding — visitors engaged deeply, asked thoughtful questions, and shared their enthusiasm for our showcase, which offered a fresh lens on object design. Tactile Baltics allowed visitors to explore the sensory and emotional dimensions of design — how objects interact with people and their surroundings, creating meaning beyond materiality. Many were surprised by how seemingly simple elements like wood, glass, and wax could carry such rich narratives.

For many, the exhibition felt like a journey into the heart of Baltic design — an intimate encounter with a design language rooted in material sensitivity, form, and storytelling. It also spotlighted a new generation of designers exploring identity, ecology, and cultural heritage in personal and profound ways.” — Dita Danosa, Tactile Baltics Milano Project Lead and Head of the Latvian Design Centre

The exhibition, which featured 21 designers from Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, presented a bold selection of furniture, textiles, lighting, ceramics, and sculptural design. Each piece embodied the Baltics’ commitment to material sensitivity, circular principles, and cultural storytelling — resonating deeply with both international audiences and the design press.

From the ASMR-inspired lounge chair by design studio ĒTER to Liucija Kostiva’s interactive tapestry Secret Garden, visitors engaged with the tactile essence of the exhibition — often lingering to touch, sit, and inquire about the works on display. Dace Sūna’s ethereal Vertical Fractal Helium Candles, Mantas Lesauskas’ aluminium bookshelf T SW, and Heiter X’s raw clay and cork black sculptures were also among the many standout pieces that sparked curiosity and dialogue.

The exhibition opened with an official reception attended by Latvia’s Ambassador to Italy, Elita Gavele, Lithuania’s Ambassador Dalia Kreivienė, and Estonia’s Ambassador Lauri Bambus. Ambassador Dalia emphasised the symbolic power of regional unity: “Tactile Baltics was not only a celebration of design but a strong statement of Lithuanian, Latvian and Estonian regional cooperation and shared vision.”

Estonian glass artist and exhibitor Maarja Mäemets reflected on the event’s success: “It was great to witness so much interest in Baltic design and designers. Visitors showed equal curiosity towards the materiality of the works and the narratives behind.”

Styled by Latvian architect Brigita Bula, the exhibition offered a spatial and conceptual journey through the creative potential of the Baltic region — a fitting interpretation of this year’s MoscaPartners theme, Migrations, which explored design as a catalyst for cultural exchange.

Media attention was widespread. Even before the opening, Tactile Baltics was featured in Milan Design Week highlights by Wallpaper*, Dezeen, Frame, and had Tactile Baltics products showcased in the Financial Times and New York Times. During the week, Elle Decor, Domus, La Repubblica, Corriere della Sera and other international titles continued coverage after visiting, cementing the exhibition’s status as a key stop on the design week itinerary.

Danosa concluded: “I’d like to thank everyone – including MoscaPartners, the embassies, exhibitors and sponsors – who have supported us in Milan and made Tactile Baltics a resounding success.”

Tactile Baltics was funded by the Baltic Culture Fund, the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Latvia, and the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Estonia, and supported by the Embassies of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania in Italy.

About Tactile Baltics

Tactile Baltics is a collaborative project launched in 2020 by three design organisations from the Baltic countries: the Estonian design agency NID, the Latvian Design Centre, and the Lithuanian Design Forum. Its aim is to promote Baltic design internationally through exhibitions, design events, talks, and workshops.

Following a well-received debut at the London Design Festival in 2021, Tactile Baltics has continued to grow as a platform for contemporary design from the region, championing its unique identity and fostering global recognition. The 2021 London showcase invited visitors to experience the tactile richness of Baltic nature and materials. In collaboration with Adorno — a curated digital gallery for collectible design — Tactile Baltics also launched an online collection titled Designing Futures, further extending its reach and impact beyond the physical exhibition.

Website: https://tactilebaltics.com

Social Media: @tactilebaltics | #tactilebaltics

Curators & Organisers:
Organisers: NID, Latvian Design Centre, Lithuanian Design Forum
Curators: Estonia – Triin Loks, Latvia – Dita Danosa and Lithuania – Audronė Drungilaitė
Graphic Design: Kirils Kirasirovs / augusts
Set Design: Brigita Bula / Brigita Bula Arhitekti

Designers & Brands on Show:
Estonia: Standard, Maarja Mäemets, Kertu Liisa Lepik, Heiter X, Annike Laigo, Myceen, Estonian Academy of Arts - Teresa RA
Latvia: Gateris Works, Ēter, Dace Sūna, Studio Sarmīte, Artis Nīmanis, Emma Sofia, Boterra.
Lithuania: Mantas Lesauskas, Vilius Dringelis, Marija Puipaitė, Liepa Marija Gradauskaitė, Paulina Vasiliauskaitė, Ieva Baranauskaitė & Rūta Palionytė, Liucija Kostiva.