Varese Design Week celebrates its ninth year and returns from September 25 to 28, 2025 with a program full of installations, events, and meetings. Founded in 2016, the event has grown to become a cant-miss gathering for those who love design, culture, and new forms of urban creativity.
The 2025 Theme: The Cage
The central theme of this edition is “The Cage”, a concept that goes beyond the design dimension. From constraint to a metaphor of freedom, the cage becomes a symbol of personal, social, and cultural reflection, offering artists and designers fertile ground to express themselves with diverse languages.
Installations in the Heart of Varese
The city transforms into an open-air museum with installations spread across squares and symbolic locations:
At Gandini Kitchen Store, Mr. Savethewall presents “The Cage of Social Networks”.
Villa Panza hosts “àtrebiL” by Carlo Rampazzi.
In Piazza San Vittore, “Skyscrapers of the Future” by Alberto Talarico and Bertone Design takes the stage.
In Piazza Monte Grappa is “The Human Condition” by Marco Benedetti.
Piazza del Podestà welcomes “Freedom” curated by Novellocase and Fogliani Illuminazione.
In the Giardini Estensi, “LOUD – LivingOUtdoorDesign” explores the boundary between indoor and outdoor.
In the Cortile Perabò, students from the European School present “Polysemy of the Cage”.
Guest of Honor: Aldo Cingolani
The special protagonist of VDW 2025 is architect and designer Aldo Cingolani, CEO of Bertone Design Group, and author of iconic projects such as the Pendolino and Italo trains, the Sirio phone, and the Molten ball.
Watch Aldo Cingolani’s interview on VareseNews dedicated to the meaning of this theme.
On September 25 at 9 PM, Cingolani will be at Villa Panza for a public dialogue with art historian Gabriella Belli.
Events, Talks, and Performances
Alongside the installations, VDW offers a calendar of unmissable events: conferences, meetings with institutions and emerging designers, musical moments, and immersive performances.
Check out the complete program of Varese Design Week 2025 here.
Varese Design Week 2025 is not just an event, but a journey that involves the entire city and its inhabitants. Thanks to the collaboration with the European School, students and young talents will guide visitors in discovering the artwork and exhibits, making the experience even more participatory.
A unique opportunity to experience design not only as aesthetics but as a tool for dialogue, freedom, and innovation.
