Lisbon Design Week 2025: Exploring the Best Exhibitions and Design Narratives
The Lisbon Design Week (LDW) 2025 was a vibrant celebration of creativity, innovation, and sustainability in the world of design. This year, the event showcased a wide array of exhibitions, each reflecting the dynamic nature of contemporary Portuguese design. With a focus on blending tradition and modernity, the Lisbon Design Week continues to be a vital platform for showcasing the diversity and creativity of the design community in Portugal.
Below are some of the standout exhibitions that caught our attention.
A Journey through the Highlights of LDW 2025 – Celebrating Sustainability, Innovation, and Portuguese Craftsmanship
Nini Andrade Silva at Coletivo 284
The Coletivo 284 hosted an immersive exhibition in collaboration with Nini Andrade Silva and João Parrinha of SoftRock. Titled “Things Are Not Always As They Seem”, the exhibition took visitors on a sensory journey inspired by the Garota do Calhau collection, rooted in the striking beauty of Madeira’s pebble beaches.
The exhibition transformed the Coletivo 284 space into an imagined beach, inviting attendees to walk barefoot through sand, light, and sound. The installation blurred the lines between stone and softness, providing a tactile, emotional, and contemplative experience that connects design with memory, nature, and the human touch. Through this exhibition, Nini and SoftRock not only invited visitors to experience the tranquil energy of Madeira’s beaches but also engaged them in a space where design goes beyond aesthetics, fostering connection and reflection.
“Cookie Monster” Exhibition at Factory Lisboa
Cookie Monster transformed the historical Factory Lisboa space into a sensory journey, exploring the intersection between design and industry. Curated by Openbook Studio and promoted by Portugal Faz Bem, the exhibition focused on the process of material transformation, drawing a parallel between industrial processes from the Military Maintenance factories and contemporary design methodologies.
The space, once used for biscuit production, became part of the exhibition’s narrative. It featured 14 partner companies and 50 pieces, illustrating the collaboration between creators and factories, driven by innovation and craftsmanship. So, visitors explored prototypes, models, and packaging, learning about the processes that bridge the gap between craftsmanship and mass production.
Among the participants were notable names such as Studio Gameiro, DAM, Henrique Ralheta, Pedro Sottomayor, Toni Grilo, Burel Factory, and Ferreira de Sá Rugs, whose work epitomizes the fusion of design and industrial practice in creating objects that are both functional and meaningful.
“Chairman – 15 Years on Chairs” by Marco Sousa Santos
As part of Lisbon Design Week 2025, Chairman – 15 Years on Chairs offers a unique retrospective of one of Portugal’s most influential designers, Marco Sousa Santos. Hosted at the Branca Lisboa showroom, the exhibition highlights Marco’s journey through one of the most iconic and essential objects in design—the chair. Showcasing a selection of his works from his first design in 1991 to more recent pieces, the exhibition reveals his evolution as a designer and his ongoing relationship with Portuguese craftsmanship.
“Sobre Mesa” at Aires Mateus Archive
“Sobre Mesa” was the flagship exhibition for Lisbon Design Week 2025, a collaborative curation by Spanish designers MUT Design and Portuguese designer João Xara. The exhibition explored the shared cultural customs and design exchange between Spain and Portugal, focusing on the act of gathering to the table and the objects that accompany these moments. The exhibition was hosted at the Arquivo Aires Mateus, featuring 25 talented designers from both countries.
MATÉRIA by Diogo Amaro at Banema Studio
For Lisbon Design Week 2025, Banema Studio presents MATÉRIA by Diogo Amaro, a striking new collection that explores material honesty and bold form. Rooted in the historical context of an old barrel makers workshop, the collection integrates the materials used in this traditional industry, creating a dialogue between history and contemporary design.
Alongside this collection, Banema Studio also showcases the debut of Bora, a design collective founded by Eneida Lombe Tavares, João Xara, Jorge Carreira, and Samuel Reis. This collective brings fresh perspectives on modern design with a focus on collaboration and material exploration. Additionally, a site-specific exhibition by ALPI highlights the expressive potential of wood veneer in contemporary design, showcasing the beauty and versatility of this material.
The Power of IO, and Everything in Between: By Le_Brimet
The Power of IO, and Everything in Between took over the Fábrica de Moagem, a historical flour mill located in Lisbon’s Beato district. This anthology exhibition, curated by Le_Brimet, celebrated a decade of his creative and technological journey, merging material science, digital fabrication, and human interaction.
The exhibition, spanning over 2,000m² and four floors, featured more than 80 pieces of design and art that explore the intersections of design, computation, and sustainability. From traditional materials to cutting-edge regenerative technologies, Le_Brimet’s work showcased how artificial intelligence, 3D printing, and robotic systems create an innovative dialogue between the physical and digital realms. The immersive experience unfolded through prototypes, sketches, and models, offering an insight into Le_Brimet’s creative process and his continual pursuit of innovation.
The exhibition was hosted in collaboration with Portugal Faz Bem and received institutional support from Lisboa Cultura | Museu de Lisboa.
Made in Situ: Xisto Collection Launch
At Lisbon Design Week 2025, Made in Situ presented the Xisto Collection, marking the latest chapter in its narrative of place-based design. Drawing from geological and biological textures, the collection explores the intersection of local craftsmanship with the natural world, creating unique pieces that tell the story of their surroundings. So, Made in Situ, a Lisbon-based design platform founded by French designer Noé Duchaufour-Lawrance continues to celebrate a creative dynamic drawn from the materials, makers and landscapes of Portugal.
The Lisbon Design Week 2025 offered an exciting and inspiring glimpse into the future of design. From sustainability-focused projects to innovative reinterpretations of Portuguese tradition, the exhibitions we explored were a testament to the creativity and resilience of the Portuguese design community. As the event continues to grow, it serves as a vital platform for showcasing the dynamic and ever-evolving landscape of design in Portugal. We look forward to seeing what next year brings and continue to celebrate the intersection of creativity, sustainability, and innovation.
