At Salone del Mobile 2025, MDF Italia and Acerbis presented a coherent progression in their design narratives. MDF Italia expanded its focus on formal clarity and modular potential, while updating a series of established pieces. Meanwhile, Acerbis explored contrast, balancing re-editions and new commissions inside a space shaped by colour, proportion, and tension. Together, the two brands laid out a focused reading of contemporary furniture, rooted in material discipline and controlled form.
MDF Italia Introduces Modular Comfort and Architectural Precision
Jean Marie Massaud returned to MDF Italia with Goom, a sculptural sofa built around comfort and weight. The modular system features individual elements, including corner units, poufs, and a chaise longue, configured for flexibility. Visible seams define the structure, while soft upholstery edges push tension between volume and lightness. Fully disassemblable, Goom aligns with circular design principles without compromising spatial presence.
Yabu Pushelberg introduced Archie, a chair shaped by geometry and structural clarity. The design extends slender legs into a continuous curve that supports the backrest, echoing the arc of a doorway. Joints remain visible, showing where structure meets shape. Originally conceived as the first in a system, Archie sets the foundation for further evolution, combining aesthetic economy with production logic.
Celebrating Icons with Material and Chromatic Updates
MDF Italia marked the 20th anniversary of Random, the asymmetric bookcase designed by Neuland Industriedesign. The piece, first released in 2005, shifted expectations by turning storage into display. New colour options, English green, ivory, and burgundy, expand the collection while maintaining its identity. Marco Cassina, Head of Marketing, recalled its impact: “People began to show objects that represented them – books, sculptures, memories. A true shift in how shelving works.”
The Neil armchair by Massaud returned in a leather version, combining structural lightness with a tactile finish. With a steel frame and interchangeable covers in rope, fabric, or leather, the piece moves easily between settings.
Cantle, a coffee table family by Marco Lavit, now appears in wood and lacquer finishes, continuing the design language from his 2024 seating. The ‘V’ bracket, first used to support the seat and backrest, now creates a floating illusion beneath the tabletop, repeating a visual cue across the collection.
Xavier Lust’s S Table gained a new material direction with the introduction of concrete. Originally shaped from a twisting base that reflects metal deformation, the table now incorporates concrete for both base and top. The material shift increases its potential for outdoor use while reinforcing the contrast between form and mass.
Acerbis Connects Reissue with Forward Momentum
Acerbis positioned its stand as a visual contrast to the soft tones of MDF Italia’s space. Designers Francesco Meda and David Lopez Quincoces constructed a space defined by aluminium surfaces and a fluorescent ceiling, creating sharp definition for the pieces on display. Colour moved across structural elements and furniture, underlining the brand’s use of chromatic strategy as an active design tool.
Trench, a seating system by Philippe Malouin, brought sculptural bulk into balance through precise detailing. A continuous curve shaped both seat and back, while perpendicular legs and repositionable armrests added adaptability to the volume.
Meda and Quincoces introduced Le Cupole, a marble table defined by three dome-shaped bases. Each base supported the top with controlled weight and symmetrical rhythm. The table comes in Calacatta Oro and Nero Marquinia, with brass details amplifying the sense of contrast between surface and structure.
Expressive Objects Extend the Collection
Artist Olimpia Zagnoli debuted Gigiona, a modular object in Murano glass. Six colourful pieces assemble into the silhouette of a woman. When separated, they become independent fragments of colour and line. The piece functions as a sculptural puzzle, challenging perception and redefining decor as participatory.
Claudio Salocchi’s Palla armchair, first shown in 1969, returned to the Acerbis collection with minor updates for comfort and functionality. A spherical volume forms both seat and footrest, recalling the experimental freedom of late 20th-century Italian design. Available in fixed and swivel versions, Palla joins the brand’s Remasters collection with preserved proportions and renewed relevance.
ah so gorgeous! it’s a shame it was so crowded when i was there, absolutely loved the booth and Acerbis is one of my favourites!