When the international design scene gathers in Milan for Salone del Mobile in April 2026, extraordinary brand experiences are almost expected. Yet this year, the automotive brand MINI and designer Paul Smith are setting a particularly striking statement with "A Garden of Curiosity" – one that merges nature, design, and multisensory storytelling in an unexpectedly poetic way.
A Enchanted Garden as a Stage for Design
Set within the historic Palazzo Borromeo d’Adda in Milan, the installation unfolds more like a walkable piece of art than a traditional brand presentation. Even the entrance is part of the narrative: visitors cross a narrow wooden walkway through the courtyard, arriving at a mysterious red door – a symbolic transition from the urban intensity of Milan into a slower, more sensory world.
Beyond it lies a garden that fully lives up to its name. Winding paths, lush greenery, open platforms, and geometric elements create a space that feels both organic and carefully curated. Paul Smith’s iconic Signature Stripe appears throughout – sometimes subtly, sometimes as a bold burst of color. It is a play of contrasts: nature meets precision design, calm meets curiosity, minimalism meets vibrant opulence.
Design You Can Experience
What sets this installation apart is its radical interactivity. Rather than simply presenting design, MINI and Paul Smith invite visitors to actively engage with it.
In the "Colour Theory Room," color becomes an experiment. Visitors can create their own combinations, continuously reshaping the visual identity of the space. The result is a living artwork that evolves throughout the day – perfectly reflecting Paul Smith’s playful approach to color.
The "Listening Room" adds an acoustic dimension to the experience. Here, voice recordings by Sir Paul Smith offer personal insights into his design philosophy and the role of color. The atmosphere is focused, almost meditative – a quiet counterpoint to the usual trade fair buzz.
A MINI Cabrio as Part of the Installation
At the center of the garden, another highlight awaits: the new MINI Paul Smith Edition Convertible. Yet even here, the presentation avoids convention. The vehicle becomes part of the overall composition – integrated into the natural setting, almost like one design object among many.
Its details reflect what has defined the collaboration between MINI and Paul Smith for decades: British humor, a love of detail, and a flair for the unexpected. Or, as Paul Smith himself would say: "Classic with a twist."
Heritage Meets Future
The journey through the garden also traces the shared history of MINI and Paul Smith. In the courtyard, iconic models from their collaboration are on display – from the colorful Anniversary Mini to the radically reduced MINI STRIP. Together, they demonstrate the versatility of design interpretation: playful and expressive on one hand, minimalist and functional on the other.
Why This Installation Stands Out – Editorial Comment by EventMasterBook (mm)
A Garden of Curiosity is more than a brand installation. It is a multisensory experience that demonstrates how storytelling, spatial design, and interaction can merge into a powerful, cohesive concept.
Its strength lies in the fusion of apparent opposites:
- Nature and technology
- Calm and experience
- Interaction and aesthetics
The combination of nature with both technology and design strongly reflects the current zeitgeist. In an increasingly digital world, the desire for tactile, analog, and decelerated experiences is growing. This is precisely why installations like A Garden of Curiosity resonate so deeply: they translate technological precision and design excellence into natural, immersive environments – creating a conscious counterbalance to pure functionality. Nature is not treated as a backdrop, but as an integral part of the design itself.
Event Info
The installation "A Garden of Curiosity" will be on view from April 21 to 26, 2026, during Salone del Mobile, daily from 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM at the House of MINI, Via A. Manzoni 41, Milan, Italy.
Background Information
About Salone del Mobile
Salone del Mobile is one of the world’s leading trade fairs for interior and product design – and one of the most important events in the global creative industry. Held annually in Milan each April, it attracts designers, brands, architects, and visitors from around the world.
Originally launched in 1961 as a furniture fair, it has evolved into a global platform for innovation, trends, and creative exchange. During this time, Milan itself transforms into a city-wide design stage, with installations, pop-ups, and events taking place in showrooms, courtyards, and public spaces.
About the Designer Paul Smith
Paul Smith gained international recognition as a fashion and product designer through his unique ability to reinterpret classics. His famous credo, "Classic with a twist," reflects his approach: traditional forms and cuts are preserved but enhanced with unexpected details, colors, or materials.
In 2000, he was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II (Knight Bachelor) and has since officially carried the title Sir Paul Smith – an honor recognizing his significant influence on British fashion and design, as well as his global success as a designer and entrepreneur.
About the MINI x Paul Smith Collaboration
The collaboration between MINI and Paul Smith is one of the most enduring and creatively rich partnerships between an automotive brand and a fashion designer. Spanning nearly three decades, it has continuously reinvented itself. Rather than a conventional co-branding exercise, it represents a long-term creative relationship – one that consistently rethinks and redefines design.
Cover image: Visualization of A Garden of Curiosity, MINI x Paul Smith, AI-generated (Source: BMW Group)
Related topics:
MINI, Paul Smith, A Garden of Curiosity, Salone del Mobile 2026, Milan Design Week, immersive installation, brand experience, experiential marketing, multisensory design, interactive installation, spatial design, exhibition design, nature-inspired design, automotive design, design collaboration, sensory experience, installation art, design event, Milan, Palazzo Borromeo d’Adda, House of MINI, product design, design trends, experiential branding
Summary:
An immersive brand experience at Salone del Mobile 2026: MINI and Paul Smith present "A Garden of Curiosity" – an extraordinary fusion of nature, design, multisensory storytelling, and interaction in Milan.
Please note: This text was translated from the German Event Magazine EventMasterBook.de (see article: Mini meets Nature – Ein Garten der Neugier zum Salone del Mobile). Please excuse any translation errors.
