In a three-year collaborative project, the Swiss Arts Council Pro Helvetia and Presence Switzerland have embarked on a mission to spotlight the future and dynamism of Swiss design to a global audience. With a new theme each year, the House of Switzerland is the physical culmination of the project, taking residence in Milan’s iconic Casa degli Artisti in Brera.

Rooted in a sense of hope and optimism, through topics such as circularity, wellness, and our connection to nature, each project offers a unique interpretation of the joy found in ingenuity and innovation. Be it momentary actions that may instigate a pure and childlike reaction or the deeper and more complex degrees to such sensations that can be experimented within a multifaceted society, joy is something we all connect to. Subtle, yet vibrant, constant, yet fleeting, intimate, yet shared, it is a juxtaposition for us all.

In exploring the nuances of joy, and its connection to design, there is a hope to re-establish its importance more than ever within today’s world, while focusing on the need to encourage a culture that allows it to be distributed in equal measure.
Through distinct interpretations of the theme from the designers and studios involved, 2 and 3-dimensional did draw the visitor in with a touch of joviality as others address with thought-provoking concepts that may challenge our own discernment of joy.

During this entertaining visit, we threw a ball off the roof, spun a giant windmill and also selected a few projects that caught our eye due to their artistic design or the ingenuity of the products.