MDW Update + Open Roles (members)

The NeueHaus newsletter to keep you up to date with what's happening in the community.

WHAT WENT DOWN DURING MILAN DESIGN WEEK ✹

Milan was electric this year. The true highlight was connecting with our members throughout the week with our morning catch-ups at Pasticceria Cova and visiting some of their exhibits.

Design Week has quietly outgrown itself. What began as a trade show has transformed into one of Europe’s cultural moments of the year. Fashion houses led this expansion years ago, but the newest players at the table—tech giants and consumer brands—are bringing fresh perspectives and experimental approaches that are reshaping the conversation around design itself.

Stone Island’s listening room in collaboration with Friendly Pressure.

The most talked about brand experiences this year? Everything revolved around listening rooms and music-driven installations. Nike collaborated with Berlin-based record label PAN and launched a new shoe inspired by Berlin’s club culture. Stone Island and Friendly Pressure created a high-fidelity sound system with a program of week-long DJ sets and talks. Meanwhile, Vans took over Triennale with Tim Hecker's compositions that transformed sound waves into physical environments you could feel in your bones. After years of Instagram-optimized visual installations, brands have rediscovered that ears are the new eyes.

✹ Our MDW25 Playlist is up ✹

Check out our conversation with Carolina from Phillips Auction who walks us through their installation with Interni Venosta: a 70ies inspired party cave with sound design by the legendary Plastic nightclub founder Nicola Guiducci.

Sprezzatura: The Art of Carelessnes

Italians have gifted us many concepts, but perhaps none captures the essence of Milan Design Week better than sprezzatura. Coined by Baldassare Castiglione in 1528, sprezzatura describes the art of making something extraordinarily difficult look effortlessly natural. It's that perfectly imperfect shirt cuff, the casually brilliant remark, or the design that appears spontaneous despite months of planning. Something to channel as we return to our desks this week.

INDUSTRY INSIGHTS: THE DECENTRALIZED BRAND VOICE ✹

Why being “on brand” is becoming obsolete in the new era of content creation

The most forward-thinking brands are tossing out the old playbook of rigid consistency on social. Why? Because people get bored seeing the same style, faces and perspective over and over again.

Loewe jumped on the Italian Brain Rot trend. Off-brand? Maybe. Engaging? YES.

Brands like Loewe have figured this out—intentionally incorporating different voices, styles, and perspectives into their content mix. This approach creates surprise moments that make audiences stop scrolling and rediscover the brand from unexpected angles. It's strategic inconsistency: keeping people engaged long-term by breaking patterns in ways that reveal new dimensions of your brand's personality.

For you as a creative, this shift is gold—clients are actively looking for distinct voices and fresh perspectives. Worth thinking about when you're pitching your next project.

NEW PROJECT DROP ✹

We're excited to share several opportunities that have emerged within our network. Find below a curated selection of roles we're currently filling for our brand partners and clients.

Motion Designer

Area: LifestyleType: FreelanceLocation: Milan or Remote

Availability: May-June

A Milanese lifestyle brand is looking for a motion designer. You'll create immersive 3D animations optimized for social-first viewing experiences. More than technical skill, this role demands an intuitive grasp of how movement translates across platforms and captures fleeting attention spans. Your portfolio should demonstrate both technical precision and creative vision.

Spatial DesignerArea: Tech & LifestyleType: FreelanceLocation: Berlin

Availability: May-Sept

We’re looking for an exceptional set designer for an upcoming event with a Berlin-based tech company. You need to be available for conceptual development sessions in May, while the event and set building will happen in September. Your portfolio should show experience with creating installations that unite creative vision and brand storytelling.

PR ManagerArea: Design & ArchitectureType: FreelanceLocation: Berlin or Remote

Time: From June with 2-3 days per week, ongoing

A specialized PR position has emerged for someone fluent in the language of design, architecture, and furniture. Beyond traditional media relationships, this role requires cultural curation. The ideal candidate has cultivated relationships with editors in Germany and further European countries who shape the conversation around interior and collectible design.

Interested? Simply reply to this email. If you have someone in mind who could be a fit, please forward this email. We’d love to hear from you.

WEEKLY OFFICE HOURS ✹

Join Our Freelancer Support SessionsEvery Monday | 4-5pm CET | Virtual

Have questions about pricing your services? Struggling with a tricky client proposal? Need feedback on contract terms? Drop into our weekly office hours where our team and experienced members share insights on navigating freelance challenges. Book your time here.

Your NeueHaus Team

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