The Hidden Art showcase featuring the work of seven East London designers at this year’s Milan Furniture Fair was a great success for all concerned and generated a wave of interest from manufacturers, buyers, architects and designers from around the world. The exhibition also received considerable media coverage with articles in Italian Elle Deco, Interni and several Japanese design magazines.

In addition to the main event in the huge Fiera di Milano exhibition halls, the fair spread across the whole of the city with more than 2,000 exhibitors displaying the latest cutting-edge designs in the furniture and interiors industry and attracted well over 250,000 visitors from around the world.

The Hidden Art in Milan showcase was highlighted at Designconnection 2003 in Superstudio 13, based in the ‘Zona Tortona’ one of the key fringe areas of the fair which also included Superstudio Piu, showcasing Cappellini, Tom Dixon, Magis and other design luminaries.

The seven East London designers were promoted under the collective banner of 'Hidden Art' and are all participants in Mazorca Projects' Design and Manufacture Project which enables designers to develop and showcase prototypes with the aim of full production. They are:

bdm Design - contemporary furniture and interior accessories
Dominic Crinson - digital ceramic tiles, wallpaper and vinyl flooring
Damdesign - furniture, lighting and accessories
Andrew Davies - furniture and product design
Frank - furniture and interiors design practice
Corinna Julnes - lighting and furniture
François Lefranc furniture, lighting and accessories

As a result of their participation in the Design and Manufacture Project several designers developed new work for Milan with UK-based manufacturing companies.