From Milan and New York to Copenhagen and Chicago, we see hundreds of new products every year. The creative output is always impressive and inspiring, and choosing our favourites is no easy task. This year was no different. From Moooi’s eye-catching and exuberant Knitty Lounge chair to Richard Serra-inspired lighting from A-N-D, our top 10 product selects for 2023 made a lasting impression. 

Our Top 10 favourite products from 2023 include:

• Pilotis Console by Rodolfo Dordoni for Minotti
• Fragile Lamp by Jaume Ramírez for Marset 
• Memento Rug Collection by Yabu Pushelberg for CC Tapis 
• Knitty Lounge Chair by Nika Zupanc for Moooi 
• Pipe Collection by Marcel Wanders for Fantini 
• Vector Series Lighting by Lukas Peet for A-N-D
• Column Kitchen by Inga Sempé for Reform 
• Bao Collection by Alda Ly Architecture for HBF 
• Outdoor Collection curated by Vincent Van Duysen for Molteni&C 
• Beam Collection by Kenny Nguyen for Neinkämper

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Pilotis Console by Rodolfo Dordoni for Minotti

Pilotis isn’t just a console, it’s an objet d’art. The Brutalist-inspired design by the late architect and creative visionary Rodolfo Dordoni features a polished steel cylinder base supporting a cylinder top that has been sliced lengthwise to house a brushed “Licorice” lacquered ash insert.

This combination of cold steel and warm wood and of solid volumes deftly balanced against each other gives the Minotti piece a sophisticated materiality and heft and makes it as functional as it is visually striking.

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Fragile Lamp by Jaume Ramírez for Marset

Barcelona designer Jaume Ramírez streamlines the archetypal table lamp into its simplest forms, creating a geometric silhouette in three main parts: a disc, a sphere, and a cone. The body of the lamp is fabricated in blown glass and the base is acrylic, offering a transparent view through to a fourth shape inside: a glowing cylindrical LED tube that runs up the centre of the light.

This beam radiates out of the sculptural design, amplifying a barely-there presence into a dramatic focal point. The result is a precious delicacy — a table lamp that is in some ways familiar, and yet in others, altogether divine. What better way to reflect (in the words of Marset) “the fragility of the present moment.” The manufacturer offers the lamp in two options: clear glass, or a sepia-hued variant.

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Memento Rug Collection by Yabu Pushelberg for CC-Tapis

With the Memento rug collection for CC-Tapis, interior design studio Yabu Pushelberg manages to coax fragmented memories and cherished moments in time into the physical realm.

Hand-knotted by Tibetan artisans using luxurious Himalayan wool – both dyed and undyed – each of the seven rugs in the series was conceived to be an art piece for the floor and expresses a mix of abstract renditions of familiar yet fleeting dreamscapes and allegorical characters. A surreal playing of time and space, the individual patterns range from irregularly shaped monochromatic planes with carved surfaces to distorted and hazy depictions of objects and places, with each reflecting how individual memories can be recalled, recast and reformed. Thought-provoking and impactful, the Memento collection speaks to a personal sense of nostalgia while also aiming to set the stage for the formation of new and meaningful memories. 

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Knitty Lounge Chair by Nika Zupanc for Moooi

Looking like a supersized ball of yarn and feeling as soft as a favourite sweater, Nika Zupanc’s design for Moooi is a comforting companion in more ways than one. From a distance, the chair appears to be made of extra-thick threads looped together into a basketweave pattern.

But up close, it reveals another pattern: each of its “strands” is upholstered in Kvadrat Mosaic 2 fabric, giving them a quilted diamond motif. While the chair is available in 15 fun colourways, it may be the Barbie-esque pink (shown in Moooi’s unveiling during Milan Design Week) that felt like the ultimate 2023 showpiece.

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Pipe Collection by Marcel Wanders for Aboutwater Boffi Fantini

In most bathrooms, plumbing is carefully concealed so that the finishes and fixtures can shine. But Fantini’s Pipe series flips this relationship on its head, instead drawing inspiration from these industrial elements and bringing them into the spotlight. Though perhaps a little on the nose, the cheeky faucet and shower collection recalls the form of its namesake, while its vibrant red handles, which also make an appearance in the accompanying line of accessories, evoke a flower in bloom. Made from durable and recyclable stainless steel, the collection also represents a sustainable choice.

Originally designed by Marcel Wanders in 2000 for Boffi, Pipe was added to the Aboutwater Boffi Fantini portfolio at this year’s edition of Salone del Mobile — a testament to its timelessness and continued relevance. It is now the first of Wanders’ designs to feature in Fantini’s collection. The versatile Pipe series comprises 15 items, including wall- and deck-mount sink and tub faucets, shower mixers, multi-purpose hooks for towels and bathrobes, toilet roll holders, a freestanding shower column and more. An exercise in simplicity, the collection is proof that inspiration can be found in the most unexpected places.

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Vector Series Lighting by Lukas Peet for A-N-D

Inspired by the raw quality of Richard Serra’s sculptures, the Vector Series continues A-N-D’s winning streak in producing statement lighting fixtures that are also pragmatic. The pendant version comprises three or six steel sections fitted together to direct light down their inner sloped surfaces.

Aircraft cables, extending from the fixture’s hollow centre, suspend it like a rustic crown to cap any contemporary space. Designed by Lukas Peet of A-N-D, Vector debuted during Milan Design Week, where it perfectly captured the gritty essence of offsite extravaganza Alcova’s abattoir setting.

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Column Kitchen by Inga Sempé for Reform

When conceiving her first-ever kitchen for Scandinavian brand Reform, French designer Inga Sempé wanted to offer something a little different to the ubiquitous “sum of cubes” that comprise many of today’s modern kitchen systems. Her design – the Column kitchen – knocks it out of the park with its softly rounded corners and namesake detail – a curved column-like handle that runs the entire length of the units. “I wanted a handle that is nice to handle,” Sempé said of the charming addition, which unintentionally yet appropriately resembles a mushroom slice when viewed from above. 

Lending architectural distinction and a visual link across all units, the pleasing curved form of the handle is repeated on counter edges and cabinet corners, giving Column a consistent and harmonious character. Sempé also curated a palette of refreshing colourways – Fresh Cream, Pistachio, Concrete and Dark Umbra – that inject a dose of tonal expression while also letting the grain of the ash or oak wood to shine through. Richly detailed natural stones or solid wood countertops complete the elegantly simple series.  

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Bao Collection by Alda Ly Architecture for HBF

In conceiving its debut furnishings collection, Alda Ly Architecture (ALA) turned to the Chinese Bao for inspiration. Contract giant HBF came to ALA with a long wish-list, expecting to accomplish only a few of its objectives. But the firm delivered with a series of six different pouffes — and a fresh take on a form that has stood the test of time. Designed for comfort and user experience in commercial settings, Bao consists of small and medium circles and large semi-circles, with either low loop handles or high loop handles, and a stacking version that nods to dim sum trays. Available in both lounge and work heights, they effortlessly bridge the divide between formal and informal spaces.

From afar, the design is deceptively minimal. Look closer, and you’ll notice thoughtful details — a concentric quilted seat top, a signature seam stitch, and a protective metal cap on the stacking model — that create visual impact and showcase the firm’s affinity for craftsmanship and clean aesthetics. The compact design is also easy to move around, fostering collaboration and conversation. “The multiple meanings of the word Bao include expressions of preciousness and playfulness, and we designed a pouf that exudes both,” explains founder and principal Alda Ly. Playful and practical in equal measure, the one-of-a-kind Bao collection makes for an impossibly cute addition to any space.

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Outdoor Collection curated by Vincent Van Duysen for Molteni&C

Soft, modern forms meet organic, woven textures. Created under the creative direction of Vincent Van Duysen, the Molteni&C Outdoor Collection is architecture and nature beautifully intertwined. 

The first of four design ideas, the Landmark Collection, reveals Italian craftsmanship and sustainable touches that create an elegant and natural effect and features teak-frame garden sofas, armchairs, chaises longues, and more. With a wide range of seating, the Timeout Collection easily blends braided forms and textures with strong modernist architecture. Meanwhile, the Heritage Collection includes a rerelease of two iconic Gio Ponti armchairs for outdoor use. To conclude the collection is a series of rugs by Van Duysen, Marta Ferri and Nicola Gallizia in moody organic tones, as well as two renowned stand-alone pieces: the Arc table with cement finish designed by Foster + Partners and the outdoor Panna Cotta table by Ron Gilad.

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Beam Collection by Kenny Nguyen for Nienkämper

Relaxed, casual, fun, welcoming — and supremely sophisticated. Designed by Nienkämper in collaboration with Kenny Nguyen, the Beam seating collection is immediately distinguished by its elegantly rounded silhouette. Offered as a single lounge chair or a two- and three-seater sofa — with optional table elements — the fully upholstered bulbous elements rest on a central exposed wooden beam. 

At once expressive and rigorously pared down, Beam’s sociably low profile and compact footprint make it a natural choice for lobbies, lounges and breakout rooms. The statement-making Beam collection is rounded out by sculptural wood veneer coffee and occasional tables — accented by their bold three-inch top — which are defined by the same interplay of geometry and material simplicity. It’s truly a perfect pairing.