Apple and Design Miami celebrate 4 emerging designers in Paris

By Léa Zetlaoui.

The third edition of Paris Design Miami

On Tuesday 21st of October 2025, as the French capital pulses with contemporary art fairs, the Hôtel des Maisons becomes the setting for the third edition of Paris Design Miami. Until October 26th, over twenty-five international galleries are showcasing their treasures, from historic pieces to contemporary creations. All that beneath the gilded ceilings of this imposing 18th-century private mansion. Avant-garde outdoor installations and furniture even take over the cobbled courtyard and lush garden of Karl Lagerfeld‘s former house, extending the experience beyond the walls of the venue.

While the famous fair remains true to its reputation by presenting eclectic works from renowned artists, it is also launching a new initiative focusing on emerging artists this year. In one of the rooms overlooking the terrace, the exhibition “Designers of Tomorrow”, organized by Design Miami in collaboration with Apple, presents four new creators from all over the world.

Presided over by Rodman Primack, former executive director of Design Miami and founder of AGO Projects, the initiative relied on an exceptional jury tasked with selecting the winners among the twenty-one applicants. Among the members of the jury were curator Aric Chen, designers Faye Toogood, Mathieu Lehanneur, Sabine Marcelis, and Samuel Ross, along with Jennifer Roberts, CEO of Design Miami, and Alan Dye and Molly Anderson, directors of the Apple Design Studio.

“The selection process turned out to be surprisingly straightforward,” Rodman Primack says enthusiastically. “It was really interesting to see how quickly we reached a consensus. The four designers stood out almost naturally and were chosen almost unanimously. In the end, the outcome feels remarkably well-balanced.”

Apple supports emerging designers

Rather discreet when it comes to patronage, Apple has long been a consistent supporter of artists, creators, and designers across the globe. For the Californian company founded in 1976, the dialogue between technology, creativity, and craftsmanship remains a key driver of innovation.

With “Designers of Tomorrow,” Apple and Design Miami are extending that philosophy. Especially as they highlight creative practices that use the iPad as a design tool. The exhibition also coincides with the launch of the new iPad Pro M5, conceived as an immersive experience dedicated to creation.

“I think what really caught our attention was how each project merges technology and craftsmanship,” Rodman Primack adds. “There’s always a human element in the creative process, whether it’s 3D-printed ceramics or using cardboard to shape molds. There’s always that moment when the human hand takes over.”

Four designers, four eclectic approaches

Brought together in a scenography designed by Rodman Primack, the six design pieces stand out as much for the richness of their materials as for the diversity of the practices and narratives they represent. If there is a common thread, it may lie in their lyrical, playful approach.

The French design duo Marie & Alexandre present CR Boxes System and Vase Double, 2025, created during their residency at Le Corbusier’s Unité d’Habitation in Marseille in 2024. There, they explored glass thermoforming to develop modular, convertible objects that play with colour and light.

London-based, Italian artist Marco Campardo unveils his Jello coffee table. Here textures and organic forms turn an everyday gesture into a sculptural object, blending humour with functionality.

Meanwhile, American ceramicist Jolie Ngo reimagines traditional Vietnamese silk lanterns in her works Lantern Vessel in Between Worlds and Table Lamp in Cherry Blossoms and Himalayan Salt. The artist combines ancestral craftsmanship with 3D-printed clay to create poetic lighting pieces.

Lastly, Chinese designer Duyi Han presents Noetigram v0.9, a double-surfaced mirror exploring the way we map and understand the body and mind. Anatomical diagrams, occult manuscripts, and wellness mantras are embroidered onto white satin.

All of them use the iPad and Apple tools as extensions of their creative process, from initial sketches to the final result. Intuitive by nature, these technological objects allow them to explore forms, colours, and textures in a fluid way, without losing touch with the materiality of their practices.

The exhibition “Designers of Tomorrow” is open from October 21st to 26th, 2025, at Design Miami. Hôtel de Maisons, 51 Rue de l’Université, Paris 7th.