Salone del Mobile and Milan Design Week dazzle with standout collaborations and design debuts, Trump’s tariffs cause tumult in the travel and hotel industries, and the HD Awards to celebrate three at upcoming ceremony in Las Vegas. All that and more in this week’s Five on Friday.
Highlights from Milan Design Week 2025
Designer Tara Bernerd and Frette collaborated on Disrupting Architecture, a new textile collection that debuted at Salone del Mobile; photo courtesy of Frette by Tara Bernerd
This week, Milan Design Week 2025 and the 63rd edition of Salone del Mobile have impressed with captivating installations and product launches. Highlights include designer Stephen Burks’ travel-inspired wallpapers for Calico, Tara Bernerd’s vibrant textiles and furniture for Frette and Medea 1905, and Philippe Malouin’s cozy Great Sofa for Hem, writes Galerie magazine. Additionally, Flos introduced the modular SuperWire lighting by Formafantasma, while Studio KO’s Moroccan-style rugs for Beni Rugs celebrated traditional craftsmanship. Another notable installation, Casa Cork by David Rockwell, honored cork’s sustainable potential. The event also attracted major fashion houses. Loewe showcased artistic teapots celebrating tea rituals, Prada Frames explored the concept of transit, and Louis Vuitton launched its first home collection, reports Elle. La DoubleJ’s 10th anniversary, meanwhile, brought tarot and sound healing into its new HQ, while Gucci spotlighted its iconic bamboo heritage. Plus, check out HD editor in chief Stacy Shoemaker Rauen’s recap on TikTok.
The industry braces for Trump’s tariffs
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The fluctuating tariff policies under the Trump administration will have a significant impact on the travel and hotel industry. A recent 90-day suspension of reciprocal tariffs has temporarily stabilized the market, but uncertainty persists. The hospitality sector, specifically, faces hurtles as hotels are threatened with higher operating costs, labor shortages, and a slowdown in renovations and new construction as costs rise, writes The New York Times. Meanwhile, Michelle Russo—founder and CEO of asset management company HotelAVE, which oversees a $12 billion portfolio of hotels—told Skift she has seen a slowdown in bookings and delays in business travel approvals due to reduced travel confidence. Russo predicts a potential 5 percent drop in revenue per available room (RevPAR) this year and advises cost-cutting measures like limiting key card distribution, efficient overtime management, and adjusting F&B prices in response to tariff-induced import cost increases. “That’s not me giving a forecast to the industry, and hopefully, things won’t be that bad,” she says, “but I want cost containment plans that assume that scenario.”
Are nightclub closures a recession indicator?
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A wave of nightclub closures are hitting Brooklyn neighborhoods like Bushwick and Williamsburg, as venues face mounting challenges including rising rents, skyrocketing insurance premiums, and shifting consumer habits, reports The New York Times. Paragon, a popular dance club in Bushwick, is among those shutting down despite steady crowds. Freehold, a hybrid café and nightclub in Williamsburg, saw its rent triple after a landlord arbitration ruling. Commercial insurance costs have also become a financial burden for venues like TBA Brooklyn, where premiums increased fivefold over 12 years. Compounding these issues is a generational shift in alcohol consumption, with young people drinking less than in previous years. While some clubs, like Gabriela in Williamsburg, found limited success through quality programming, the rising costs across the board make the future of the New York nightlife scene uncertain.
A new mosque for women redefines spiritual space
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Designed by Diller Scofidio + Renfro (DS+R) and led by Dr. Sohaira Siddiqui, a scholar of Islamic Studies at Georgetown University, the LEED Gold-certified Al-Mujadilah in Doha marks the world’s first contemporary mosque for women. Serving as both a spiritual sanctuary and an intellectual hub, it hosts programs like daily prayers, educational workshops, and the Jadal summit, which focuses on the role of Muslim women in public life. The mosque’s design symbolizes openness and connection to nature. A large perforated roof diffuses natural light into the space, while two olive trees pierce through the roof, embodying peace and continuity. The mosque’s prayer hall features a reimagined Turkish carpet and accommodates up to 750 worshippers, extendable to 1,300 during Ramadan. “As a woman, the project was a special opportunity for me to design a space exclusively for women that is flexible and responsive to real-time, everyday needs,” Elizabeth Diller, partner at DS+R told Designboom.
HD Awards to celebrate three individuals during live ceremony
Karie and Julian Brittano, recipients of the HDAC Awards of Excellence; photo courtesy of the Brittanos
Hospitality Design announced two significant industry honors this week. The Hospitality Diversity Action Council (HDAC) presented its fifth annual Awards of Excellence to Julian and Karie Brittano. The dynamic husband-and-wife duo began their entrepreneurial journey in 2018 with the launch of the Brittano Group, a development venture based in High Point, North Carolina. They “exemplify a forward-thinking strategy that leverages hospitality projects as catalysts for positive change,” says HDAC member Archit Sawhney.
The HD/West Elm Student Product Design Competition announced Calvin Ma of California State Polytechnic University, Pomona as the winner of the seventh annual contest for his design of the midcentury-inspired Martin dining chair.
All three will be celebrated during the 21st annual HD Awards ceremony on May 6th at the Bellagio Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, held in conjunction with HD Expo + Conference. Purchase tickets today!
