Designers and exhibitions to watch at Milan Design Week Furniture Fair.

The annual Milan furniture fair, which sees more than 300,000 people descend on the city, is about much more than acres of B&B Italia sofa suites and Corian kitchen islands. In recent years, the whole city has joined in, throwing open the doors of its grand palazzi, lush private gardens and raw industrial spaces, and showering visitors with prosecco. Such is the festival vibe that British designer Mr Tom Dixon has christened the fair “the Glastonbury of design”. And this year’s edition, running 4-9 April, is set to be just as much fun as that tag might suggest. Along with intriguing pop-ups, exhibitions and installations, there’s a nighttime “Design Pride” parade (expect black humour, satire and irony in bucket loads); Airbnb is taking a tour of Milan through the eyes of key style influencers; and Ikea has transformed a 3,500m warehouse into “the living room of the future”, complete with yoga and art classes. But what should a man of taste be particularly looking out for this year? Scroll down for our recommendations.

For 15 years, Spazio Pontaccio has sold contemporary design from the best makers in the business. This year, its founders Mr Alberto Pellini and Ms Elenonara Negri have gone a step further and launched Editions Milano, their own production label. It debuts with table accessories that are made in Italy by celebrated designers Ms Bethan Gray, Ms Chiara Andreatti, david/nicolas and Ms Lorenza Bozzoli.

4-9 April Spazio Pontaccio, Via Pontaccio, 18, 20121 editionsmilano.com

Gallerist Ms Rossana Orlandi is a veteran talent scout and having an exhibition in her space is the Holy Grail. On show this year is young Indian brand Scarlet Splendour, which takes on young designers who fuse craft and design, India and Italy. Highlights from its new collection are bedroom pieces with a boudoir feel by Slovenian designer Ms Nika Zupanc and tables and rugs with graphic brass inlays by Italian designer star Mr Matteo Cibic.

4-9 April Via Matteo Bandello, 14/16, 20123 scarletsplendour.com

Art and design meet infrequently during the fair, but a collection of five new pieces created by late Japanese designer Mr Shigeru Uchida and Hong Kong art patron Mr Adrian Cheng – on show at the Wander From Within exhibition – are destined to be museum pieces. Made in Japan from local chestnut and bamboo, they are inspired by traditional tea ceremonies and were designed just before Mr Uchida’s death last year. Mr Cheng, who runs the K11 Art Foundation to promote young Chinese artists in Asia will ensure they end up in the right hands.

4-8 April Villa Necchi Campiglio, Via Mozart, 12, 20122 wanderfromwithin.com

Last year, jewellery designer Ms Lara Bohinc set up Bohinc Studio specifically to make objects and furniture, and she is in Milan with new vases, furniture and lighting. Her Collision lamps consisting of metal and acrylic spheres were made with creative studio Matter of Stuff. Founded by London-based architects Simona Auteri and Sofia Steffenoni the studio works with a global network of makers, and marble and metal furniture by six upcoming talents are also on show.

6-10 April **Piazza della Repubblica 13 bohincstudio.com ** **matterofstuff.com **

Messrs Britt Moran and Emiliano Salci of Milan’s Dimore Studio have the Midas touch. Every interior the duo creates is a go-to address and they stay close to home for inspiration. Villa Necchi, the historic Milanese house featured in Mr Luca Guadagnino’s film I Am Love, informs the Art Deco thread that runs through every Dimore Studio project, while mirrored wardrobes and coffee tables reference the graphic lines of Italian conceptual artist Mr Gianni Piacentino. This year’s new furnishing collection features hand-painted tiles inspired by 1930s graphics and patterned fabrics in the studio’s trademark palette of blue and green.

4-9 April Via Solferino 11 dimoregallery.com