DANESE MILANO REVISITS THE WORLD OF EDUCATIONAL DESIGN

Summer brings with it a time of lightness and play: Danese Milano presents a selection of objects designed to transform leisure time into an opportunity for creativity, exploration and learning. For the brand, play has always been more than entertainment: since its earliest years, Danese has explored the educational potential of objects, creating projects that stimulate observation, imagination and discovery through direct interaction.

This approach continues in the 2026 collection with two new projects by Michele De Lucchi — La Fattoria di Chele and Chele Puzzle — which bring the designer's distinctive graphic language into the world of play, alongside two timeless classics by Enzo Mari that have shaped generations of children and adults alike.

Chele Puzzle transforms Michele De Lucchi's spontaneous sketches into an open-ended game of composition. A series of colourful, stylised elements inspired by the animal kingdom can be freely combined to create existing or imaginary creatures, encouraging experimentation and storytelling through play. Made from sturdy cardboard, the puzzle is designed to be simple, durable and intuitive, inviting children to explore endless combinations while developing creativity and visual perception.

With La Fattoria di Chele, drawing takes on a three-dimensional form. Eight farm animals emerge from circular Chilean pine panels, becoming both decorative objects and playful companions. Defined by quick, essential lines, the figures reflect De Lucchi's immediate and expressive approach to drawing, distilling each animal to its most recognisable features.

Cut from a single 9 mm-thick wooden panel, the circular support and the animal silhouette separate into two independent elements. Elevated slightly by a felt backing, each figure acquires an almost sculptural presence, balancing graphic simplicity with tactile appeal.

Alongside these new introductions, Danese Milano reaffirms its design heritage through two masterpieces by Enzo Mari. Both 16 Animali and 16 Pesci are based on a deceptively simple idea: a single continuous cut that generates sixteen different figures from one piece of wood. More than puzzles, they are exercises in perception and form, demonstrating Mari's extraordinary ability to combine intellectual rigour, playfulness and manufacturing ingenuity.

Together, these four projects express a shared vision of play as a tool for discovery and imagination. Designed to be explored, manipulated and reinterpreted over time, they embody Danese Milano's enduring belief that learning and creativity can begin with the simplest of gestures.