November 12, 2026 – March 4, 2026
Design Museum of Chicago (72 E Randolph St, Chicago 60601)
Visiting hours: Monday-Sunday, 10am-5pm (Free admission)
Opening: November 12, 5:00pm-9:00pm (5-7pm at Design Museum; 7-9pm at Italian Cultural Institute)
Following the success of its previous international presentations in Tashkent and Washington, D.C, The Taste of Italian Design, curated by Elisabetta Pisu and presented by the Italian Cultural Institute in Chicago in collaboration with the Design Museum of Chicago, continues its international tour with a stop in Chicago as part of the 11th edition of the Week of Italian Cuisine in the World.
Hosted at the Design Museum of Chicago, 12 November 2026 to 4 March 2027, the exhibition explores the evolution of Italian kitchenware design through original creations and objects by some of Italy’s greatest designers. The 25 pieces on display investigate the relationship between Made in Italy design and food culture, guiding visitors on a chronological journey from the 1930s to the present day and highlighting some of the most representative designers, brands and objects in the history of Italian industry.
From small accessories designed for the mise en place to kitchen tools for food preparation, each object on display reflects the craftsmanship and distinctive sense of form that define Italian design, combining functionality and aesthetics, technological innovation and beauty. Highlights include Philippe Starck’s Juicy Salif, iconic lemon squeezer for Alessi (1990), Zaha Hadid’s Forma, a fluidly shaped grater for Alessi (2021), Gae Aulenti’s Toast for Trabo (1997), Matteo Ragni’s Matarél (2017), crafted from transparent borosilicate-glass, and Gio Ponti’s Conca, ergonomic cutlery set produced by Sambonet since 1955.
Enhanced by a special section curated by the Design Museum of Chicago and featuring Chicago-based designers Ian Alistair Cochran, Felicia Ferrone, Jordan Mozer, Craighton Berman, Christopher Gentner and Zak Rose, the exhibition brings contemporary Chicago design into dialogue with the history of Italian design, exploring shared ideas of craftsmanship, innovation, functionality, and aesthetics while highlighting the distinctive creative voice of Chicago’s design community.