Once a site of musical production and publishing, the space was reactivated by a selection of international designers as a listening environment. Here, sound wasn’t background, it was the main event. Throughout the week, compositions moved through the room in shifting intervals, subtly reshaping its mood over time.
On opening night, Level Shoes welcomed friends of the brand, designers, creatives, and cultural figures, accompanied by a curated set by Antenna Paradisco.
Elisa Bruno, CEO of Level Shoes, said: “We’re proud to participate in Milan Design Week, one of the world’s most influential cultural platforms, during the Salone del Mobile, in a city that continues to shape the global design conversation. While we are rooted in the Middle East, our community is global. Level Shoes was built in a place defined by movement, and we’ve grown alongside our travelling, international clients. With Sounds of Design, we’re exploring sound as a shared language that connects people, place, and design in a direct, sensory way.”
Sounds of Design kicks off the first instalment of the Summer ‘26 campaign, The Art of Sound and reflects a focus on cultural programming, moving beyond retail into shared spatial and social experiences.
What did you want audiences to notice the moment they stepped into Sounds of Design?
I would like people to perceive how sound can be deeply connected to design and space, rather than reduced to a simple layering of notes reproduced by anonymous audio systems. Sound as a material has a visible beauty, just like physical matter, and it always requires something physical to exist.
What is your go-to summer song?
When I was younger, I spent a lot of time listening to albums by Franco Battiato, so there are some of his tracks that I associate with my past summers. One in particular is “Chan-Son Egocentrique”.
Is there a playlist you’d like to share?
Rather than playlists, my approach is based on research that moves in the opposite direction. I prefer a direct and spontaneous exploration, not mediated by selections or predefined paths. If I had to suggest something, I would recommend starting from my album Music for Dimensions to begin perceiving how I work in creating different physical and evocative sonic environments.