Miguel Milá. (Pre)industrial designer
Design Museum of Barcelona, Spain
June 19, 2025 – 28 September 2025

From June 19 to September 28, 2025, Disseny Hub Barcelona (DHub) will host the most comprehensive retrospective to date on Miguel Milá-one of Spain’s foremost pioneers in industrial design. Titled Miguel Milá. (Pre)industrial Designer, the exhibition explores Milá’s enduring legacy through more than 200 objects and documents that illuminate his professional journey and personal life. Curated by Gonzalo Milá and Claudia Oliva, the show offers a deeply human portrait of the Barcelona-born designer whose work has become synonymous with timeless elegance and functionality.

The exhibition spans eight thematic rooms and features over 150 pieces-from early prototypes to recent works-alongside more than 270 documents, including original sketches, blueprints, photographs, and scale models. This rich array of materials not only contextualizes Milá’s design output but also traces the evolution of his ideas, the social and economic backdrop of post-war Spain, and the emergence of industrial design as a discipline.

Among the highlights are iconic objects such as the TMM, TMC, and Cesta lamps-now considered benchmarks of modern design-and contributions to urban furniture, like the NeoRomántico bench and Salvador chair. These creations reflect Milá’s commitment to simplicity, ergonomics, and sustainability.

Born into a bourgeois family in post-war Barcelona, Miguel Milá initially pursued architecture but soon found himself drawn to interior and product design. Amidst a scarcity of materials and consumer goods, Milá began creating objects that didn’t yet exist. His designs were guided by necessity, function, and a craftsman’s sensitivity-hallmarks that defined his approach for decades.

Milá’s early collaborations with architect Federico Correa and his brother Alfonso led to the founding of firms like Tramo, Gres, and Polinax. His involvement with professional associations such as ADI-FAD further helped institutionalize design in Spain. Influenced by architect Josep Antoni Coderch, Milá’s aesthetic prioritized function over ornament, forming a consistent design language of clarity and grace.

Barcelona has long served as both canvas and inspiration for Milá’s work. The city’s public spaces, such as its benches and metro cars, quietly bear his influence, while many private homes showcase his furniture and lighting. His thoughtful approach to design earned him numerous accolades, including the Delta Gold Award, Spain’s National Industrial Design Award, the Creu de Sant Jordi, and the prestigious Compasso d’Oro Internazionale.

The exhibition at DHub is more than a retrospective-it’s a tribute from the city that shaped him and was shaped by him. In 2024, shortly after his passing, Barcelona City Council awarded him the City Gold Medal, underscoring the deep respect he garnered throughout his life.

The exhibition also marks the public debut of a significant portion of the Miguel Milá Collection, housed in the Museum’s Library and Archive of Design. This archive, donated by Milá’s family, contains more than 5,000 documents spanning 817 projects. Visitors will find rare materials including his architecture student notebook, design documents for Barcelona Metro cars, and scale models of the A-14 fireplace and M-57 spiral staircase.

The show also incorporates audiovisual elements such as a 2018 interview with Milá and a documentary by Poldo Pomés, offering further insights into his vision and process.

Alongside the museum’s holdings, the exhibition features items on loan from Milá’s family, renowned companies like Santa & Cole and Escofet, and institutions including urbidermis and Mobles 114. Thirty-eight pieces were added to the Museum’s Product Design Collection thanks to donations from Milá himself and design manufacturers such as Expormim, DAE, and Gres.

more. www.dissenyhub.barcelona.com