On the occasion of Milan Design Week 2026, D-house laboratorio urbano, Dual Innovation Hub of Pattern Group, presents Foot/Print EXP, a project developed in collaboration with Kornit Digital and conceived by designers Sangi and Materia. The project is conceived as a platform for applied research in the footwear sector, aimed at exploring new design possibilities through the integration of design, digital technologies, and product development.

Foot/Print EXP unfolds through a collection of five footwear prototypes, developed through a process that combines aesthetic experimentation with technological innovation. At its core is the use of Kornit’s digital printing technologies, employed not only as a production tool but as a true design device, capable of acting directly on materials and surfaces and expanding the expressive and functional possibilities of the product. The sustainable, on-demand approach of the technology also enables greater flexibility in development and a reduction of waste across the supply chain.

The installation is structured across two distinct environments: an immersive space inspired by a Mars-like landscape, where surfaces, colors, and materials generate experimental textures later applied to the footwear, and a laboratory space dedicated to showcasing processes, materials, and development phases, highlighting the transition from research to product.

The project is based on an integrated supply chain in which expertise and technologies operate in synergy: Kornit Digital provides digital textile printing technologies, including XDi technology for three-dimensional and tactile effects; D-house laboratorio urbano, Dual Innovation Hub of Pattern Group, oversees project development, prototyping, and supply chain coordination; designers Sangi and Materia define the concept and design. The materials used are supplied by Beppetex, provider of cotton canvas fabrics, and Colombo Industrie Tessili, specialized in technical textiles, while Conceria Enterprise supplies leather materials for the footwear sector. Printing and finishing are carried out by Tintoria Finissaggio 2000 using Kornit technology.

Foot/Print EXP investigates footwear as a field of experimentation, highlighting how the integration of digital technology and manufacturing can generate new production models that are more flexible, customizable, and sustainable. In line with D-house’s vision, the project promotes a collaborative approach to design, where research, industry, and creativity contribute to the development of concrete solutions for the future of design.

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