Solid Looks Like Liquid - SOLID AS LIQUID - Sign Maker DAIKAN to Exhibit for the First Time at Milan Design Week 2026

DAIKAN Co., Ltd. is an Osaka-based sign maker founded in 1964. As a group of artisans who have supported the creation of spaces for luxury brands and commercial facilities with precision and sincerity, they continue their efforts to extend their technology and sensibility to create value for entire spaces.

As part of this challenge, they will exhibit for the first time at Milan Design Week 2026, held in Milan, Italy from Monday, April 20th to Sunday, April 26th, 2026. The venue is "Palermo 18" in the Brera district, the heart of Fuorisalone. The main product to be unveiled is a prototype of the 《FLUX TABLE》, a table whose mirror-polished metal top ripples as if it were liquid. This unprecedented metal expression, "FLUX METAL," is born from DAIKAN's precision processing technology accumulated over 60 years and the handiwork of its skilled artisans. Its potential has been brought to fruition in a single table.

A Wavering Top and an Unwavering Base. 《FLUX TABLE》

The 《FLUX TABLE》 is a table with a mirror-polished aluminum top that ripples like liquid. Despite being stationary, its surface, when struck by light, appears to sway thickly. This unique expression is created by a new metal technique called "FLUX METAL." Supporting the tabletop is a leg structure designed in collaboration with the design brand 130 (ONE THIRTY). 130's proprietary technology, which continuously constructs a three-dimensional structure from a single frame, creates a structure that is both overwhelmingly lightweight and robust, possessing the look of a handicraft despite being an industrial product. A wavering top and an unwavering base. The union of these two contradictory elements is at the core of this work's design.

The Aesthetic Philosophy of Resilience

The 《FLUX TABLE》 quietly questions the values demanded by modern society: "unchanging," "unbreakable," and "perfect." The surface of the tabletop is slightly disturbed when touched. However, this is not a defect, but a natural fluctuation inherent to the material. What is important is the power to restore itself from there. This work presents an aesthetic philosophy of "Resilience" as a supple strength that returns to a natural state while accepting fluctuation. It's not about aiming for perfection, but about being able to return to one's essence while tolerating change. It is because of our solid relationship with society and the environment that we can safely fluctuate and return. The 《FLUX TABLE》 embodies this philosophy in its very structure.

Collaboration with Design Brand 130 (ONE THIRTY)

The 《FLUX TABLE》 was designed in collaboration with the design brand 130 (ONE THIRTY) to establish the "FLUX METAL" phenomenon as a product. Their design philosophy, which allows for everything from partial repairs to complete disassembly and regeneration, embodies a sustainable relationship with society and the environment, and resonates deeply with the idea of Resilience—"accepting fluctuation and returning." The presence of 130, which sublimated the unknown material "FLUX METAL" into a prototype and designed the entire exhibition space as a single experience, makes them an ideological collaborator on this project.

Exhibition "Return to…"

Modern times present a perceptual environment heavily biased towards sight and hearing. The exhibition "Return to..." is an experiential space that attempts to restore perceptual balance by creating opportunities to reawaken the five senses in stages, returning to physical sensations.

On the main floor of "Palermo 18," located in the Brera district, the heart of Fuorisalone, three prototypes of the 《FLUX TABLE》 using FLUX METAL for the tabletop will be exhibited. The 《Curve》, where the tabletop bends in an arc; the 《Lift》, where individual tiles rise with the operation of a foot pedal; and the 《Full Tile》, where the entire surface automatically undulates like waves—all are covered with FLUX METAL tiles, polished to the extreme and deforming as flexibly as mercury. The texture, which changes its expression moment by moment depending on the angle of light, will fill the visitor's field of vision with the shimmer of liquid metal. Starting with sight, which accounts for about 80% of human perception, the unprecedented texture and light fluctuations created by this special metal will awaken the visitor's sensibilities.

The basement floor will feature experiences for each sense: touch, smell, and taste. Through 12 types of tactile samples carefully selected from DAIKAN's material library, scents extracted from crystals and other materials under the supervision of KANSEI Design, and a taste experience with the traditional Japanese candy Konpeito, the exhibition offers a chance to return to the innate sensory communication that people possess.

As stated in DAIKAN's purpose, "'Crafting with care' moves hearts. Run together, create resonance.," the encounter with an unknown material becomes an opportunity to unlock the hidden potential of artisan handiwork and liberate human sensibility.

Exhibition Overview

Exhibition Name: Return to…

Dates: Monday, April 20, 2026 – Sunday, April 26, 2026

Hours: 10:00 – 19:00 (until 15:00 on the final day)

Venue: Palermo 18

Address: Via Palermo 18, Milano, Italy

Concept & Material Direction: FEEL GOOD CREATION Inc.

Scent Direction: KANSEI Design

Collaboration: 130

Organizer: DAIKAN Co., Ltd.

Special Website

Details and video of this project can be viewed here.

URL: https://www.daikan.ne.jp/lp/MDW2026/

Press Preview & Cocktail Party

A press preview and cocktail party for media personnel are scheduled for the opening day.

Press Preview: Monday, April 20, 10:00–18:00

Cocktail Party: Monday, April 20, 18:00–21:00

DAIKAN Co., Ltd.

A sign maker based in Japan. They are a group of artisans who have supported the creation of spaces for luxury brands with precision and sincerity. While merging advanced manufacturing technology cultivated through signage production with a unique Japanese aesthetic, they are expanding their efforts to create spatial experiences that act on the senses beyond sight.
WEB: https://www.daikan.ne.jp/

130 (ONE THIRTY)

A design brand with innovative 3D modeling technology at its core, which continuously constructs a three-dimensional structure from a single frame. It creates structures that are both overwhelmingly lightweight and robust, possessing the look of a handicraft despite being an industrial product. It achieves a "cycle of creation and deconstruction" that allows for everything from partial repairs to complete disassembly and regeneration. For this project, they led the translation and design from the FLUX METAL material to the FLUX TABLE and the spatial implementation.

WEB: https://www.130onethirty.com/

FEEL GOOD CREATION Inc.

Established in 2007 as Japan's first design studio specializing in CMF® (Color, Material, Finish). They aim to create value that resonates with human senses through the design of colors, materials, and surfaces. In this project, they were responsible for concept development, material direction, and the direction of the five-senses experience.
WEB: https://feelgood-c.com/

KANSEI Design Limited

A design and research company that designs spaces which influence human physiological, psychological, and behavioral functions using "Kansei Design," which integrates the five senses (sight, hearing, smell, touch, taste). In the field of olfactory communication, with over 10 years of research and knowledge, they have implemented numerous experiential corporate branding projects utilizing scent. For this project, they were in charge of designing the scent to match the concept.

WEB: https://kdltd.jp/