Bringing together the manufacturing strength of the furniture and interior industries with design vision, curatorial excellence and a qualified business model, Furnishings & Design Istanbul (FDI) is preparing to open its doors for the third time. Taking place at the Istanbul Expo Center on 24–26 September, the event will welcome more than 30 designers, interior architects, academics and industry professionals as part of FDI Stage & Talks, where they will discuss the future of design. Among the headline speakers will be Ross Lovegrove, one of the pioneers of biomimetic design, who will deliver an inspiring keynote presentation.
Organized by the Furniture Associations Federation (MOSFED) and shaped around the vision of “Where Design Leads,” FDI Istanbul is far more than a trade fair showcasing design products. It is a multidimensional platform that positions design as a driving force behind value-added manufacturing, intellectual capital, innovation and international branding.
Alongside the latest collections from design-led brands, the event will host specially curated exhibitions including New Horizon Exhibition, Design Circle, MasterFul and Big Soft, bringing together diverse disciplines of contemporary design under one roof. Through the Designer to Business (D2B) collaboration program, international buyer delegations and FDI Stage & Talks, FDI Istanbul will create a dynamic ecosystem where ideas evolve into partnerships and design generates added value. By embedding design, sustainability and innovation into the DNA of manufacturing, FDI Istanbul aims to contribute to Türkiye’s vision of design-driven economic growth.
The future of design takes center stage at FDI Stage & Talks
Serving as the intellectual hub of FDI Istanbul, FDI Stage & Talks will host 10 sessions over three days, bringing together more than 30 national and international speakers from the fields of design, architecture, innovation, sustainability, artificial intelligence and technology.
The program will explore the topics shaping the future of the industry, including design-led growth, next-generation business models, premium space and experience design, contract furnishing, circular economy, sustainability and international branding.
Ross Lovegrove to take the FDI Stage on 24 September
One of the world’s leading industrial designers, Ross Lovegrove, will be among the featured speakers at this year’s FDI Stage & Talks. Lovegrove will meet participants on Thursday, 24 September at 1:00 p.m., immediately following the official opening ceremony of the fair.
During his keynote, Lovegrove will explore the evolving relationship between technology, biology, artificial intelligence and nature, sharing his vision for the future of manufacturing and design culture.
Expressing his excitement about participating in FDI Istanbul, Lovegrove said:
“I’m genuinely excited to be part of FDI Istanbul. I look forward to sharing the experiences I have gained throughout my career through the lens of organic and generative design. I see myself as a technology sculptor. I’ve worked across many disciplines, from furniture and aviation to transportation and lighting. Today, we are at the very heart of a transformation that stretches from the analog era to the digital age and now into the age of artificial intelligence. I can’t wait to be in Istanbul on 24 September to discuss this remarkable transformation.”
Having completed nearly 2,000 projects, Ross Lovegrove is internationally recognized for his biomorphic design philosophy inspired by nature. Renowned for iconic creations such as the Go Chair, DNA Stairs and the Ty Nant water bottle, as well as projects developed for global brands including Sony, Apple, Airbus and TAG Heuer, Lovegrove is widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in contemporary industrial design, redefining design at the intersection of technology, science and nature.
Julio Rodrigo Fuentes and Philipp Trompeter also join FDI
Alongside Ross Lovegrove, Julio Rodrigo Fuentes, Innovation and Sustainability Manager at AMBIT Cluster, will discuss the relationship between design, innovation and sustainability, and how this transformation is reshaping the industry.
Philipp Trompeter, Senior Manager at Wieselhuber & Partner GmbH, will share insights into the impact of artificial intelligence on business processes, the design ecosystem and evolving customer expectations.
Across its 2024 and 2025 editions, FDI Istanbul hosted a total of 74 national and international speakers in 20 FDI Talks sessions. This year’s program will once again demonstrate that design is not merely an aesthetic value, but one of the fundamental drivers of economic growth, value-added manufacturing and global competitiveness.
