Los sonidos y las formas del Parmigiano Reggiano en la Semana del Diseño de Milán

Being an icon means knowing how to remain the same over time, but also being able to interpret and embrace the contemporary. This is exactly what Parmigiano Reggiano, an undisputed icon of Made in Italy, has achieved, challenging itself by looking at itself from new and different perspectives during Milan Design Week 2026.

Parmigiano Reggiano from matter to sound

Thus, for example, Parmigiano Reggiano arrived in the Cortile d'Onore of the University of Milan, working on its sounds, upending the sensory perception of a product normally linked to taste. As part of the MATERIAE exhibition-event promoted by Interni magazine, the Consortium presented "The Sounds of Matter," an immersive installation (curated by OTTO studio – Paola Navone and Cristina Pettenuzzo with sound design by Studio Azzurro) where visitors were invited to discover the PDO through hearing. The sounds, housed in a circular cradle inspired by the iconic shape of Parmigiano Reggiano, were those of the key players in the supply chain: farmers, ranchers, cheesemakers, and beaters. The visitors conducted them with their movements, transforming them into a powerful orchestra: thus, the material became rhythm and vibration, and the individual transformed into a collective, in a metaphor for how those involved in the production of PDO are able to amplify, every day, with their work, the greatness of a product that is, itself, a living substance.

The forms of greatness

How many shapes does Parmigiano Reggiano come in? One, the characteristic circular shape, one might say. But it's precisely the narrative told during Milan Design Week 2026 that led to an exploration of new forms, not so much of the product itself, but of the entire universe that revolves around it. Thus, at the Edicolina Milano in Piazza Santo Stefano, the "New Forms of Greatness" exhibition reinterpreted the tools used to make Parmigiano Reggiano, placing design at the service of tradition and highlighting the aesthetic beauty and functionality of a constantly evolving icon: the "spino," the tool with which the cheesemaker breaks the curd, has become a magazine rack; the typical almond-shaped knife used to open Parmigiano Reggiano has become a paper knife; the base on which the wheels are placed to inspect them has been reborn as a stool, and the beater's hammer used to inspect the cheese has become a nutcracker.

The taste of Parmigiano Reggiano

Milan Design Week 2026 naturally featured plenty of opportunities to sample Parmigiano Reggiano, either alone or paired with Gin Mare for a designer aperitif you can replicate at home. Among those who interpreted it in avant-garde new ways were chef Domenico Stile of the two-Michelin-starred Enoteca la Torre restaurant and pastry chef Fabrizio Fiorani.

Even in its most natural world, that of taste, Parmigiano Reggiano has sought to break out of its comfort zone, embracing new inspirations and proving to be versatile and timeless, just as one would expect from an icon.

"Our participation in Milan Design Week, and particularly our collaboration with masters like Paola Navone and Studio Azzurro, reflects our desire to express our distinctiveness through new and stimulating languages," explained Nicola Bertinelli, president of the Parmigiano Reggiano Consortium. "From music generated by the material to the reinterpretation of our instruments, we want to demonstrate how our PDO can engage with contemporary life, offering an experience that engages all the senses and celebrates the 'greatness' that comes from the expertise of our supply chain."