At Milan Design Week 2026, Kornit Digital, in collaboration with D-house laboratorio urbano, the Dual Innovation Hub of Pattern Group, presents Foot/Print EXP, an innovative project developed by designers Sangi and Materia. The initiative explores new frontiers in footwear design by combining digital printing technology, material research, and creative design.
Hosted at the Isola Design District, Zona K, Via Spalato 11 in Milan, the exhibition will run from April 20 to April 26. A press preview is scheduled for April 20 between 10:30 AM and 2:30 PM, while public access will be open daily from 11:00 AM to 8:00 PM.
The project features a curated collection of five footwear prototypes, developed through an integrated approach that merges design, technological innovation, and product development. Kornit’s digital production technology plays a pivotal role, functioning not only as a manufacturing process but also as a creative design tool. Its sustainable, on-demand capabilities allow direct application on materials, enabling designers to transcend the constraints of conventional techniques and experiment with new textures and forms.
Among its innovations, Kornit’s XDi technology enables the creation of tactile and textured effects directly on fabrics, while the use of white ink enhances visual depth, allowing high-definition prints on darker textiles.
“Returning to Milan Design Week for the fourth year with D-house, we continue to explore how digital technology can expand the language of design. With Foot/Print EXP, we see digital printing evolve beyond production into a true creative tool, enabling designers to experiment directly on materials, explore new aesthetics, and bring ideas to life with unprecedented flexibility. This collaboration reflects our ongoing commitment to innovation, sustainability, and to shaping new possibilities for footwear and design.” – Giovanni Pizzamiglio, Roll-To-Roll Segment Director, Kornit Digital
The installation is designed as an immersive journey across two distinct environments. The first space presents a Mars-inspired landscape, where unique textures, colours, and materials create a surreal atmosphere. These textures are then translated into the footwear designs, forming a core visual and conceptual element.
According to Pietro Franceschi, Sangi, and Francesco Saverio Matera:
“As a research and development center in the footwear sector, we approach this project as a territory of exploration—an opportunity to rethink every phase of the design process and push Kornit technologies beyond their conventional use, transforming them into tools for imagining new possibilities, both aesthetic and, above all, functional. FOOT/PRINT EXP was conceived with the ambition of speaking to the entire industry, reaffirming the value of collaboration between brands and suppliers as a driver of innovation. It is precisely through this shared energy that it becomes possible to go beyond known boundaries—and, in our case, to symbolically push even beyond Earth’s atmosphere.”
The second space takes the form of a laboratory, highlighting materials, processes, and development stages. This section focuses on the transition from experimentation to final product realisation.
Francesco Botto, Innovation Development Manager at Pattern Group, adds:
“Projects like FOOT/PRINT EXP fully embody the vision of Pattern Group: building an advanced supply chain where innovation, research, and manufacturing are in continuous dialogue. Within this framework, D-house positions itself as a laboratory for applied experimentation, capable of connecting diverse expertise and transforming technologies into concrete solutions for the industry. Collaboration with partners such as Kornit allows us to explore new design languages and contribute to shaping more flexible, responsible, and future-oriented production models.”
The project is supported by an integrated production ecosystem where technology and manufacturing operate in synergy. Materials used in the project include cotton canvas supplied by Beppetex and technical fabrics from Colombo Industrie Tessili. Leather materials provided by Conceria Enterprise enable exploration of digital printing applications in footwear.
Printing processes are carried out by Tintoria Finissaggio 2000, utilising Kornit’s digital technology to translate experimental visuals into tangible material applications. This approach introduces greater flexibility, sustainability, and on-demand production capabilities.
Foot/Print EXP positions footwear as a dynamic space for experimentation, demonstrating how digital printing can transform both design aesthetics and production methodologies. The project highlights new opportunities in customisation, flexibility, and sustainable manufacturing within the footwear industry.
