«Disco on Mars is an open narrative», interview with MCM A special collaboration with Atelier Biagetti for the brand's 50th anniversary
The Milano Design Week once again confirms itself as one of the most dynamic and vibrant events of the year. This period, defined by a spirit of innovation and new fields of possibility, becomes the stage chosen by MCM to celebrate its 50th anniversary. In collaboration with Atelier Biagetti, MCM invites the public to immerse themselves in a unique interplanetary experience.
The exhibition, titled MCM’s Disco on Mars, marks the brand’s third participation in the world’s most important design event, as well as its third collaboration with the Milan-based studio. As the first chapter of the brand’s anniversary, Disco on Mars unfolds within the theme “From Munich to Mars”, a narrative trajectory that projects MCM’s heritage into a future dimension.
Tapping into the growing energy surrounding the Fuorisalone, and merging product culture with design research, MCM and Atelier Biagetti construct an experiential environment in which design, performance, and sound operate as interdependent elements. The Rotonda del Pellegrini, in the heart of Milan, is transformed into a spaceship, structured according to a video game logic: a sequence of levels, each with its own spatial and narrative identity.
On the occasion of MCM’s Disco on Mars, we spoke with MCM's CBO Dirk Schönberger, asking him about the project and the direction of this astral experience.
MCM’s anniversary coincides with Milan Design Week 2026. How did the collaboration with Atelier Biagetti come about, and what does it mean for MCM to be present in Milan on this occasion?
The collaboration with Atelier Biagetti developed over time through a shared approach to design as a narrative tool. There’s a natural alignment in how both sides work, blending disciplines, challenging conventions, and building immersive worlds rather than standalone objects.
Marking our 50th anniversary during Milan Design Week 2026 is particularly relevant because Milan is where design operates at a cultural level. For MCM, this is not a retrospective moment, it’s a forward-facing one. “Disco on Mars” sets the tone for the year by connecting our origins with a more speculative vision of what the brand can become.
The Rotonda del Pellegrini becomes the starting point of a journey into the MCM universe. Could you tell us how the immersive experience unfolds?
At Rotonda del Pellegrini, the idea was to transform the space into a complete environment. The experience unfolds across three levels, each with a distinct role but all part of a continuous narrative. It begins with The Lab, where past and future intersect through objects that feel almost experimental. Disco Mars introduces movement and energy. A more collective, physical dimension shaped by music and performance.
The journey culminates in the Diva Dome, where the atmosphere shifts into something more introspective, driven by sound and voice. Rather than a traditional exhibition, it’s conceived as a progression. Visitors move through it, and that sense of movement is central to the MCM universe.
What role does design play, in terms of language, suggestions, and content, within this collaboration and, more broadly, within MCM’s identity?
Design is the foundation of how MCM communicates. It’s not just about form or function, it’s about expressing a way of living that is mobile, connected, and constantly evolving. Within this collaboration, design becomes narrative. The pieces act as devices that suggest new interactions and new perspectives, rather than fixed uses. This reflects a broader direction for MCM, where luxury is understood as something dynamic, shaped by movement, technology, and cultural exchange.
That balance between heritage and progression is key. Design allows us to continuously reinterpret both. Also unveiling is the MCM x vetsak collaboration with a new series of collectible furniture pieces. It brings together MCM’s heritage in craftsmanship with vetsak’s expertise in comfort-driven design: functional objects that still carry cultural and aesthetic value.
A collaboration always opens up new possibilities. What is the shared vision between MCM and Atelier Biagetti, and what message would you like to convey to visitors?
The shared vision is about expanding the boundaries of luxury through experience. With Atelier Biagetti, there is a common interest in creating environments where objects, sound, and space interact in unexpected ways. “Disco on Mars” is conceived as an open narrative. Something visitors can step into and interpret individually.
It’s less about delivering a fixed message and more about creating a sense of possibility. Ultimately, it reflects a broader idea: that the future of luxury lies in participation, in imagination, and in the ability to move between different worlds - both physically and culturally.