Indonesia’s presence in Milan reaches an exciting new chapter this year. Alongside the debut of the Indonesia Design District Pavilion, three emerging Indonesian design practices are presenting their work at SaloneSatellite 2026: Cynthia Margareth, Zulyo Kumara, and Bali-based Studio Banda, founded by Cokorda Suryanata and Frans Sihombing. Each brings a distinctive perspective shaped by Indonesia’s cultural heritage, craftsmanship, and evolving contemporary identity.
Cynthia Margareth: Crafting Contours
Cynthia Margareth explores the subtle relationship between objects, people, and the spaces they inhabit. Having begun her career in furniture design, she has continually expanded her practice through experimentation and close collaboration with artisans, manufacturers, and clients.
Rooted in Indonesia’s rich craft traditions while embracing a contemporary design language, her work considers proportion, materiality, and the human experience of space. Presented at SaloneSatellite 2026, Crafting Contours expresses an evolving dialogue between organic gestures, cultural memory, and modern form.
Zulyo Kumara: Bringing the Human Touch Back to Design
For Zulyo Kumara, design begins with curiosity about materials and develops through a thoughtful, process-led approach. Guided by his philosophy of “bringing the human touch back to design”, he connects concept, craftsmanship, and context to create pieces that feel both culturally meaningful and quietly contemporary.
His Kaya Rattan Dining Chair also achieved an important distinction beyond SaloneSatellite. On 28 April 2026, the work became Indonesia’s first official donation to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Museum and Network in Rome.
Studio Banda: Where Poetic Ideas Meet Precision
Founded by Cokorda Suryanata and Frans Sihombing, Studio Banda is a Bali-based industrial design studio exploring the space between restraint and surprise.
Through material sensitivity and process-driven experimentation, the studio reinterprets traditional craftsmanship and local fabrication techniques within a contemporary industrial context. Its work bridges poetic intention and scalable production, balancing expressive character with technical clarity. At SaloneSatellite 2026, Studio Banda presents an Indonesian design perspective that is inquisitive, forward-looking, and firmly connected to place.
Together, these young talents demonstrate that Indonesian design is not defined by a single aesthetic. It is diverse, thoughtful, and increasingly ready to engage with the wider design world.