Ciarko Design has made its mark on the history of Polish design: it was the first Polish home appliance brand to showcase its products at the Salone del Mobile in Milan – an event which, in 2026, brought together over 1,900 brands from 32 countries and attracted more than 316,000 visitors. The Sanok-based company’s participation became one of the clearest signs that Polish technological design is entering the global league.
This year’s edition of the Salone del Mobile confirmed its scale: 169,000 square metres of exhibition space, over 1,900 exhibitors, and 316,342 visitors from 167 countries. It is here that the brands setting the trends for contemporary interiors showcase their work. In 2026, Ciarko Design joined this group – as the first Polish home appliance brand to dare to enter the world’s most competitive arena.
In a year when the EuroCucina and International Bathroom Exhibition biennials returned to the programme and international attendance rose by 68 per cent, the Polish company’s presence took on a special significance. It demonstrated that the Polish kitchen technology sector is ready for global expansion. And these are not just empty words. The best testament to Sanok’s cooker hoods is their attractive design, quality of workmanship and well-thought-out presentation in Milan.
A stand that showcased precision
In collaboration with Noke Architects, the brand created a space that not only showcased the products but also revealed the technological processes usually invisible to the user. The central theme was steam – a phenomenon that Ciarko’s engineers work with every day.
At the centre of the stand, transparent modules filled with pulsating smoke floated in the air, illustrating airflow and the operation of the hoods. This was not an art installation, but a precise visualisation of the technology. The space was divided into two zones: a light, cashmere-coloured zone – laboratory-like and clear – and a burgundy zone – intense, focused on the power of the product. Both parts were linked by the consistency of the lighting and the divisions characteristic of the brand’s aesthetic.
The stand was constructed from reused modules, emphasising a responsible approach to design. Additionally, the stand was adorned with furniture by Górna Półka and ceramic objects by Malwina Konopacka.
Light as a tool
This year, Ciarko Design introduced another element to its presentation that caught the attention of visitors – a light installation symbolising the light in the cooker hood. It was designed to show that lighting in kitchen appliances is not an accessory, but an integral part of their function. In the brand’s cooker hoods, the light facilitates cooking by precisely illuminating the work area, whilst also serving a decorative purpose, enhancing the interior’s atmosphere.
The installation pulsed with subtle transitions that echoed the appliance’s operation – from a gentle, warm light conducive to everyday activities, to more intense accents highlighting moments when the technology takes control of the air. This lighting motif became one of the most photographed elements of the stand, as it simply demonstrated how light can become a design tool, rather than merely a functional accessory.
MONNO – a new chapter in the brand’s strategy
Milan was the venue for the launch of MONNO, a new sub-brand created within Ciarko Design. It is a response to growing opportunities for international expansion. MONNO does not replace the main brand – it reinforces it, broadening the portfolio and opening the way to new market segments.
During Milan Design Week, the brand presented four new cooker hood models designed by the nicer.design duo – Mikołaj Nicer and Michał Maciukiewicz. Two of them are slanted models that serve as an architectural element organising the kitchen space. The other two are integrated with the induction hob and remain almost invisible, only activating when in use.
This is the direction that defines the brand’s future: technology and aesthetics are to form a coherent whole, without unnecessary effects or excessive forms. This makes the architects’ work easier, as they can attend to every detail, whilst giving users the opportunity to cook without leaving unwanted odours in the room.
An experience that engaged
In a space where light meets function and technology intertwines with emotion, MONNO demonstrated that a cooker hood can be more than just an appliance – it can become the focal point of a modern home. The brand’s installation highlighted air control, precision and conscious design, where engineering and design function as a single entity. The Polish brand’s stand was an experience – not just visual, but also personal. Guests could receive bags with embroidered initials, for which a total of over 1 kilometre of thread was used. This artisanal touch emphasised individuality and attention to detail, which are the brand’s cornerstones.
Behind the scenes of this presence lie figures that best reflect the scale of the event: 12,563 visitors to the stand, 748 conversations about hoods, 6 days of intensive participation in Milan Design Week, 18 people in the team running the space, over 12,000 steps per person per day (totalling around 1.3 million steps) and over 50 hours of conversations with guests representing dozens of countries.
A Polish brand among global leaders
In a year in which the Salone del Mobile cemented its position as the industry’s most important event, Ciarko Design’s presence was more than just a showcase of ‘Made in Poland’ products. It is a sign that Polish companies are capable of operating at a level that seemed unattainable just a decade or two ago.
Ciarko Design has shown that technological precision can become the language of architecture, and that a Polish brand can successfully compete with global players. Ciarko does not chase global trends, but creates them – and that is the greatest cause for pride.
source: press materials, compiled by the editorial team
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