For Milan Design Week 2025, Bellosta Faucets transforms design into a cry of hope and social activism with its initiative “Red is design… not violence”, a citywide project to combat femicide. Endorsed by the City of Milan’s Department of Economic Development and Labor Policies, the campaign merges art, civic engagement, and collective action, using symbolic installations to deliver a bold message: red is not violence, but love, passion, and creativity. From April 2 to 22, 17 red faucet-shaped sculptures—each standing two meters tall—will occupy key locations across Milan, from Brera to the Darsena, Corso Vittorio Emanuele II to the Colonne di San Lorenzo. Strategically placed in landmarks like Piazza Fontana, Via della Spiga, and the symbolic “Wall of Dolls” on Via De Amicis (a memorial for femicide victims), the installations aim to provoke reflection and action.
The official unveiling will take place on April 9 at 11:00 AM in Largo Treves, the campaign’s focal point. Every selfie taken with the sculptures using the hashtag #redisdesign becomes a tangible act of support for Wall of Dolls, the nonprofit founded in 2014 by Jo Squillo to combat gender-based violence. This social media initiative turns art into a tool for change, connecting citizens to victims and their stories. “For years, our events have aimed to enrich Milan with a social message,” explains Maurizio Bellosta, CEO of the company. “This year, we stand with women, using design as a universal language to say ‘enough’ to violence. The red of our faucets is not blood, but love; not obsession, but passion. Let it remind us: just as a faucet can stop water flow, we can all stop the spiral of silence.”
The sculptures feature evocative phrases like “Red is happiness not blood,” “Red is fashion not obsession,” “Red is love not murder,” and “Red is passion not anger”—reclaiming the color red by associating it with positivity instead of trauma. This wordplay becomes a visual manifesto, transforming Milan’s streets into an open-air gallery. Key installation sites include Foro Bonaparte, where the sculptures will interact with the Flagship Florim space; the historic Darsena; and Quarto Oggiaro, bringing the campaign to the city’s outskirts. A tribute will also honor the “Wall of Dolls”, where hanging dolls silently bear witness to victims. Alongside the campaign, Bellosta Faucets will debut its latest collections—Vite, Molo, and signature finishes crafted with Signorini Firenze 1923—at the “Pino, dal 1984” showroom on Corso Garibaldi 50. This fusion of technological innovation and aesthetics bridges social activism with design excellence. “Red is design… not violence” is more than a campaign—it’s a crimson wave sweeping through Milan, turning every corner into an opportunity to reflect, act, and hope. Because when design becomes a voice for justice, it can truly change the world.
