Italian manufacturer Pedrali will display their Nemea chair and armchair, staged by the designer trio Cazzaniga Mandelli Pagliarulo within a circus arena / Koelnmesse

Some of the world’s best-known interior and furniture designers will embrace their creative side when displaying their latest creations at this year’s IMM Cologne; one of Europe’s largest trade fairs for furnishing, living and lifestyle products.

Kaleidoscopic furniture, a birdcage-shaped table, and a swinging chair suspended above a circus ring will be among the more unusual displays at the event, which will take place from 18-24 January in the German city Cologne.

As part of a special display called Featured Editions, a jury has selected 14 unorthodox exhibits – all of which are collaborations between furniture manufacturers and designers, architects, artists or graphic designers – to be displayed alongside more conventional interiors and furniture concepts at the fair.

Among the designers taking part are Sebastian Herkner – who is displaying some of his Ames Home Collection alongside rolled up carpets, large terracotta pots and mangos on the roof of an old Renault R4 in homage to his travels through South America. Also participating is Giulio Cappellini, whose display features two chairs inside a symmetrical, tunnel-like space, displaying the same object in a different context as a statement on the value of form and colour in design.

"Manufacturers and designers finally have the opportunity to tell a story – about a product, its design roots, and its production, or about the way that people interact with and perceive this product", said jury member and design journalist Frank A. Reinhardt.

"The presentations are becoming more narrative and photogenic all the time – making them rewarding objects for the members of the smartphone generation among fair visitors".

Dick Spierenburg, creative director of IMM Cologne, added: “Time and time again, we are surprised by how much creativity there is in this industry. This year, the stage set-like character of many of the entries is particularly striking. The installations, designed with so much wit and fantasy, will be an absolute delight for visitors to see".

The 14 exhibiting teams are:

- Alias with a design by Alfredo Häberli

- Ames with a design by Sebastian Herkner and Beyer Roth Weis- Cappellini with a design by Giulio Cappellini

- Conmoto with a design by Pascal Bosetti- E15, with a design by Pascal Bosetti

- Fatboy, with a design by Pascal Bosetti- Mitja with a design by Redesign

- Pedrali with a design by Cazzaniga Mandelli Pagliarulo- Pulpo with a design by Sebastian Herkner

- Roomsafari with a design by Christine Nogtev- Sankt Johanser with a design by Hubert and Matthias Sanktjohanser

- Vitra with a design by Dieter Thiel- Zanat with a design by Emir Salkic

- Zeitraum with a design by Kaschkasch

The annual IMM Cologne show is organised by exhibition facility and event operator, Koelnmesse. It presents the latest international furniture and interior trends and innovations and provides a platform for up-and-coming designers.