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Explore Interior Design Week Cologne Passagen 2025: Must-Visit Venues and Essential Trends

Writer's picture: Sunbin QISunbin QI

Passagen Interior Design Week Köln 2025
Passagen Interior Design Week Köln 2025

I’m Sunbin Qi, CEO of ASKT, and if there’s one thing I’ve learned from my two decades in the European furniture industry, it’s that the right design event can spark a thousand ideas. That’s precisely why I’m so excited about Interior Design Week Cologne Passagen 2025, running from January 10th to January 16th. Picture Cologne as a giant open-air showroom—one that’s brimming with innovation, style, and plenty of surprises around every cobblestone corner. While ASKT isn’t exhibiting this year, my multiple field trips to Passagen have given me the inside scoop on which venues you simply can’t afford to miss. Let’s dive in!




Why Passagen 2025 Deserves Your Attention

A City Transformed by Cutting-Edge Design

Every January, the cultural tapestry of Cologne drapes itself in a whole new palette: design professionals, students, and enthusiasts converge from all over the globe to turn the city into a creative think tank. From museums and galleries to hotels and even pop-up cafes, each space is dedicated to showcasing the latest breakthroughs in furniture, lighting, textiles, and interior design. Don’t be surprised if you stumble upon an impromptu workshop in a boutique hotel lobby—Passagen has a way of turning every nook and cranny into an incubator for the next big idea.

Networking, Trend-Spotting, and Beyond

  • Meet the Makers: Gain direct insights from designers, manufacturers, and innovators who are setting the pace in European furniture.

  • Discover the Next Big Thing: From experimental materials to multifunctional dining room concepts, Passagen is where upcoming trends often make their debut.

  • Hands-On Inspiration: Immerse yourself in interactive installations that simulate real home or commercial environments, ideal for visualizing how a piece might integrate into your inventory or business model.

Pro Tip: Jot down every inspirational moment—even if it’s just a mental note. These off-the-cuff insights often translate into valuable leads or creative concepts later.


Must-Visit Event Venues

Over multiple years of attending Passagen, I’ve come to appreciate certain venues that consistently deliver. Here are a few of my personal favorites and why they stand out:


1.MAKK – Museum of Applied Art Cologne

When I first ventured here, I was blown away by the bridge between historic craftsmanship and modern innovation. MAKK’s carefully curated exhibits show how age-old techniques can be reinterpreted for contemporary living—an angle that’s crucial for anyone aiming to produce furniture with both soul and style.


2.Design Post

Located near the Köln Messe, Design Post gathers a variety of premium European furniture and lighting brands under one impressive roof. This is your go-to for comparing diverse aesthetics side by side. If you’re trying to refine your product portfolio or scout new brand partnerships, an hour (or three) here will be time well spent.


3.Das Haus auf der Ehrenstraße

“Das Haus” is about more than just seeing pieces on pedestals; it creates full-scale interior environments that demonstrate how these designs function in a day-to-day setting. It’s a veritable playground for anyone who wants to envision how a sleek, new dining table or ergonomic chair might fit into real family life.


4.Kunsthafen

On the flip side, Kunsthafen caters to those who favor the bolder side of design. Here, art and function collide, resulting in installations that sometimes defy convention and always leave you pondering the boundaries of what “home furnishings” can be. If you have a taste for the avant-garde—or just crave a dash of creative chaos—Kunsthafen won’t disappoint.


Key Focus Objects and Trends to Watch

Based on my own explorations (and the post-event aha moments that keep me up at night), these are the focal points I believe will dominate Passagen 2025:

  1. Sustainable Materials

    • From eco-friendly upholstery to innovative, plant-based composites, “going green” is no longer a gimmick—consumers are demanding it. At ASKT, for instance, we’ve embraced honeycomb paper protection and minimized plastic use, aligning ourselves with this upward trend.

  2. Multifunctional Furniture

    • Modern living spaces demand flexibility. Keep your eyes open for transformable dining sets, modular storage, and pieces that effortlessly adapt to work-from-home needs. If you’re a buyer or product manager, it’s a recipe for long-term market appeal.

  3. Smart Integrations

    • Subtle tech features—like built-in device charging or adjustable ergonomic seating—have steadily gained momentum. Expect to see more streamlined designs that deliver tech benefits without screaming “I’m a gadget!”

  4. Eco-Chic Aesthetic

    • Think earthy color palettes, responsibly sourced woods, and natural textures. Trends at Passagen usually forecast the year’s style direction, and “eco-chic” is definitely poised to be a key buzzword.

  5. New Structural Innovations

    • Whether it’s advanced welding methods for reinforced chair frames or newly engineered swivel systems, pay attention to exhibitors highlighting the “anatomy” behind the design. This is where true functionality meets durability.


The Big Business Benefits

Why should you care about these particular venues, trends, and design concepts?

  • Market Alignment: Spotting tomorrow’s best-sellers ahead of the competition can bolster your brand’s reputation for being on-trend.

  • Practical Applications: Real-life demonstrations help you visualize how a new concept can be integrated into your product lines, retail displays, or marketing campaigns.

  • Quality Partnerships: The relationships you forge at Passagen can evolve into valuable collaborations—be it co-developing a product line or sharing resources for mutual growth.

  • Extended Lifespan for Your Portfolio: The more thoughtfully you curate your collection, the longer those pieces remain relevant—ultimately reducing risks and costs associated with rapid inventory turnover.


My Personal Takeaways—and Yours

Even though ASKT isn’t setting up a booth this year, I’ll still be scouring every design district, brand showroom, and creative pop-up I can find. After years of field trips here, I’ve learned that the real gems aren’t just the furniture pieces themselves, but the connections and ideas they spark. Who knows? Maybe that unique dining chair at Kunsthafen or sustainable upholstery at MAKK will become the centerpiece of next year’s best-selling collection.

If you’re planning to attend, make sure you:

  1. Bring a Camera (and an Open Mind) – Document what resonates; you never know which concept might become your next big product.

  2. Network Wisely – Strike up conversations. Ask questions. Exchange cards. This is a people-driven industry, after all.

  3. Embrace the Unexpected – If something initially seems too unconventional, give it a second look. Some of the most successful innovations started as quirky ideas.


Ready to Elevate Your Furniture Business?

Although ASKT isn’t exhibiting this year, we’re always eager to collaborate on fresh ideas and build better furniture solutions together. With our 1,200-square-meter R&D center, rigorous testing protocols, and commitment to sustainability, we’re well-equipped to bring your best concepts to life—no matter how ambitious.

Ready to turn inspiration into action?

Contact ASKT today to discuss:

  • Custom product development tailored to your market

  • High-quality dining chairs built to European safety standards

  • Sustainable packaging solutions that keep our planet in mind

  • Global supply chain support backed by over 20 factories under our managementLet’s explore how we can take the sparks you find at Passagen 2025 and forge them into tangible results for your business.


I look forward to seeing you in Cologne—let’s keep each other inspired and continue shaping the future of furniture design, one breakthrough at a time.


Yours sincerely,

Sunbin Qi

CEO of ASKT

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