From Micro to Monumental at MATTER and SHAPE 2026

The third edition of MATTER and SHAPE returns to Paris from 6–9 March 2026, unfolding in the storied surroundings of the Jardin des Tuileries during Paris Fashion Week

MATTER and SHAPE returns to Paris from 6–9 March, where a special collaboration with the ‘musée de France’ Fondation Arp-Taeuber will be presented, featuring handmade rugs translated from the original designs of Sophie Taeuber-Arp.

Led by WSN’s Matthieu Pinet, with creative direction by Dan Thawley, the business-focused design salon has rapidly established itself as one of the most discerning gatherings on the international design calendar.

Situated adjacent to Première Classe, MATTER and SHAPE continues to attract collectors, architects, interior designers, journalists and tastemakers from across the worlds of design, fashion, art and luxury.
 

The Theme: Scale

For 2026, the salon considers the theme of scale – a playful yet intellectually rigorous umbrella that addresses size, proportion and the relationships between objects, bodies, spaces and time.

Exhibitors and visitors alike are invited to reflect on the micro and macro, the minute and monumental, the immediate and historical that echo the spirit of S, M, L, XL by Rem Koolhaas and Bruce Mau.

The theme unfolds across diverse modes of production. From one-of-a-kind collectible works to limited editions and industrially produced objects, exhibitors will present projects realised by individual artisans, family businesses, institutions and global brands, reflecting the many scales at which contemporary design operates.

Scale also gestures toward the proverbial ‘scales of justice’: questions of provenance, traceability, material scarcity and human capital. MATTER and SHAPE 2026 continues its commitment to design shaped by ethical, sustainable and transparent practices.

An accompanying programme of talks and events will further explore the theme through conversations between leading designers, architects and thought leaders.

Fondation Arp-Taeuber: A Special Presentation

A standout of this year’s edition is a special collaboration with the ‘musée de France’ Fondation Arp-Taeuber, showcasing handmade rugs based on Sophie Taeuber-Arp’s original designs.

Located in Meudon, the foundation occupies the former studio and home of Taeuber-Arp and Jean Arp, once a vital meeting point of the European avant-garde. It fostered exchanges with figures including Max Ernst, Joan Miró, André Breton, Robert Delaunay, Sonia Delaunay, Tristan Tzara, Theo van Doesburg and Marcel Duchamp. Today, it preserves one of modernism’s most intimate and significant legacies.

RedDuo at MATTER and SHAPE

RedDuo marks its first participation in the salon, presenting two established collaborations that share a unified vision centred on matter and light.

RedDuo x JOV – Booth C18

In partnership with Belgian carpet brand JOV, RedDuo expands the colour palette of The Furry Network collection. Crafted from New Zealand wool, mohair and other premium materials, the rugs feature deconstructed net-like patterns rendered in dense, long-pile textures that balance structure with softness. The collaboration merges tradition and innovation, bringing warmth and material richness to contemporary interiors.

RedDuo x Leucos – Booth C10

With historic Italian lighting brand Leucos, RedDuo presents Glowtile for the first time. The modular lighting system explores the tile as a structural element for light, translating modular thinking into a flexible solution for walls and ceilings. Built around glazed ceramic modules, Glowtile offers designers a refined kit of parts for shaping illumination within space.

Jorge Penadés: Uprooted V02

Spanish designer Jorge Penadés unveils Uprooted V02, the second chapter of his ongoing research-driven project exploring rural practices, material culture and the relationship between ecology and contemporary design.

Following its debut at Madrid Design Festival in 2025, where furniture crafted from discarded olive tree roots was introduced, the project now expands geographically and conceptually. New collectible works and a textile piece created in collaboration with contemporary rug brand cc-tapis bring olive wood and wool into dialogue.

Rooted in a decade of research, Uprooted celebrates irregularity and material complexity, allowing objects to emerge from intrinsic qualities rather than imposing industrial uniformity. By bridging craft, ecology and design, Penadés reframes how rural resources are valued and are advocating for more attentive, culturally grounded and sustainable modes of production.

Through exhibitions, collaborations and a programme of talks, MATTER and SHAPE 2026 encourages visitors to explore design across every scale, from the smallest details to the monumental works.

Visit from 6–9 March to witness MATTER and SHAPE once again bring the international design community together in Paris.

Words by Libbi Kettle