Jony Ive's 6,000 Paper "Dragonflies" Mesmerize at Vogue World Milan!

The grand finale of Vogue World 2026 in Milan was nothing short of breathtaking, leaving attendees gazing upwards in awe as more than 6,000 meticulously designed paper objects fluttered down from the iconic Galleria dome. This mesmerizing spectacle, a collaboration with Jony Ive's creative studio LoveFrom, was a highlight that perfectly captured the spirit of the city.

Jony Ive, renowned for his minimalist and innovative design philosophy, shared his vision for the finale, emphasizing Milan's unique position as a city of both creation and manufacturing.

Milan is very special in the fact that it is a city that creates and also makes,

Ive explained. "And I think, typically, the creation and the making have become increasingly disconnected.

So Milan occupies a very special place for me."

The paper objects, affectionately dubbed the "LoveFrom libellula", Italian for dragonfly, drew inspiration from a diverse range of sources. Ive and his team looked to nature, specifically dragonflies and sycamore seeds, along with Milanese lace and the intricate patterns of Venetian tile mosaics. The grandeur and volume of the Galleria itself also played a crucial role in shaping their design.

Each of these delicate objects was folded entirely by hand from a single piece of paper, without the use of any glue, showcasing an impressive feat of engineering and craftsmanship.

The design process was a blend of traditional artistry and cutting-edge technology. The team developed multiple prototypes of the libellula and even utilized OpenAI's Codex software engineering system to create a detailed simulation of the Galleria. This allowed them to visualize how the cloud of objects would appear at various sizes and densities, ensuring the desired effect.

They rigorously tested the release mechanism in an airplane hangar and, crucially, within the Galleria itself, fine-tuning the aerodynamics for a truly magical descent. Ive articulated their goal:

What we were intrigued by was really occupying the whole space to celebrate one moment, and to connect the ceiling to the floor.

He drew a parallel to mosaics, stating, "In the same way that there are thousands of tiles in a mosaic, we loved this idea of being able to release thousands of these libellula."

This project also reflects Ive's evolving interest in dynamic design, where movement itself becomes a core element. "I think there is a strong argument that movement is somehow synonymous with natural intelligence," he mused, aiming for the paper objects to appear as if they were gracefully moving rather than merely falling. As a thoughtful touch, these beautiful creations also served as keepsakes.

Each libellula bore text denoting the event's time and place, along with a special note: "Designed with love in San Francisco." Attendees were encouraged to pick them up from the floor as mementos, with any remaining objects slated for recycling, further emphasizing the studio's commitment to sustainability and thoughtful design.

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