The Power of Creativity to Inspire Change
Held in April, Milan Design Week served once again as a bridge between architects, designers, chefs, and artists, with this year’s central focus on sustainability. The challenges of the Anthropocene are evident across all fields, emphasizing that a sustainable future is only possible through collaborative effort. As always, the worlds of art and design take the lead in conveying this message in impactful ways.
Here are four exhibits from Design Week that convinced us of creativity’s power to inspire change:
1) Grohe Spa – Health Through Water
Inspired by the concept of "Health Through Water," this installation by LIXIL Global Design transformed the courtyard of Pinacoteca di Brera into a unique atmosphere. The historic venue plays a significant role in connecting the city with our natural resources. At the center of the courtyard, a pool encircling the statue of Napoleon not only reflects the stunning architecture of the museum but also symbolizes the healing power of water, creating an illusion of expanded space.
2) Kees Dekkers x Colmar – No Waste Chairs
Colmar introduced a collaboration with Dutch designer Kees Dekkers, showcasing a sustainability-focused chair project. Created as part of the "Colmar Again" initiative, this collection features 20 chairs collectively named "No Waste Chairs." Each chair is made from recycled clear plexiglass, colored by discarded clothing embedded within.
Designed as a manifesto against excessive consumption and the unchanging linearity of production, the collaboration emphasizes giving objects a second life through art.
3) Italo Rota & CRA- Carlo Ratti Associati – Walk The Walk
Architect Italo Rota and Carlo Ratti Associati turned the Milan Botanical Garden into a 3,500-square-meter interactive space, creating "the world’s largest board game" with their installation “Walk the Talk.” Addressing urban issues such as overcrowded neighborhoods and a lack of pedestrian areas, the installation aims to foster a dialogue between city life and its residents.
With over 400 wooden tiles featuring dynamic light and sound effects, the installation is designed as a "choose-your-own-path" experience. Each icon on the tiles presents options like traffic management, public transportation, and electric car-sharing, reimagining mobility within the city.
4) Google – Shaped By Water
Google Design Studio’s installation, crafted in collaboration with water, light, and sound artist Lachlan Turczan, explores how one of the world’s most powerful elements—water—can serve as a source of inspiration.
Water in the bowls moves in gentle resonance, reacting to the proximity of the viewer, creating an interactive dialogue. As visitors move around the bowls, their energy alters the water's wave patterns, encouraging a renewed curiosity for nature while highlighting the impact of individual presence.
BONUS
Throughout the events of Design Week, efficient resource use, waste reduction, and environmental impact became increasingly crucial topics, alongside the steps taken by participating companies to advance sustainability. In this light, La Manufacture stood out.
This interior design company openly embraces responsibility across all production activities, from eco-design to materials selection, from product life cycles to recycling. With significant steps in environmental and social sustainability, La Manufacture’s exhibit invites visitors to experience the positive energy of nature through their design.
