Designers: Andrea Forti and Eleonora Dal Farra for Alcarol, breadedEscalope, Stella Cadente and Florian Claudel, Estudio Campana, Vlasta Kubušová and Miroslav Král for crafting plastics!, Sebastian Cox, Maarten de Ceulaer for Nilufar and Victor Hunt Gallery, Foekje Fleur, Martino Gamper, Ami Drach and Dov Ganchrow, Marco Iannicelli, Johannes Knoops, Fernando Laposse, Sam Linders, ll’atelier, Lock Furniture, Alberto Meda for Tubes, Tuomas Markunpoika, Lucia Massari, Daisuke Motogi, Lucas Muñoz, Luca Nichetto, Odd Matter Studio, Daniele Papuli for Dilmos, Jorge Penadés, Federico Peri for Nilufar, Barbara Schweizer, Birgit Severin, Studio Furthermore, Studio Oink, Ginevra Taccola, Tellurico, Marjan van Aubel and James Shaw for Transnatural Label, Johan Viladrich, Zieta Prozessdesign.

Curators: Luca Berta, Francesca Giubilei and Alice Stori Liechtenstein.

Installation view, ph. Teo Zanin

The curatorial theme of the 2018 edition of the Venice Design Biennial was Design After Darwin. Adapted to Adaptability. The theme aimed to showcase design’s ability to be receptive to alternative uses as the function multiplies and stratifies, contrary to a notion of any singular predetermined use. In a society where function is continuously evolving, design becomes an active component in the transformation of everyday life, capable of simultaneously reinventing the pre-existing imaginings of the past and interacting with the unpredictable paths of the future.

Within this theme, there were four concepts through which to interpret and comprehend the works. Each proposing alternative approaches to design and establishing diverse forms of interaction between object and user:

Multiplicity: Objects that are multifunctional and able to adapt to different uses. This multi-functionality may be intentional in the design of the work or it may result from an emergence of new contextual needs, representing the evolutionary notion of exaptation.

Reconfiguration: Objects that communicate a potential reconstruction of the space in which they are placed, due to their presence, articulation or position. These objects have a transformative power that reshapes the habits and spatial relationships around them.

Reuse: Objects that utilize unusual or innovative materials suited to a specific function, objects that make use of recycled materials through recycling and up-cycling, or alternatively, objects that were designed using parts or the entirety of other objects thus transforming the previous function.

Transfiguration: Objects that satisfy a specific function, but that incorporate materials and/or forms illustrating an investment in an aesthetic transfiguration and therefore elevating the object to a piece of consistently adaptable design based on its visual beauty.

The group exhibition was the fulcrum of the Venice Design Biennial 2018, and the point of departure for the Design Walks.

Living In A Chair - Reading / Relax Unit by Federico Peri for Nilufar, LE 55 vases by Barbara Schweizer
Origami radiator by Alberto Meda for Tubes, Vases from the Ashes collection by Birgit Severin, Lamp from the Now You See Us collection by Studio Oink, RT01 table by Johan Viladrich
Cabinet from the Engineering Temporality collection by Tuomas Markunpoika for FUMI Gallery, Tafla by Oskar Zieta for Zieta Prozessdesign Studio, 86Hours vase by Odd Matter Studio, Lamp from the Now You See Us collection by Studio Oink, RB02 Bench by Johan Viladrich
Shake console table by Sebastian Cox, Dolomyth vase from the Bedrock Collection by Alcarol, Telluride volcanic porcelain by Tellurico, Well Proven Stools by Marjan van Aubel + James Shaw for Transnatural Label
Bioplastic Universe: Collection 4 lamps by crafting plastics!, Bar Non-Lieu by breadedEscalope
Man-Made by Dov Ganchrow + Ami Drach
Lamp from the Now You See Us collection by Studio Oink
La Casque Serie Lumiere du premier jour by Stella Cadente and Florian Claudel, Ideal Cobble by Dov Ganchrow + Ami Drach
Occuli by Johannes Knoops
Tafla by Oskar Zieta for Zieta Prozessdesign Studio
Incoherent Library shelving unit by Ginevra Taccola, Totomoxtle lamp by Fernando Laposse, Gueridon JP-02 table by Jorge Penadés, ceramics from the Replica collection by Studio Furthermore, Totomoxtle tapestry by Fernando Laposse, Dolomyth stool from the Bricola collection by Alcarol
Metria Mensola / Container by Daniele Papuli for Dilmos, Corner family collection by Lock Furniture in partnership with SKV
Porcelain vases by Foekje Fleur, Wobble Up rugs by Sam Linders
LE 55 vases by Barbara Schweizer
Table Pont from Now You See Us collection by Studio Oink, Lazy Basketball Chair by Emanuele Magini for Campeggi

Ph. Teo Zanin

Chest of Suitcases by Maarteen de Ceulaer for Victor Hunt Gallery and Nilufar