• *This programme is subject to change; please refer back to this page for the latest updates.

  • OPEN DOORS

    09:00-09:45
  • FIRST BLOCK

    PLAY AS AN ACT OF COLLECTIVE REBELLION

    10:00-12:00

    Play becomes an act of rebellion in times like these, says Cas Holman, one of the most prominent voices in the world of design and creative industries. Play is part of collectivity and a vital way of knowing and understanding our world. This year we will play, stumble, and enjoy one of the first skills we develop in our lives.

  • Cas Holman

    Play Designer

    For two decades Cas Holman has been designing playthings and playspaces that encourage exploration, imagination, and collaboration. Through her company Heroes Will Rise, Cas creates intuitive toys that inspire creative, open-ended play.

    READ MORE

  • Brenda Vértiz

    STREET LEVEL DESIGN ACTIVIST

    Brenda is a street-level activist, designer, and doctoral researcher at Aalto University’s School of Arts, Design, and Architecture. For the past decade, she has explored alternative and collective tactics for re-appropriating contested urban spaces, particularly streets, alongside women and children in poor, working-class neighbourhoods.

    READ MORE

  • Gabriel Fontana

    Social Designer

    Gabriel Fontana is an independent designer and creative director. Drawing on a social design framework, his work proposes to reshape sports to support upcoming societal shifts.

    READ MORE

  • DR. Helen Charman

    VICTORIA AND ALBERT MUSEUM, YOUNG V&A

    Dr. Helen Charman FRSA, MA, Dip, has been the Director of Learning, National Programmes, and Young V&A at the Victoria and Albert Museum, London since 2018. With 30 years of experience as a creative and cultural learning professional.

    READ MORE

  • Coffee break X COMILONA

    Take a break with Alma Negra’s specialty coffee, accompanied by a selection of foods.

  • SECOND BLOCK

    RECONNECTING WITH CIRCULARITY

    12:00-13:30

    To address climate and social challenges, designers are increasingly turning to ancestral and local knowledge of materials, products, services, and cultural traditions that have sustained circular communities for centuries. We will explore how women are revolutionising the design world from inspiring projects to initiatives in Iztapalapa, Basel, Rhode Island, and London, we highlight unique contributions. With a predominantly female lineup, inclusive workshops, and engaging activities, we celebrate the diversity and profound impact of women in design.

  • Eduardo Barrita

    Designer

    Eduardo, a dedicated design engineer, is committed to leveraging design as a catalyst for economic empowerment and social inclusion within creative communities. As president of Enactus, he spearheaded transformative projects in vulnerable communities, garnering global recognition.

    READ MORE

  • V&A GILL LAMBERT (Agents of change)

    Architect

    Gill Lambert is an architect, exhibition designer, maker, and educator. She co-leads Agents of Change (AOC) alongside Geoff Shearcroft and Tom Coward, a dynamic practice of architects and designers dedicated to creating buildings, places, and experiences.

    READ MORE

  • Barbara Buser

    Architect

    After studying architecture at ETH Zurich, Barbara Buser worked in Southern Sudan and Tanzania for over ten years. Back in Basel, together with Eric Honegger, she opened the architectural practice baubüro in situ, the urban think tank denkstatt and the office for circularity Zirkular

    READ MORE

  • Gabriela Carrillo

    Architect

    Gabriela Carrillo founded her eponymous studio in 2019, creating a collaborative and interdisciplinary space for architectural innovation. She is also a co-founder of Colectivo C733, which focuses on public projects across Mexico.

    READ MORE

  • PANEL WITH ARCHITECTS

    (MODERATORS AND ARCHITECT)

    Three of the most important architects in the world share a common trait: they approach public and private spaces through a lens of collaboration and community. In this discussion, we’ll explore how they design with and for the community through their practice.

  • REDESIGN EVERYTHING CHALLENGE

    Shaping a Circular Future

    In partnership with the IKEA Foundation, What Design Can Do launched the Redesign Everything Challenge to discover the world’s most innovative climate solutions. Join us to explore how design can reshape our world.

  • Coral Michelin

    STRATEGIC AND ECOSYSTEMIC DESIGNER, TEACHER AND DESIGN RESEARCHER

    Michelin is a strategic and ecosystemic designer, currently serving as the Science and Technology Product Manager at re.green, a company dedicated to restoring tropical forests in Brazil for the benefit of both people and the planet.

    READ MORE

  • POLYBION

    Celium™ by Polybion is a groundbreaking biomaterial crafted from agro-industrial fruit waste, representing a transformative shift from traditional resource extraction to regenerative cultivation.

    READ MORE

  • ELECTRIC SKIN

    Electric Skin envisions a future where electronics are grown, not extracted. As the world increasingly embraces clean technologies and IoT solutions, the demand for critical minerals is surging, leading to more mining activities and environmental harm.

    READ MORE

  • LUNCH BREAK X COMILONA

    13:30-15:00

    After an intense morning, the Lunch Break is the perfect time for all attendees to take a break and enjoy a meal before the breakout sessions. Enjoy a selection of food and beverages provided by Almanegra. and a gastronomic guide with nearby dining options, all carefully curated by  Comilona.

  • Breakout sessions

    15:00-17:00

    You’ll be able to sign up for the Breakout Sessions starting on September 9. All sessions will take place at the same time, so you’ll need to choose one for you to sign up for, once you have your access ticket to WDCD MX GNP 2024. Keep an eye on our socials and website for more details and information on the available capacity for each session. Most have a very limited capacity.

    OUR CARE SYSTEM X DISEÑA COLECTIVA

    Auditorio bb’s MAINSTAGE

    A collective game where participants will create an interactive map visualizing our individual actions related to care and how these impact the community. This will generate a live graphic showing the distribution of care within the community.

    ANSIUDAD X CENTRO

    auditorio bb’s annex room

    Join us for a game inspired by eco-anxiety that aims to turn chronic fear of future uncertainties into action. Through social innovation, collaborative work, and creative thinking, participants will explore solutions for environmental and social challenges from various perspectives.

    OPPORTUNITY PLAYGROUND X CHINGOS DE IMPACTO + REDESIGN EVERYTHING CHALLENGE

    auditorio bb’s mezzanine

    Opportunity Playground is a playful activity where finalists and winners of the Redesign Everything Challenge can connect with key players in the entrepreneurial ecosystem, such as facilitators, stakeholders, investors, suppliers, and more.

    WEAVING ECOSYSTEMS x TTJAJA

    AUDITORIO BB’s ground floor LOBBY

    TTJaja is a collective of female weavers who, over the past six years, have built a small creative community that meets weekly. For this collective weaving project, they drew inspiration from one of the main themes of WDCD: the environment and climate change. “Weaving Ecosystems” is a map made up of thousands of woven pixels, illustrating the diverse ecosystems and the richness of biodiversity that coexist in this concrete jungle.

    collective play multiform X GABRIEL FONTANA + IBERO

    PARQUE MÉXICO, lindbergh Forum

    This session has been designed in collaboration with the Universidad Iberoamericana and its Social Innovation Laboratory. The goal is to reexamine the role of play in rebuilding social fabric in vulnerable communities. Through play, the session aims to foster changes in community dynamics, encourage greater engagement with public spaces, and strengthen connections among residents, contributing to social cohesion and empowerment.

    #THINKINGEQUALITY X RÓTULOS BAUTISTA + igualdades.org

    Auditorio bb’s mezzanine

    WDCD MX, Igualdades.org, and Rótulos Bautista invite you to dismantle the phrases and messages that perpetuate discrimination, misogyny, and hate speech, using signage as a tool for inclusion.

    In this workshop we will create counter-narratives that celebrate diversity and promote equity, challenging the notion that one group is superior to another.

  • THIRD BLOCK

    DESIGN FROM THE GROUND

    17:30-19:00

    Designing from the ground embodies a concept of horizontality with multiple dimensions. This segment aims to showcase some of the most innovative design proposals that have, over time, shifted paradigms on how design can transform lives, consistently considering our planet in their creative solutions. We have gathered brilliant creative minds who challenge borders, traditional production systems, and design standards, producing impactful and remarkable projects.

  • WDCDMX GNP AWARD FOR SOCIAL CREATIVITY

    Since 2019, the What Design Can Do México GNP Award for Social Creativity has annually recognized a creative leader whose work reflects a firm commitment to building more inclusive and sustainable societies, based on the principles of human rights and social justice. The award celebrates those who, through design, challenge the status quo, create social impact, and promote innovative solutions to address global issues. In partnership with GNP, this award has highlighted designers whose practices have transformed their communities and environments, elevating the power of design as a tool for change.

  • TUUX

    INDUSTRIAL DESIGNERS

    Tuux is a design and FSC-certified manufacturing company committed to developing thoughtful projects with a strong focus on environmental and social responsibility.

    READ MORE

  • ISLA URBANA

    MARIANA BALDERAS / PAULINA CARRILLO GRANGE

    Isla Urbana is a social enterprise that has been committed to water sustainability in Mexico for over 13 years. With extensive experience in technological development and the implementation of rainwater harvesting, water management, and water autonomy projects.

    READ MORE

  • Rótulos Bautista

    graphic designer

    Giovanni Bautista, a graphic designer and sign painter by heritage, has honed his talent as a sign art artist, blending image and lettering, inspired by the tradition of his Bautista Rojas family. He currently serves as the creative director of Rótulos Bautista, a workshop founded in 1983 by master Arturo Bautista in Villa de Etla, Oaxaca.

    READ MORE

  • Ronald Rael

    Architect

    Rael is a multifaceted professional: a trained architect, activist, design technologist, multi-generational rancher, and traditional builder. His work seamlessly blends architecture, art, technology, land-based practices, and social justice. As an author, entrepreneur, and advocate, Rael is deeply involved in human rights issues at the U.S.–Mexico border.

    READ MORE

  • Party & Drinks

    Join the party to end the day. We invite everyone to enjoy some cold Pacífico beers while dancing to the beats of Ome and DJ Demián Lara. Let’s celebrate together all that design can achieve, sharing good times and dancing the night away.