For the first time, What Design Can Do (WDCD) arrived in South Asia with a sold-out edition of WDCD Live Delhi 2025. Hosted at the India Habitat Centre on March 08, the festival brought together 450 designers, innovators, and changemakers to explore the power of design in tackling the climate crisis. From the very beginning, WDCD Live Delhi 2025 was charged with a palpable energy. In partnership with Unbox Cultural Futures, Quicksand, and The Design Village, the event created a dynamic space for radical collaboration, inclusion, and innovation. The festival was made possible by the generous support of the Global Methane Hub, The Rockefeller Foundation, The Netherlands Embassy, and Pro Helvetia – Swiss Arts Council. Here’s a quick look at the biggest moments of the day.
A Call to Action
Against the backdrop of a world in flux, over 30 leading voices in design, policy, and social change converged to present bold new visions for a regenerative future. Richard van der Laken, Co-Founder and Creative Director of WDCD, set the tone: “Though perspectives were diverse, one message rang clear: in turbulent times, creativity can offer a hopeful way forward.”
Ayush Chauhan, Co-Founder of Unbox Cultural Futures and Quicksand, emphasized the urgency of challenging dominant ways of working and thinking: “There was a restless creative energy in the room that comes when a new vision is discovered and new alliances are formed—WDCD Live Delhi gave us both.”
The festival also showcased a community-driven approach to design. Sourabh Gupta, Co-Founder of The Design Village, highlighted the power of collective action: “At The Design Village, we believe that community is everything, and at WDCD Live Delhi 2025, we truly saw that in action.”
Designing for Change
The programme launched with a sensory experience: a coffee brewing workshop by Subko Specialty Coffee Roasters, setting the stage for a day of immersive learning and exchange.
On the Yellow Stage, Sandeep Virmani (Hunnarshala Foundation) reminded the audience that “nature is the ultimate designer,” demonstrating how low-carbon materials and technology can be used to build sustainable homes. María Conejo (Pussypedia.net) made a powerful statement on the importance of accessible information on the female body, a timely conversation on International Women’s Day 2025.
Architect Thomas Rau urged the crowd to rethink circularity, reminding us that “We are all guests on planet Earth.”
A Platform for Bold Ideas
Deepali Khanna (Rockefeller Foundation) underscored the need to tap into indigenous knowledge in climate action. WDCD past Challenge winners, including Monish Siripurapu (Ant Studio – Beehive), Depanshu Gola (BreathEasy), and Namita Bhatnagar (BioSoothe), shared their insights on scaling and collaboration, receiving expert feedback from industry leaders.
The conversation deepened in the afternoon, with sessions like the WDCD Challenge Design Jam, led by Lara Snatager and Mudita Pasari, and a textile waste lab by Femke van Gemert. Dr. Kit Braybrooke’s hacker workshop called on technologists and makers to address climate challenges head-on.
The festival’s final keynote by Mexican designer Carla Fernandez left attendees inspired, as she declared: “Another fashion system is possible,” advocating for the future of fashion as a handmade, community-driven movement.
A Collective Momentum
The day closed with a toast at the British Council, where speakers, volunteers, and visitors reflected on the festival’s takeaways. The immersive multimedia artwork Nine Earths by D-fuse and the speculative storytelling of Elsewhere in India by Avinash Kumar & DJ Murthy provided the perfect coda to an electrifying day.
WDCD Live Delhi 2025 proved that when creativity, community, and conviction come together, design can be a force for systemic change. As one attendee put it, “The challenges ahead are tough, but I continue to be inspired by the resilience of those working to shake up the system and create real change.”
