Hundreds of design enthusiasts and activists gathered at the Muziekgebouw last week for the 12th edition of WDCD Live in Amsterdam. At the heart of this year’s programme were the 11 winners of the Redesign Everything Challenge, who took to the yellow stage to share the stories behind their climate solutions. We also heard from creative heavyweights like Edel Rodriguez, Natsai Audrey Chieza and Samar Maakaroun, whose talks explored the responsibility of design in a world that feels more complex than ever. In the afternoon, a range of interactive breakout sessions invited visitors to dive deeper into themes like climate justice, new technologies and the circular transition. Couldn’t make it to the festival on 5 July? Here’s a quick look at the biggest moments of the day.
CREATIVITY AS A BASIC NEED
Opening the festival this year was Amsterdam’s Deputy Mayor Touria Meliani, who shared a powerful reminder of the urgent role that arts and culture plays in building resilient cities and communities. She spoke about creativity being an important tool for change — but also as one of society’s basic needs, and one which we must protect in times of political upheaval. Another highlight of the morning was biodesigner Natsai Audrey Chieza, who called for more collaboration between creatives, scientists and policymakers, and spoke about the answers and allies that we can find in nature.
“Biodesign is the design of and with living systems. What happens when we all work together?” — Natsai Audrey Chieza
Scenes from the main stage, with our co-founder Richard van der Laken and hosts Ikenna Azuike and Saskia van Stein.
11 REASONS TO BE HOPEFUL
Over the next couple of hours, we saw just what these collaborations could look like in action. In this portion of the programme, our main stage became a showcase for the 11 winning teams of the Redesign Everything Challenge. This global design competition was launched by WDCD earlier this year to find and celebrate some of the world’s most creative climate solutions. Through their short (and beautifully presented!) pitches, we learned about how designers are tackling a whole host of complex issues, from waste colonialism in Accra to air pollution in Delhi and biodiversity loss in São Paulo. We saw prototypes for growable electronics, market-ready alternatives for plastic and leather, and community projects that reconnect people to traditional ways of making, living and eating. By lunchtime, the entire room was left feeling energised and inspired.
Redesign Everything Challenge winners Germinatorium (Brazil) and The Revival (Ghana) on the main stage.
8 WAYS TO CHANGE THE BRIEF
Of course, no WDCD Live event would be complete without its line-up of mainstage superstars. These are the creative heavyweights whose keynote talks give context to the world that we’re designing in, and offer valuable insights into how our field and industry is changing as a whole. We heard from some of the most influential visual artists in the world, like illustrator Edel Rodriguez and graphic designer Samar Maakaroun. Their presentations spoke of prolific careers spent using design as political, social and cultural catalysts, provoking conversations about identity and power in the post-Trump era. Others, like fashion designer Bobby Kolade and architect Afaina de Jong, gave eye-opening talks that laid bare the systemic issues shaping their industries, from waste colonialism to spatial inequality.
The day was closed by activist and designer Clive Russell, whose rousing talk reminded everyone in the crowd of their creative responsibility and agency. “If unfettered consumerism is leading us towards mass extinction, then perhaps it’s time to say no to briefs that ask us to sell more shit. Perhaps it’s time to ask for a new brief,” he pointed out. “This isn’t a revolution. This is a rebellion against inaction.”
“I don’t make art to change anyone’s mind. I do it to say that something is wrong. I do it to take a stand.” — Edel Rodriguez
Visitors during the Memberful Design and Circular Showcase breakout sessions.
INVITATIONS TO DIVE DEEPER
Later in the day, festival-goers had the chance to connect and collaborate over an afternoon of hands-on breakout sessions, exploring themes such as circular design, community-building, and the role of old and new technologies. These sessions provided space for more in-depth conversations and the opportunity to ask questions, fostering a deeper understanding of the complex issues at hand. In smaller groups, we workshopped, round-tabled and networked, sharing tentative ideas and deeply-held beliefs about the future we want to build together. These sessions were led by a diverse and talented group of programme makers and facilitators, alongside guest speakers from organisations like Next Gen Design, Atelier Luma, Patagonia, The Hmm, Memberful Design and Secrid.
More captures from the festival at the Muziekgebouw.
STILL COMING UP
Still curious? More in-depth reports about the breakout sessions are coming soon! We’ll also be publishing video recordings of the talks from the main stage, as well as extended interviews with our Redesign Everything Challenge winners. After that, we’ll be slowly shifting our focus towards the next WDCD Live event on the calendar, which is slated for Mexico City on 27 September, 2024. To stay updated on the latest news, make sure you’re signed up for our newsletter.
All images: Tom Doms.