What Design Can Do México GNP 2024 is just around the corner — and this year, we’re bringing the festival to the beautiful Auditorio BB in México City. This edition promises to be a very special one, as we explore the power of play and collectivity in tackling the world’s most urgent challenges: from climate change and conflict to gender inequality and colonization.
There are three main themes at the heart of the programme, each one featuring talks and workshops led by creative leaders from Mexico and beyond. Together we’ll explore some of the most memorable design interventions of the last decade, looking at what they reveal about the times we live in, and how make change feel both urgent and possible. Here, we walk through what you can expect from each theme, and the biggest names and projects you don’t want to miss on 27 September.
PLAY AS AN ACT OF COLLECTIVE REBELLION
In times of crisis, engaging in play can feel a little counterintuitive. And yet, knowing how to play—and play together—is key to creating moments of vulnerability and openness, and designing spaces where we can experiment, fail, and ultimately uncover new possibilities.
During this portion of the programme, we’ll be hearing from creative rebels who use the act of play to shed new light on everything from architecture to education and football. Highlights include designer Cas Holman, who has spent the last two decades creating spaces and objects that inspire open-ended play, including the award-winning Rigamajig, a line of innovative building kits used in schools and public spaces worldwide.
“Play brings people together and helps us see each other.” — Cas Holman
From top: Playground and exhibition at the Liberty Science Center by Cas Holman. The Gym by Gabriel Fontana, photo by Almicheal Fraay ©Maikeljay.
Another is Gabriel Fontana, whose work draws on the framework of social design to reshape sports into a community practice that deconstructs rules and encourages empathy. Some of his most well-known projects include Multiform (2019), a programme to rethink physical education in schools, and the The Gym (2023), a spatial experiment in the form of a gym to “train and strengthen our inclusivity muscles.”
RECONNECTING WITH CIRCULARITY
To address climate and social challenges, designers are increasingly turning to local knowledge of materials, products, services, and cultural traditions that have sustained circular communities for centuries. During this portion of the programme, we will explore inspiring projects and initiatives from Iztapalapa, Basel, Rhode Island, and London, while also celebrating the women who take the lead in this movement.
On the main stage, make sure to catch award-winning architect Gabriella Carillo, whose projects address everything from spatial inequality and diversity to on how buildings interact with climate and nature. Also bringing her circular expertise to the table is the brilliant Barbara Buser, who is one of the world’s leading voices when it comes to adaptive reuse and transformative urban projects.
From top: Pier of San Blas by Gabriel Carillo and Colectivo C733, photo by Rafael Gamo. Buser-Halle8 GF by Barbara Buser.
DESIGN FROM THE GROUND
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.
Ronald Rael’s talk is sure to be a standout here, with his multifaceted approach to architecture, art, technology, and social justice. Rael’s studio has been researching the border that separates Mexico from the USA since 2009, and most will recognise the Teeter Totter Wall they installed there in 2019. For the graphic designers in the audience, another must-see in the programme is Giovanni Bautista, an artist and sign painter by heritage whose work blends the modern with the traditional, bringing Mexican lettering, printmaking and illustration to the world stage.
“Now more than ever, our creations must transcend mere necessity, embracing the imperative to serve both client aspirations and the greater good of our Earth.” — Ronald Rael
From top: Teeter Totter Wall by Studio Rael San Fratello. Painted signs by Rótulos Bautista.
Interested in joining us? Get your tickets to What Design Can Do México GNP 2024 here.
Featured image: Multiform by Gabriel Fontana. Photo: Iris Rijkamp.