Design Beyond Things. Expo 2025 Osaka

Design Beyond Things. The Object as an Agent of Transformation is the official hybrid exhibition of the European Union (EU) at Expo 2025 Osaka, taking place from 31 August to 13 September 2025. Conceived by Gaia Danese, Main Curator and Coordinator of the EU Cultural Programme at Expo Osaka, and developed in collaboration with Federica De Giorgi, International Cultural Relations Seconded National Expert to the EEAS from the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the project explores design as a catalyst for change. Curated by Patrizia Catalano—architect, professional journalist, and founder of HoperAperta—and Miriam Giordano, communication expert and founder of Labóh, the exhibition is produced by Labóh and HoperAperta. Presented in the EU Pavilion and extended into the Baltic Pavilion, it showcases 35 projects by leading designers from 17 European countries, creating a collective platform where design becomes an agent of transformation.

Expo 2025 Osaka, held on Yumeshima Island from 13 April to 13 October 2025 under the theme “Designing Future Society for Our Lives” and closely aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, is expected to welcome over 28 million visitors, and to place people at the centre of innovation, focusing on sustainability, digital transformation and social wellbeing.

Within this framework, the exhibition, starting from the principles of the New European Bauhaus, “Beautiful, Sustainable, Inclusive”, aims to invite visitors to reflect on the lexicon of European contemporary design at a time of profound social change and urgent need for new hopes for the future of both people and the planet. Through 17 selected pieces displayed on site to represent the entire group of works –many of them unique creations made specifically for the exhibition– and a video installation by artist Steve Piccolo –which features all the 35 design pieces and explores themes of permission, prohibition and the evolving language of design–, the exhibition highlights the transformative power of design: from the adoption of circular lifecycles and sustainable production to the recovery of both local and global identities. 

The opening event took place on the 4th of September at Expo 2025 Osaka. Thomas Gnocchi, Deputy Head of the EU Delegation to Japan, represented the European Union and gave a speech, together with the Commissioner General of Lithuania Ms. Lina Antanaviciene and Commissioner General of Latvia Ms. Lasma Lidaka and the presence of Concha Fernández de la Puente, EU Deputy Commissioner-General. Moderated by the curators two rounds of talks took place with a total of ten participating designers: Maria Daria Oancea and George Marinescu (Adhoc Arhitectura), Pauline Capdo and Luis Bellenger (Paulineplusluis), Dace Sūna, Raffaella Mangiarotti, Carmelo Zappulla (External Reference), Mae Engelgeer, Inma Bermúdez, Reinis Leo Miķelsons (Gateris Works) and the video artist Steve Piccolo. 

The 35 works brought together embody a multiplicity of voices and approaches, spanning chairs, lamps, vases, tapestries and tatamis, crafted through glassmaking, woodworking, 3D printing, textile work, welding, marble carving and weaving. While deeply rooted in European traditions, these projects emerge from an ever-expanding cultural dialogue, shaped by collaborations with manufacturers whose technical expertise and local know-how are crucial in transforming ideas into reality. 

Among the participating designers are some of Europe’s most influential creative voices, including Akiko and Ken (Denmark), Filipe Alarcão (Portugal), Wendy Andreu (France), Andreu Carulla (Spain), Atelier Ad Hoc (Romania), BCXSY (the Netherlands), Inma Bermúdez Studio (Spain), Anne Brandhøj (Denmark), Maria Bruun (Denmark), Budde Studio (Germany), Álvaro Catalán de Ocón (Spain), Claesson Koivisto Rune (Sweden), Gaspard Fleury-Dugy (France), GamFratesi (Denmark), Gateris Works (Latvia), Antrei Hartikainen (Finland), Maria Jeglinska-Adamczewska (Poland), Mantas Lesauskas (Lithuania), Raffaella Mangiarotti (Italy), Sabine Marcelis (the Netherlands), Liliána Mészáros, VUUV Works (Hungary), Paulineplusluis (Belgium), Austėja Platūkytė (Lithuania), Jan Plecháč (Czech Republic), Klemens Schillinger (Austria), Elena Salmistraro (Italy), Studio Mae Engelgeer (the Netherlands), Studio Œ (Germany), Studio Sarmīte (Latvia), Dace Sūna (Latvia), UND.studio (Germany), Kiki van Eijk (the Netherlands), Thomas Waidhofer (Austria), Carmelo Zappulla (Italy), Anna Zimmermann (Austria).

Companies and organisations supporting the participation of designers in the exhibition include: Adam Mickiewicz Institute, Amorim Cork, Anegre, Bosa, Byborre, Copenhagen Hardwood, Craft x Tech, Danish Arts Foundation, External Reference, Faust Linoleum, Finsa, IDÉE Tokyo, Koyori, Latvian Design Centre, Mitsuru Yokoyama Tatami, Moser Glassworks, Nerinea, Orrefors, Romanian Cultural Institute, Sancal, Sandhelden, Tangent, The Form Follows, The Senior Solicitor L. Zeuthens Memorial Grant, The Toyota Foundation, Union Sozialer Einrichtungen, Valsts Kultūrkapitāla fonds and Wallonie-Bruxelles International.

Rooted in the values of the New European Bauhaus and aligned with the UN 2030 Agenda and Expo’s central theme “Designing Future Society for Our Lives”, the exhibition will be complemented by a programme of talks and international exchanges. Together, they will turn the EU Pavilion into a space of ongoing dialogue about the role of design in transforming and improving our living environment.

Credits
Organised by the European Union 
Curated by Patrizia Catalano and Miriam Giordano 
Produced by Labóh and HoperAperta 
With the support of the Baltic Pavilion and the Belgian Pavilion 
Technical partners: USM Modular Furniture 
Exhibition Coordinators: Martina Barberis, Nicole Rambla  
Video and sound installation: Steve Piccolo, Gregory Piccolo 
Exhibition design: Antonio La Gioia 
Graphic design: Valentina Pulian
Photography: Thomas Cude