Design Beyond Things. The Object as an Agent of Transformation

29 August – 13 September 2025

European Pavilion, Expo 2025 Osaka

“Design Beyond Things. The Object as an Agent of Transformation” is the official exhibition organised by the European Union at Expo 2025 Osaka running from 29 August to 13 September 2025. Curated by Patrizia Catalano, architect, professional journalist and founder of HoperAperta, and Miriam Giordano, communication expert, founder and director of Labóh, the collective exhibition is presented in the European Pavilion and extends into several national pavilions, bringing together over thirty newly commissioned or recent design projects by leading designers from 18 EU Member States.

The exhibition aims to invite visitors to reflect on the new lexicon of European contemporary design at a time of deep social transformation and urgent need for new hopes for the future. Through the selected pieces, it highlights the transformative power of design — from embracing circular lifecycles and sustainable production to reclaiming a sense of local and global identities.

Among the participating designers are some of Europe’s most influential creative voices, including Nika Zupanc (Italy/Slovenia), Elena Salmistraro (Italy), Claesson Koivisto Rune (Sweden), Inma Bermúdez (Spain), Filipe Alarcão (Portugal), Wendy Andreu (France), Sabine Marcelis, Kiki van Eijk and Mae Engelgeer (Netherlands), among others.

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 rich programme of talks, workshops and international exchanges. Together, they will turn every national pavilion into a space of ongoing dialogue about the role of design in transforming and improving our living environment.