IED returns to WantedDesign 2026 with Rural Futures
Date
17 May 2026 - 19 May 2026
Time
10:00 AM - 19:00 PM
Where
Javits Center, New York City, NY 429 11th Ave, New York, NY 10001 BOOTH #W781 , New York City - USA
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In-person event
IED Istituto Europeo di Design returns to WantedDesign as part of NYCxDESIGN 2026, presenting Rural Futures, a selection of projects that explore the evolving relationship between design, ecosystems, and communities.
Rural Futures
Rural Futures reflects on how design can engage with rural environments not as peripheral or static contexts, but as active sites of innovation, knowledge, and cultural production.
The projects presented respond to the challenges and opportunities embedded in these territories, addressing themes such as environmental monitoring, material sustainability, and the relationship between humans and their surroundings. Through different approaches and scales, they propose a shift from designing objects to designing relationships — between nature, technology, and communities.
Projects on view
Among the projects presented, Foremyc and CALIU offer two complementary perspectives on the theme.
Developed by students from IED Milano, Foremyc is a system of permanent sensors and a digital dashboard designed to monitor forest ecosystems and translate their signals into accessible data. By supporting forest technicians and enabling continuous observation, the project contributes to more resilient approaches to environmental management. The project has been recognised with the James Dyson Award 2025.
From IED Barcelona, CALIU explores the domestic scale through a modular interior system made of raw cork panels. Combining thermal and acoustic performance with a strong tactile quality, the project introduces a more conscious and material-driven approach to interior spaces, redefining the relationship between people and their environments.
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