At the IED Design campus, an exhibition showcasing projects developed as part of the SPACELIFE research programme, exploring how design can support human life in space.
SPACELIFE: Design for a Multi-Planetary Humanity
Date
08 January 2026
In December, IED Design inaugurated SPACELIFE: Design for a Multi-Planetary Humanity, an exhibition presenting a selection of projects developed during the two-year SPACELIFE research programme. The initiative focuses on understanding how design can support human life in the creation of stable communities on the Moon and Mars.
Students from different undergraduate courses developed experimental solutions by imagining human presence in extreme environments, exploring how technology can be combined with a user-centred approach. From an ontological perspective, extending design practice into fields traditionally dominated by engineering, physics or biology means redefining the very nature of the challenge. When we start imagining sending not only machines — such as rovers, robots or landers — but also human beings into space, the need for a user-centred perspective becomes clear.
Design is not just about the form of spaces, objects or services: it also shapes behaviours, movements, mindsets and wellbeing. It defines how our bodies and minds act in space. In this sense, the role of design in environments so radically different from Earth is essential, as it helps guide what could become humanity’s next evolutionary leap.
The exhibition brings together the outcomes of the Moonlife and Marslife thesis labs and is conceived as a space for dialogue between design, science and critical thinking.
Here you can find all the projects developed so far.
On the occasion of the exhibition opening, the talk “Design Thinking Beyond Earth” explored the role of design in the upcoming challenges of space exploration, with contributions from:
· Barbara Negri, Head of Human Flight and Experimentation, ASI – Italian Space Agency
· Chiara Muccitelli, UX Research and Design, Thales Alenia Space
· Mario Montagna, Domain Exploration & Science, Thales Alenia Space
The talk was moderated by Gianfranco Bombaci, Head of the Design School and coordinator of the research project.
SPACELIFE is the second event hosted by CORNER, the exhibition space at the IED campus on Via Casilina 47, created to explore design from multiple perspectives.
The SPACELIFE exhibition will be open to the public until 31 May 2026.
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