ReThink by Kvadrat at 3daysofdesign 2024
During this year’s 3daysofdesign Kvadrat revealed ReThink – an exhibition showcasing the work of 12 emerging and established creatives. From Iceland to Venezuela, Beijing to Brooklyn, the designers from the ReThink exhibition focused on what responsible design means to them through working with Kvadrat’s recycled, regenerative, and circular material.
ReThink is the sixth edition of Kvadrat’s Design Projects, following iterations dedicated to Kvadrat’s Hallingdal 65, Divina, Canvas, Kvadrat Febrik and Kvadrat Really textiles. The participants in ReThink were chosen by curators Jeffrey Bernett, Anniina Koivu, Johanna Agerman Ross, Jane Withers and Njusja de Gier – based on the designers’ interest in, and ability to respond creatively to, sustainable approaches and thinking. The designers were given free hand, and through their creations they show how the many aspects of sustainability can shape design, spark material innovation, increase community collaboration and cultivate new aesthetic values.
The projects embodied a collective effort among the 12 designers to find innovative approaches and explore the boundaries of material used in design, whether it’s using recycled textiles, renewable, natural materials, or circular resources in the designs. Some of these projects involved local community collaboration, not only enriching the design process, but also fostering connections with broader social and cultural contexts, emphasising the importance of community engagement in sustainable design practices.
Others drew inspiration from nature and highlighted the interconnectedness between design and environmental sustainability. These projects explored the relationship between water and textile production, incorporating natural materials like wool and sisal, or creating designs that reflect the vitality of marine life, highlighting a commitment to preserving and protecting our natural resources. Others shared principles of circularity through the reuse of materials, the incorporation of recyclable elements, or the consideration of end-of-life processes. This reflects a broader shift towards circular design principles, where products are designed with longevity, recyclability, and resource efficiency in mind.
Njusja de Gier, Kvadrat Senior Vice President Marketing & Digital of the Kvadrat Group commented “The 12 participants responded with passion and ingenuity, drawing on diverse cultural and cross-disciplinary backgrounds. ReThink captures many different approaches to sustainability through artistry, experimental education, transparency, 3D technology, assembly, structure and pure craft in which the creative process evolves through hand, heart and mind.”