Featuring creative innovations in eco-friendly product design, born from a collaboration between Indonesian and European designers

Erasmus Huis Jakarta is hosting Design Matters Lab, a cross-continental collaborative exhibition that brings together five designers from Indonesia and five from Europe. Running from February 28 to May 3, 2025, the exhibition marks the culmination of a ten-month creative journey focused on sustainable product design in partnership with five micro-factories in Bandung.

Through a cross-cultural design approach, the designers and micro-factories developed products using unconventional materials such as cigarette butts, cow dung, mycelium, chicken feet, and coffee grounds. These materials have been transformed into functional and aesthetically appealing creations that emphasize durability, sustainability, and minimal environmental impact. The project aims to offer creative solutions to the global waste crisis while highlighting the potential of alternative materials in industrial design.

The program involved a series of online workshops, residencies in Bandung, and market testing activities. Each stage was designed to support the transformation of ideas into reality while promoting an industrialization model that is in harmony with local culture and environmental sustainability. A prototype presentation in December 2024 served as a key moment for gathering public feedback, which then informed the development of the final products.

The exhibition not only showcases the final outcomes but also illustrates the entire process of collaboration and dialogue among participants. Visitors are invited to delve into the working dynamics between designers and micro-factories and to share their feedback on the displayed works.

Design Matters Lab is jointly initiated and organized by a range of international and local institutions, including British Council Indonesia, Erasmus Huis, Goethe-Institut Indonesien, Institut Français Indonésie, and the embassies of several European countries in Indonesia. The initiative is supported by CAST Foundation, Playo, UNESCO City of Design Bandung, and Kreasi Jabar.

Through this exhibition, the public is invited to join a movement that redefines the design industry through the lens of sustainability. It’s a call to protect the environment, reduce waste, and support innovation for a better future. The exhibition is free and open to the public—don’t miss the opportunity to experience it.

photo source : instagram.com/rekomendatebychris 

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