Reimagining a world beyond human centricity: a fresh exhibit posits that the planet does not circle around our interests
The Design Museum in London has opened the doors to its groundbreaking exhibition, "More Than Human," which is the world's first major museum exhibition dedicated to more-than-human design. This radical rethinking of design invites us to shift away from a human-centric perspective towards one that considers the needs and flourishing of other living systems—animals, plants, and ecosystems—on which humans depend[1][3].
From July 11, 2023, until October 5, 2025, visitors can explore over 140 works by more than 50 participants, including artists, architects, and designers. The exhibition is jointly curated by the Design Museum and its Future Observatory research programme[3].
The exhibition is divided into three thematic sections:
1. **Being Landscape**: This section explores the connection between humanity and nature through artworks such as organic-inspired paintings, drawings reflecting memories of the Brazilian Amazon, photographs documenting the Italian Rumiti ritual, and bronze masks inspired by pagan figures[3].
2. **Making With The World**: Focuses on practical design-led solutions for ecological restoration. Highlights include Reef Design Lab’s marine infrastructure like living seawalls and artificial reefs, and the Alusta Pavilion, a mini-park created by Elina Koivisto and Maiju Suomi that provides shelter for both humans and insects[3].
3. **New Commissions and Exploratory Works**: This section features several new commissions exploring novel ways humans and non-humans may coexist through design[1].
Some notable examples of the art and design on display include facade cladding designed to host birds and insects, traditional cane fish traps that allow baby fish to swim free, an AI project giving voice to a river, and a large-scale seaweed installation and an enormous nature calendar[1][2].
"More Than Human" is described as a landmark exhibition that challenges conventional Western design practice and advocates for design’s role in fostering interconnection and conservation rather than domination over nature[1][2][3]. It embodies a fundamental shift toward thinking about design as a tool to support flourishing living systems across species boundaries[1].
Visitors can subscribe to the Design Museum's newsletter for daily design stories and inspiration. The Design Museum is located at 224-238 Kensington High St, London W8 6AG[4]. Don't miss this extraordinary opportunity to reimagine design as a tool for interconnection and conservation at the Design Museum in London.
[1] Design Museum (2023). More Than Human Press Release. Retrieved from https://www.designmuseum.org/exhibitions/more-than-human [2] The Guardian (2023). More Than Human: Design Museum's radical exhibition celebrates nature. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2023/jul/11/more-than-human-design-museums-radical-exhibition-celebrates-nature [3] Design Museum (n.d.). More Than Human. Retrieved from https://www.designmuseum.org/exhibitions/more-than-human [4] Design Museum (n.d.). Contact Us. Retrieved from https://www.designmuseum.org/contact-us
- The "Making With The World" section of the "More Than Human" exhibition at the Design Museum in London showcases practical design-led solutions for ecological restoration, such as living seawalls and artificial reefs, which are examples of sustainable-living focused on home-and-garden and lifestyle.
- In the "Being Landscape" section, visitors can find artworks that embody a connection between humanity and nature, like bronze masks inspired by pagan figures and photographs documenting rituals, promoting a sustainable lifestyle through appreciation of and interconnection with the natural world.
