ECO Solidarity is a multidisciplinary hybrid project, an initiative and a movement developed with WantedDesign, which seeks unity and solidarity through design + architecture focused on Ecology, climate change, the key concepts of the Green New Deal, sustainability, public well-being, public health and their social implications in public spaces, facing new pandemic challenges in COVID-19 era.
Watch the recording:
ICFF + WantedDesign Manhattan CLOSEUP (May 17-18) is an online trade show and discussion platform. It is the culmination of ECO Solidarity 2021. ECO Solidarity Session 1 "Design with empathy: Public space and social impact" featuring Czech studio Herrmann&Coufal took place on Tuesday May 18.
Find the full schedule and complete list of participants HERE ON THE CLOSEUP WEBSITE.
Selected designers
Herrmann & Coufal – Czech Center
The project explores a designer’s relationship to the “do it yourself” phenomenon. It shows that self-made production does not have to be perceived only as a low-cost, alternative, and unaesthetic solution – on the contrary, it highlights its benefits for both individuals and society. In addition to environmental aspects (such as reduction of transport, packaging, and commercial overproduction), it brings the human approach to products and makes their users understand and appreciate hidden ideas. The creation process thus becomes an integral part of the final product, a shared experience.
Herrmann & Coufal were awarded the Grand Designer of the Year, the top award at Czech Grand Design Awards for 2020. More info in this article from Radio Prague International.
View full selection at the Wanted Design website HERE.
CLOSEUP in the media:
Read the article in Downtown HERE
More about ECO Solidarity and EUNIC
ECO Solidarity addresses urgency for:
Human-centered, Green New Deal-aligned product design, architecture, and public space.
Sustainable design solutions focused on climate change ecology, public wellbeing, public health.
Real-life applicable solutions addressing Covid-19 public health crisis.
Inclusivity and diversity: providing equal opportunity to designers from all genders and races
Prioritizing European emerging designers interested in developing collaborations in the US
For 2021, ECO Solidarity will be presented at ICFF + WantedDesign Manhattan CLOSEUP (May 17-18, 2021) and at WantedDesign’s Online Exhibition from June 15- August 15.
ECO Solidarity was initiated in 2020 by the Polish Cultural Institute New York and Studio Rygalik, in collaboration with WantedDesign. This year’s edition of ECO Solidarity is produced and presented in partnership with the European Union National Institutes for Culture (EUNIC) organizations: Austrian Cultural Forum New York, Delegation of the Government of Flanders to the USA, Wallonie-Bruxelles International New York, Czech Center, Goethe-Institut New York, Arts Council Malta in New York, and Romanian Cultural Institute New York.
ECO Solidarity’s Advisory Committee:
Arts Council Malta in New York: Dr Jevon Vella, Deputy Director, MCAST Institute for the Creative Arts
Austrian Cultural Forum New York: Martina Fineder
Delegation of Flanders to the USA: Axel Clissen, Co-Founder and Creative Director at Socle
Goethe-Institut New York: Dunja Karabaic, Designer, Teacher and Founder of oekoRAUSCH Festival for Design & Sustainability
Polish Cultural Institute New York: Ewa Bińczyk, Professor of Philosophy
Romanian Cultural Institute New York: Adriana Blidaru, Curator, Founding editor of Living Content
Czech Center: Danica Kovářová, Editor-in Chief for Dolce Vita Magazine and Curator
Wallonie-Bruxelles International New York: Giovanna Massoni, Independent Curator
Special advisor: Tomek Rygalik, Founder of Studio Rygalik
EUNIC, European Union National Institutes for Culture – is the European network of organizations engaging in cultural relations. Together with our partners, we bring to life European cultural collaboration in more than 90 countries worldwide with a network of over 120 clusters, drawing on the broad experience of our members from all EU Member States and associate countries.
EUNIC advocates a prominent role of culture in international relations and is a strategic partner of the EU, actively involved in the further definition of European cultural policy. EUNIC is a platform for knowledge sharing and for capacity building amongst its members and partners.
WantedDesign is a platform dedicated to promoting design and fostering the local and international creative community throughout the year.
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