porto design biennale 2019 evaluates creativity in post millennial era

tackling the emergencies of a rapidly changing world, porto design biennale 2019 encompasses, recognizes and challenges post millennium tension. it identifies issues that have created change within design over the past two decades and, in turn, uses the discipline as a tool for critical thinking and potential solutions. as a place for celebration, the biennale takes over the portuguese city with five exhibitions, two public installations, two workshops, a performance conference, and several expert talks and panel debates.

inviting visitors to help create a better world, join the first edition from september 19 to december 8, 2019.

all images courtesy of the porto design biennale
(main image: the cloud by universal kimono, 2018 )

a highlight of porto design biennale 2019 is the millennials – new millennium design exhibition which analyzes the current situation in the creative field. with a backdrop of various transformations in design, the showcase draws a map of communication design from three points of view: intentions (motivations, themes and values), processes (method, authorship) and the ways in which products come to life. it allows visitors to reflect upon historical perspective and evaluate forms and functions of designs produced in the first two decades of the new millennium.

internal affairs by martin gnadt, pascal schonegg and denis yilmaz

in each edition, the biennale showcases a guest country, with 2019 focusing on italy’s renowned history in design and the socio-cultural changes taking place within the country at present. territorio italia interconnects design, culture and territory through three exhibitions and a conference: frontiere – contemporary design expressions, riccardo dalsi – the perfect imperfection, and abitare italia – icons of italian design exhibitions, and the namesake conference with leading italian creatives and experts. together, the showcases illustrate the importance and inseparable connection between italy and the future of design.

handmade poster used in public actions of protest

uniting portuguese design institutes and their creatives, the schools project presents each establishment’s vision on the future of the discipline. through an exhibition called ‘Y, design portugal’, an experimental space is created for reflection and innovation in social, technological and cultural design. the idea tackles this from two directions: firstly, creating new opportunities for design by proposing new solutions to old problems; secondly, generating new problems by creating new areas for design.

book from the exhibition on form regarding portuguese design

from workshops to small exhibitions, there are a host of satellite events taking place around the city as part of the porto design biennale. varying in features, the program helps create a network of creativity around the theme of post millennium tension. these include curation from institutional and independent initiatives in order to promote further dialogue within the local and international design scene.

studies by riccardo dalisi