DESIGNER OF THE YEAR

Formafantasma’s Andrea Trimarchi and Simone Farresin embody what design means today. They bring together exquisite forms, unusual materials (among them plant-based polymers, volcanic ash and electronic waste), analytical thinking, and a conviction that design is a redemptive and revolutionary force, one that points us towards more responsible citizenship and a better world. Their Cambio project, presented as an exhibition at London’s Serpentine Galleries last year, explores the ecological impact of the timber industry through research, installation and film. ‘It’s an invitation to start to think about what we do on the planet as a shared experience,’ they say. It is fitting that they head up the new Geo-design master’s programme at Design Academy Eindhoven, which investigates the social, economic, territorial and geopolitical forces that shape the practice of design. Their aim is to educate the next generation to look beyond products and transform broader ecosystems. It’s a game-changing proposition. formafantasma.com