Exhibition Design, Sustainability, Material Innovation
India Habitat Centre, New Delhi, India
2025
Modular. Circular. Frugal. Scalable. Bold.
Summary
This project reimagines how design exhibitions can be circular, modular, and waste-free, starting with a collaboration with What Design Can Do (WDCD). We developed a traveling exhibition system that aligns with the values of climate action, local adaptation, and design justice, ensuring that the format is as sustainable as the ideas it showcases.
Challenge
How might we design an exhibition system that can be reused, repurposed, and adapted across geographies—without generating new waste or requiring extensive reconstruction?
Solutions
To bring the idea of circular design to life, we developed an exhibition system that practiced what it preached. Instead of traditional, resource-heavy exhibition setups, we created a low-cost, low-impact, and high-visibility design framework using:
(a) Rented scaffolding structures typically used in construction—repurposed as the exhibition’s backbone. These modular frames offered immense flexibility, structural integrity, and a strong visual metaphor for “building better futures.”
(b) Locally sourced textile panels that served as the primary surface for information, artwork, and branding. These textiles were lightweight, foldable, and reusable—replacing traditional heavy boards and printing.
(c) Non reusable tool free assembly and flat-pack design allowed for quick setup and dismantling. Everything fit into compact transportation formats, enabling ease of replication in multiple countries.
We designed a spatial experience where content hung, floated, and moved, creating an inviting environment that could adapt to different venues and stories. No nails. No glue. No landfill.
This frugal yet powerful approach cut costs by nearly 90%,