Led by Rana Rmeily and Francesca Gotti, students from the Master in Event and Exhibition Design at Scuola Politecnica di Design took part in a speculative and research-based workshop exploring the future of one of Italy’s most iconic cultural institutions: the Triennale di Milano. Using the 24th edition, “Inequalities,” as a starting point, students were invited to envision the 25th Triennale, stepping into the role of future curators, exhibition designers, and critical thinkers.
Designing for Urgency and Relevance
The workshop began with a critical analysis of the current Triennale exhibition. From there, students projected themselves into the near future, asking: What global issues will need to be addressed? What conversations must be staged? Rather than finding a single answer, the workshop functioned as a collective curatorial lab, encouraging students to collaborate on defining themes, shaping narratives, and questioning how cultural knowledge is curated and communicated.
Curating Through Space
Students were then tasked with selecting and experimenting with different exhibition typologies—from object-based and research-driven to performative and intangible to match the nature of their chosen content. Each individual or group was responsible for designing a distinct spatial environment that expressed their curatorial approach while contributing to a larger, cohesive vision for what the 25th Triennale could be.
A Laboratory of Cultural Futures
The workshop culminated in a shared curatorial proposal, merging diverse voices, concepts, and environments into one unified vision. In doing so, students explored not just what an exhibition can look like, but how it can challenge, inspire, and reflect the world around us.
Rethinking the Exhibition Format
Through this experience, students were encouraged to critically rethink exhibition-making, embracing collaborative authorship, experimental formats, and the role of spatial storytelling in shaping tomorrow’s cultural discourse.