Walker Design Triennial: Beyond Materialism

The Walker Art Center’s new Design Triennial series examines shifts in culture by way of design. It acknowledges design’s ability to both reflect and test the zeitgeist, revealing the social mores of the time. In its inaugural exhibition, Beyond Materialism, the triennial highlights one of the most prominent shifts in recent years.

Beyond Materialism proposes that contemporary design is moving toward ideals of spiritual cultivation, away from ideals of profit and consumption. Following the industrial revolutions of the 18th and 19th centuries, designers prioritized functionality and utility in pursuit of mass production for the benefit of the many. Today, a new generation of designers is asking a different set of questions: In an increasingly fragmented world, can design facilitate community and agency? Can a culture of materialism give way to something different, more hopeful?

Bringing together 26 designers and collectives from across the globe, the exhibition explores how contemporary design engages with societal challenges and opportunities. For some, a focus on materiality and heritage crafts reveals new ways of relating to the world (Theaster Gates, Astronauts, WKND Lab). Yet others employ design as political and environmental commentary, creating objects that range from dystopian tableaux built from surplus goods (Christoph Wimmer-Ruelland) to speculative interpretations of present-day realities (Superflux). Far from nihilistic, these designers ultimately engage in their craft with a sense of hope. Where an interactive quilt by VESSEL platforms community-building through shared activity, an installation by Lucas Muñoz Muñoz invites visitors to remix sound recordings from across the Twin Cities.

Held every three years, the Walker Design Triennial builds on the museum’s nearly 90-year commitment to the field of design. Its inaugural edition surveys over 95 works across 13 countries in a sweeping exploration of the narratives, philosophies, and innovations that define contemporary design today.