ECO Solidarity returns to the International Contemporary Furniture Fair 2024 (ICFF), with a panel presentation on sustainable materials.
At a time when environmental and humanitarian crises reach a critical apex, architects and designers must re-examine their role in acting on these challenges of the present. ECO Solidarity, founded in 2020 by the Polish Cultural Institute New York in partnership with WantedDesign and in collaboration with the European Union National Institutes for Culture (EUNIC), was formed to bring together leading European design studios to address the imperative need for human-centered design. In 2024, the initiative returns to the International Contemporary Furniture Fair (ICFF).
Moderated by Jonsara Ruth, co-founder, and design director of Healthy Materials Lab at Parsons School of Design, “Ethics in Materiality: Restoring Sustainable Balance” will feature three leading European talents discussing ways to create aesthetically alluring functional design that respects local resources, contains healthier substances, and is produced with end-use in mind.
Panelists include Warsaw-based Paulina Grabowska, whose studio NASDRA Conscious Design develops urban farms, circular-economy schemes, and climate-change mitigation processes. Representing Spain is Angel Mombiedro, principal of Armombiedro Studio. Trained as an architect, Mombiedro specializes in working with reclaimed materials and tradespeople. From the Czech Republic is Dagmar Zvonickova Fredholm, co-founder of Novavita Design. Focusing on sustainable material research and development, Novavita produces materials made predominately of waste and recycled ingredients.
The talk is co-curated by Odile Hainaut (brand director of ICFF) and Izabela Gola (Visual Arts and Design Curator at the Polish Cultural Institute NY), in collaboration with EUNIC.
This year’s EUNIC partners include Czech Center New York and the Polish Cultural Institute New York, with generous support from the Consulate General of Portugal in New York, and promotional support of the Consulate General of Spain in New York.
ECO Solidarity has been sustained for two consecutive years (2022-2023) with the EUNIC Cluster Fund Award granted by EUNIC Global.
Join the conversation “Ethics in Materiality: Restoring Sustainable Balance” on May 21 at ICFF’s Oasis Stage at 1:30 PM.To attend the panel, register for the ICFF fair at https://icff.com/fair/. Talks are open to all fair attendees and press with daily passes, with no reservations required.
