2019 Design Trends: Ecology, Women, Surrealism, and Space

The year 2019 in design was marked by ecological awareness, with exhibitions like 'Broken Nature' at Triennale Milano (curated by Paola Antonelli) and shows at Cooper Hewitt and Centre Pompidou. Women designers were celebrated: Charlotte Perriand at Fondation Louis Vuitton, and the book 'Bauhausmädels' by Patrick Rössler. The Biennale of Design in Saint-Étienne focused on collaborative design under the title 'Me, you, nous'. Virgil Abloh had a mid-career retrospective at MCA Chicago and launched a ceramic block for Vitra. Insects inspired designers like Neri Oxman and Marlène Huissoud, with a show at 21_21 Design Sight in Tokyo. Space travel influenced design, with Ikea studying Mars habitats and the 'Moving to Mars' exhibition at the Design Museum London. Anniversaries included Bauhaus centenary, Kartell's 70 years, and Thonet's 200 years, with 'Thonet Re-Imagined' at Haus der Kunst. Surrealism and design were explored at Vitra Design Museum's 'Objects of Desire'. At Salone del Mobile, Dotdotdot created an interactive wall for Design Holding. The Israeli design exhibition and Carlo Massoud's show in Milan highlighted design's social role, while Amman Design Week showcased craft.