Six Design Trends from 2020: From Hacking to Activism

The 2020 design year was marked by the pandemic's disruption of events like Salone del Mobile, pushing companies and creatives to reinvent themselves. Key trends included design hacking and DIY, exemplified by Cristian Fracassi and Isinnova's 3D-printed valve for Decathlon diving masks used in ventilators. New communication paradigms emerged, with IKEA ending its print catalog for an immersive virtual store and Tobias Grau commissioning artists to reinterpret its lamps. A 'third way' between industrial and artisanal production flourished in Southern Italy, highlighted by Edit Napoli and Materia Independent Design Festival, featuring designers like Matteo Cibic and Gae Avitabile. Sustainable materials and processes advanced, such as Alessandro Stabile and Martinelli Venezia's 1.1 Chair, a flat-packed plastic chair sold online. The death of master Enzo Mari prompted reflection on his legacy, with a retrospective at Triennale Milano curated by Hans Ulrich Obrist and Francesca Giacomelli. Editorial activism saw key publications: the Mari exhibition catalog, Nero Editions' IN Residence series on Roberto Sironi and Marcin Rusak, and Marco Petroni's 'Il progetto del reale' advocating design beyond normalcy.