Maria Cristina Didero: “Sustainability is contagious”

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urban sun, daan roosegaarde, salone milano

Urban Sun, design Studio Roosegaarde

“More can and must be done” says Maria Cristina Didero, Curatorial Director of Design Miami/ 2022, a lifelong freelance curator and author, leaving no room for equivocation

“It’s time to stop having big conversations and do something concrete. We’ve talked about the topic of sustainability until the cows come home; now it’s time to start taking concrete action. I’m glad there are talks and symposia, it does need to be talked about. But enough words; it’s time to act” - says Maria Cristina Didero. In June during the 60th edition of the Salone del Mobile in Milan she presented the talk “Sustainability: three different episodes”.

“We need to move on from the conversation. We’re trying to do stuff that generates a breakthrough. We have technology – innovation is doing so much... All we have to do is apply what research has come up with so far, and who knows how far we can go”.

Designers, planners, homo faber... Perhaps it’s right our sector should be making the greatest strides. In June, you presented the sustainability talk “Sustainability: Three Different Episodes.” What comes first, innovation or the social aspect?

As my curatorial approach shows, as far as I’m concerned, people come first. We’re going through a time of unprecedented social drama, the huge inequality gap becoming ever bigger. We must start there.

gallery climate coalition, salone milano, frieze — Gallery Climate Coalition, Frieze London, photo courtesy

How committed are designers on the social front? Can you share some examples?

Daan Roosegaarde, creative thinker, artist, innovator, and developer of social projects exploring the relationship between people, technology, and space, did a project on sustainable fireworks, a lighter-hearted initiative that can help lift people’s moods after these challenging times, designing something not to harm the planet. This echoes the theme of this year’s Design Miami/, The Golden Age, which in a nutshell tells of how, after major crises, innovations and breakthroughs often undergo enormous acceleration. Daan Roosegaarde has been involved in many other projects related to community and basic needs. The message is key: unity is strength. Victoria Siddall is Co-Founder and Trustee of the Gallery Climate Coalition, a Non-Executive Director of Frieze, and President, Trustee and Co-Founder of Studio Voltaire, an organization that seeks to unite galleries and museums to recycle, reuse, lower setup costs and share transport. Eva Feldkamp, Founder and Director of All in Awe, generates creative opportunities that have a positive social and environmental impact. Her mission is to design a system that puts top creatives in contact with charities, non-profits and the public sector, enabling organizations on a tight budget to take advantage of great minds and access high levels of quality. And the beauty of it is, it works! She was bold, and I have a soft spot for the bold.

Fortune favours the bold. Perhaps, most importantly, design is a sector where it’s vital that industry professionals stay optimistic and keep on dreaming.

Fortunately, some people still believe this world needs brilliant minds to solve its problems. I know that joining forces and sharing can change things, but we also have to do other things too. Designers are more optimistic because they know they can roll up their sleeves and get their hands dirty, find an answer or perhaps pose a question. I’m optimistic: when all is said and done, we’re all Michelangelo’s children... Regardless of what damage we have already wrought on our planet, we are capable of great insight, innovation and skill.

portrait, maria Cristina didero, salone milano — Maria Cristina Didero, portrait

How important is politics?

A lot. In fact, essential. Politics is the most over-arching of disciplines, the only one that can truly change things. We have to pass laws, to make use of people who know how to do things, true professionals, facilitating people with real commitment to change. Unfortunately, we have to deal not just with politics but economics...

What role do fairs play? Can they raise awareness about sustainability?

At Design Miami/ we seek to raise awareness about sustainable exhibition materials. They are recyclable and, as far as possible, can have a second life. We’re certainly trying. It’s just a drop in the ocean, a small counterbalance, but because it’s a virtuous system, sustainability can become contagious.