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17-25 October 2026

The Word for Border is Water

Hosted by IED Istituto Europeo di Design

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This project is part of
Class of 26
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Entrance fee

DDW ticket required

Accessibility

Free wifi available
Toilets available
Fully wheelchair accessible
Wheelchair friendly toilet available

Opening hours

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Rhythm
Rhythm
Courtesy of Istituto Europeo di Design
The Word for Border is Water brings together projects that explore our relationship with water, weather, and the hidden systems that sustain liquid environments — from lakes, seas and glaciers to currents, ecosystems and atmospheric conditions.

Rethinking boundaries through design

This collection questions the overarching yet invisible presence of a controlled, monitored environment, in which the boundaries between nature, ecology, technology and culture are becoming increasingly blurred.
Through design, IED students' work takes a regenerative approach to understanding, restoring and coexisting with the blue environments that influence life on Earth. They consider that over 70% of the Earth's surface is covered by water, and that the health of liquid environments impacts bodies, politics and economies.
The designers interpret, raise awareness of, and address the challenges, inequalities, and overlooked common goods, thereby reconnecting us with life within the planet's liquid environments.
As the title suggests, water challenges the notion of boundaries — both physically, as a surface, and conceptually, as a form of separation — and reminds us that what makes an archipelago a whole is the water flowing between its islands. This concept is reflected in design as a discipline that moves towards a more equitable world, both ecologically and socially, where fluid collaboration and transdisciplinary knowledge promote shared well-being without borders.

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Más de 2.000 vidas
Más de 2.000 vidas
Courtesy of Istituto Europeo di Design
Courtesy of Istituto Europeo di Design
Manto
Manto
Courtesy of Istituto Europeo di Design
Abyssea
Abyssea
Courtesy of Istituto Europeo di Design

By

IED Istituto Europeo di Design

Hosted by

Dutch Design Foundation
europe@ied.it
+39 02 5796951
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About IED Istituto Europeo di Design

IED is the largest network of European Arts and Design Schools located in Italy, Spain and Brazil. Founded in 1966 in Milano, the Institution provides a learning experience that combines critical thinking with a practice-based approach to design, addressing real-world challenges and needs.