Designing for a better world: NGV’s new exhibition rethinks the everyday

From air-purifying paints and edible coffee cups to biodegradable straws made from seaweed and leather crafted from mushrooms, the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) is set to unveil an ambitious and timely new design exhibition later this month at The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia.

Titled Making Good: Redesigning the Everyday, the free exhibition opens August 29 and features the work of more than 50 Australian and international designers who are reshaping daily objects with an eye towards health, wellbeing and sustainability.

Transforming how we experience and interact with ordinary products, the show explores how design is being reimagined as a force for positive change. It spotlights everything from eco-conscious fashion to healthcare innovation and new materials for the built environment, all of which respond to pressing global issues such as climate change, waste and social equity.

“The innovations presented in Making Good reflect a pivotal moment in how designers are conceptualising their work, going beyond function to consider the social and environmental impact of products,” NGV director Tony Ellwood said.

One striking example is Sydney-based design duo Besley & Spresser’s Oyster Terrazzo, a terrazzo-like material made by blending oyster shell waste with ochre and recycled marble.

Glass artist Matthew Curtis has created architectural blocks from discarded TV screens and float-glass, while Singaporean company Gush has developed a science-based paint that actively purifies the air – one of which will be applied directly to the gallery wall.

From the fashion sector, UK-based Petit Pli presents children’s clothing that grows with the wearer, reducing the need for frequent garment replacement. Meanwhile, New York’s TômTex showcases a leather alternative made from seafood waste and mushrooms, formed into a sleek handbag and dress by designer Allina Liu. Melbourne’s Kiki Grammatopoulos takes things further, with running shoes designed to distribute seeds for rewilding as you walk.

Personal health is another key theme, with Modi Bodi’s First Period Kit empowering young menstruators, and local brand Bed Intentions offering the first microbiome-safe water-based lubricant enhanced with prebiotics.

Healthcare innovation is also on display through the OOXii Vision Kit, which enables immediate access to affordable, customised glasses using a simple wheel and modular lens system.

“Making Good showcases forward-thinking design that will inspire creativity, spark conversations and most importantly, drive change towards a more regenerative future,” Professor Tim Marshall, Deputy Vice-Chancellor Design & Social Context at RMIT, the NGV’s Futures Partner for the exhibition, said.

Visitors can also expect a range of food-related innovations, including Good-Edi’s edible coffee cups made in Melbourne, Great Wrap’s compostable cling film derived from food waste, and Loliware’s seaweed-based straws – all rethinking single-use consumption.

To mark the opening, the NGV will host a day-long symposium on August 29, with designers and curators unpacking the themes behind the exhibition and exploring the role of socially engaged design in shaping a better future.

Making Good: Redesigning the Everyday is on display from August 29, to February 1 at The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia at Federation Square. Entry is free. •