Organizer Information
The residency is organized by Circolo del Design, a cultural production centre based in Turin dedicated to advancing design culture and fostering interdisciplinary dialogue around urgent contemporary issues. The organization operates as a platform where design is not limited to aesthetics or product development but is treated as a critical tool for engaging with environmental, social, and systemic challenges. Through exhibitions, residencies, public programs, and research-driven initiatives, Circolo del Design positions itself within the European design ecosystem as a mediator between practitioners, institutions, and the public.
The project is developed in collaboration with Designregio Kortrijk, an organization active in Belgium since 2005 that connects designers, industry, academia, and public institutions through innovation-focused programs, and BASE Milano, an internationally oriented cultural hub based in Milan known for experimental programming across art, design, and social research. Together, these institutions shape a transnational framework that supports experimental design practices and cross-border collaboration.
Title & Description
Earthrise 26 – Design for a Living Planet (3rd Edition) / Earthrise Residency 26
Earthrise 26 is an annual design-focused cultural program exploring how design can respond to urgent planetary crises, including climate change, ecological degradation, and shifting social systems. The 2026 edition of the residency is dedicated specifically to clay-based materials—ceramics, earthenware, and related material systems—as cultural, environmental, and design resources.
The residency investigates clay beyond its traditional use in functional objects such as vessels or decorative crafts. Instead, it positions clay as a narrative, critical, and transformative material, capable of revealing new relationships between humans, non-humans, and the environment. Designers are invited to question conventional production logics and reconsider why and how objects are made, rather than simply focusing on form or utility.
The program emphasizes experimentation, process, and material intelligence. Participants are expected to engage with local artisans, researchers, and interdisciplinary experts in Turin and the broader Piedmont region, developing prototypes, material studies, and experimental outputs. The residency culminates in a public exhibition where both the final work and the documented process are presented.
Categories
- Product & Industrial Design
- Material Design
- Ceramics & Craft-Based Practices
- Installation Art
- Experimental Design
- Spatial Design
- Interdisciplinary Research / Design Practice
Eligibility
- Open to international applicants (with a strong international dimension in their practice)
- Designers under 35 years old
- Practitioners working across design, material experimentation, or interdisciplinary fields
- Applicants must demonstrate engagement with transnational networks, collaborations, research, or mobility within Europe
- Strong emphasis on experimental, research-driven, and conceptually grounded proposals
- Clear and feasible project planning aligned with the Earthrise 2026 theme
Program Benefits & Awards
- Designer fee of €1,500 (VAT included)
- Travel (round trip) covered
- Accommodation provided during residency
- Public transportation pass
- Production support up to €3,000 (VAT included) for project realization
- Dedicated 30 sqm workspace at Circolo del Design
- Mentorship from international partners including Designregio Kortrijk and BASE Milano
- Access to local artisans, institutions, and interdisciplinary collaborators
- Technical, logistical, and curatorial support
- Final exhibition presentation of work and process documentation
- Inclusion in a collective exhibition running until February 2027
Application Fee
None
Application Requirements
Applicants must submit:
- Motivation letter in English (max. 500 words)
- Project proposal PDF (max. 500 words, including 3 images/sketches, max 2MB)
- Curriculum Vitae (English)
- Portfolio or website (max 5MB)
- Contact details and project documentation
Required outputs if selected:
- Physical or material-based final work
- Process logbook or diary documenting the residency
How to Apply?
Online Application
Key Dates
- Application deadline: 3 July 2026
- Selection results: 20 July 2026
- Residency period: 5 October – 3 December 2026
- Exhibition opening: 14 October 2026
- Exhibition duration: until February 2027
Location
Turin, Italy
Additional Details
The residency encourages a shift from object-based thinking toward process-oriented design. Participants are expected to treat material not as a passive matter but as an active agent that records time, gesture, and transformation. The program strongly values research, experimentation, and critical reflection on production systems.
The residency is also structured as a networked learning environment, with continuous exchange between designers, institutions, and local makers. Documentation through a personal logbook is a key component of the program and is considered part of the final public output.