The Magic Touch

The Magic Touch: Designing Togetherness
19.10.–27.10.2024, Eindhoven

The exhibition “The Magic Touch: Designing Togetherness” brings together projects by design graduates from various German universities. Their works engage on multiple levels: they offer sensory experiences while also conveying interdisciplinarity – bridging different areas of design and industry. 

Although design is a discipline often concerned with shaping everyday life, exhibits in design exhibitions are usually untouchable. The projects displayed here defy this unwritten rule. Instead, they serve as bridges, not only conceptually but also in their immediate tangibility.

“Who would we be without others? Who would we be without their knowledge, feelings, and touches? Although living together harmoniously is not always easy, we cannot help but live together. We need the experiences and perceptions of others to move forward and create new things. We need warmth and empathy to avoid feeling lonely. These principles apply to all aspects of life, including design. We design for and with people. Often, we must collaborate to bring ideas to life,” say curators Nina Sieverding and Anton Rahlwes about the exhibition’s theme.

Historically, the sense of touch has played a significant role in human culture. From the complex textures of ancient ceramics to the haptic feedback of modern technology, it has been and continues to be a constant companion in navigating the world. Or as the architect and philosopher Juhani Pallasmaa put it, “The eye is the organ of distance and separation, while touch is the sense of proximity, intimacy, and affection.” 

This closeness is crucial when it comes to progressing as a society. It is important to grasp problems in order to solve them. In this way, touch becomes a transformative force that can, for example, help communicate approaches to a circular economy or bring companies, designers, and users closer together.

In this sense, the exhibition “The Magic Touch: Designing Togetherness” aims to highlight the role of touch and touchpoints in design. Through interaction and tactile experiences, new relationships with designed objects emerge, fostering an inclusive understanding of the world and the people around us.