The 6th Design Triennial “Belgium is Design, Design for Mankind” exhibition was organised by Design Vlaanderen and Grand-Hornu Images, celebrating the bicentenary of the site of Grand Hornu and the Belgian Presidency at the European Union – 21 November 2010 till 27 February 2011. It showcased a selection of one hundred projects with Belgian roots—curated by Lise Coirier, Pro Materia – focusing on the social importance of design in Belgium and investigated how design, via its impact on the basic needs of human beings, influences our ways of life. 100 designs by various Belgian designers and design studios were selected, all grouped around ten values that typify human-centered design and our basic needs: emotion, environmental awareness, efficiency, simplicity/ease of use, intimacy, game, mobility, security, tradition and living together. The book Belgium is Design. Design for Mankind, published on the occasion of this 6th Triennial, brings a selection of essays by Lise Coirier, Françoise Foulon, Oliver King, Ezio Manzini and Johan Valcke around this central theme of social innovation, as well as a beautiful compilation of the 100 selected designs. You can still order it here
