Monocle on Design ‘More Than Human’, Marco Sousa Santos and Bolaji Teniola
Jul 29, 2025
Bolaji Teniola is an Adelaide-based interdisciplinary designer whose work explores art and design through timber shavings. Marco Sousa Santos runs Branca, a Portuguese furniture brand known for contemporary designs, and shares insights from the 'Chairman' exhibition. Rebecca Lewin co-curates the 'More Than Human' exhibit, which challenges conventional design by prioritizing ecological needs and non-human perspectives. They discuss innovative solutions merging art and nature, the transformative potential of sustainable materials, and the emotional narratives behind furniture design.
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Redefining Design Beyond Humans
- The More Than Human exhibition challenges the idea that design should focus only on human needs.
- It aims to include other species and natural ecosystems in design considerations, shifting humans from a center position.
Designing for Octopus Interaction
- Japanese artist Goshima Buku made glass baubles for octopuses to interact with, studying their attraction to certain shapes and colors.
- This highlights designing for the pleasure and survival of other species, not just humans.
Irrigation Pots Shaped Like Fuel Tanks
- Johanna Seelman created terracotta watering containers shaped like fuel tanks, inspired by ancient irrigation techniques.
- The design contrasts humans' industrial fuel with water as fuel for plants, promoting coexistence awareness.