Nina Paim, co-founder of common-interest, discusses with Iskander Guetta about the latest endeavours of his work as a designer and his collaboration with the Solar Electric Company (SELCO), based in Bangalore (IN) — developing a practice focused on responding to actual needs of rural Indian communities, such as a solar-powered pump, a ceramic kiln or a portable medical booth to carry out COVID-19 tests. Faced with the structural failures that the pandemic has revealed in Europe, their dialogue presents a pragmatic and flexible approach to resourceful design seeking new options.

In a conversation investigating the impact of the last seven months, Vera Sacchetti (critic and curator) and Catherine Ince (chief curator, V&A East) discuss the role of museums after the pandemic, the importance of creating conversations, and how institutions can become revolutionary spaces of care.

Cornel Windlin (graphic and type designer) and Davide Fornari (Head of R&D department, ECAL and member of the Federal Design Design Commission) share a passion for working with archives. They exchange views on the powerful discoveries they made from dusty boxes and the potential that lies in online and physical documentation. Reflecting on “Failure Is Not an Option?”, the theme of the Swiss Design Awards 2020’s online program, they discuss specific examples relating to the work of designers and institutions.