Birgitta Ralston & Alexandre Bau are behind the design practice Ralston Bau, working with material science, research and design with an activistic approach. With the ambitious Bioregion Vestland project, initiated by Design Region Bergen, they are exploring how experimental material design can help revitalize local industry on the Norwegian west coast.

We have spoken with Birgitta on the project and the way forward for new plastics.

Founded by information designer Philipp Dettmer, Kurzgesagt is a Munich Based design studio that runs its own enormously successful youtube channel.

Their bite-size animations on the human condition are snappy, entertaining and leaves you feel a bit more informed every time!

What are the historic precedents of the computer? How can compuational thinking be applied to explore artistic creativity and the inner workings of the human soul?

We have conversed with philosopher and international Ramon Llull-expert Amador Vega on these exciting questions which were the topic of a recent exhibition at the Art Lab at EPFL in Lausanne.

For this year’s Milan exhibition we went together with designer Edvin Klasson to propose our first project intended for a non-human lifeform. The resulting concept is Koloni - an architectural hatching shelter for pollinating insects.

For every person on Earth there are 200 million insects. Yet their numbers are dwindling and without insects, people and animals would die. Anne Sverdrup-Thygeson has written the book “Extraordinary Insects: Weird. Wonderful. Indispensable. The ones who run our world”. Elementa had a talk with the much sought-after biology professor about how and why our future depends on these life forms.

Next week the Salone del Mobile opens in Milan and we are happy to invite you to the “The Path Ut Leads Inn” - the Elementa manifestation at the Norwegian Presence exhibition in Zona Tortona.