From May 22 to July 6, 2025, the 13th Saint-Étienne International Design Biennial will take over the city and its emblematic sites, focusing on one theme: Ressource(s), presaging tomorrow. Through this theme, the Biennial will explore the ways in which design can address the ecological, social and industrial emergencies of the 21st century.
This year's event features Armenia as the guest country, echoing the recent twinning between Saint-Étienne and the town of Kapan. It encourages collaboration between designers and local economic players, while showcasing the work of young designers, notably students at Saint-Étienne's École supérieure d'art et design.
A dense and committed program
Exhibitions, conferences, workshops, street festivals... The Biennial offers six weeks of programming open to all audiences, on two main sites:
- Les Halles Barrouin, a former industrial site transformed for the occasion by scenography by Joachim Jirou-Najou
- La Platine, entrance building to the Cité du design, designed by the LIN agency
At the heart of the event: the central exhibition Ressource(s), presaging tomorrow
Under the guidance of Laurence Salmon, general curator of the Biennale, the event brings together nine design studios invited to co-curate the exhibitions. Among them are former residents and winners of the Grands Prix de la Création de la Ville de Paris: Isabelle Daëron, Marlène Huissoud, Anna Saint Pierre and natacha.sacha.
The exhibition is divided into nine thematic sections, each offering a look at current resources and possible futures:
- Déjà-là - co-curator: Anna Saint Pierre
Reflections on the reuse of abandoned places and objects - Les autres vivants - co-curator: Marlène Huissoud
A focus on species, invisible matter and surrounding life forms - Minimum / Maximum - co-curators: natacha.sacha
Objects combining simplicity, functionality and durability, in the spirit of Bauhaus. - Terres promises - co-curator: Isabelle Daëron
A reflection on earth as material, territory and deposit.
Other sections include: Le devenir industriel, En mode hybride, Créer avec l'AI, Le design des communs and Design climatique, which together provide a panorama of contemporary practices.
Practical information
Saint-Etienne International Design Biennial
From May 22nd to July 6th 2025
Friday, Saturday from 11am to 8pm
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday from 10am to 6pm
Sunday from 10am to 6pm
Closed on Monday
Saint-Étienne, 42 000
