Running from 5 September to 2 November 2025, the Venice Design Biennial returns for its fifth edition. This year’s theme, Extinction / Salvation, reflects on a society increasingly shaped by polarization and invites a closer look at how design responds to the crises of our time, from environmental challenges to social and cultural shifts.
For curators Francesca Giubilei and Luca Berta, design now stands at a fragile crossroads. Some believe the answer to global problems lies in scaling back production and consumption. Others continue to see objects as central to our lives, carrying not only practical use but also stories, values, and ideas.
In a world defined by stark contrasts, the curators argue, design cannot fully align itself with one position or the other. It may seek distance from the most aggressive production models or turn inward toward more personal realms, but neither path alone can resolve the complex issues we face.
These ideas shape the path of the Biennale, which unfolds across two venues, each with its own distinct atmosphere and history. One is SPARC* Spazio Arte Contemporanea, near the Accademia Bridge. Once a private apartment, it features frescoed beams, terrazzo floors, and lagoon-green doors. It will host the Venice Design Biennial | Glass section, dedicated to contemporary glass, where design engages with the layers of Venetian history.
The second venue lies on the Giudecca island, at SPUMA Space for the Arts, in the former Dreher Brewery, an industrial building that has evolved into a creative laboratory over the years. Here, the Venice Design Biennial | Collectible section will focus on collectible design, offering a setting that invites reflection on how design might move beyond the patterns of mass consumption.
The Venice Design Biennial takes place during a particularly active period for Venice. Alongside the Architecture Biennale and the Film Festival, the city hosts numerous events devoted to glass and contemporary art. Amid this cultural momentum, the Biennial aims to consider deeper questions about the role objects might play in a world growing in complexity.
“Less, but better: could this be the only modest path left open?” the curators ask. A question left intentionally unresolved, marking the point of departure for a Biennial that wants to explore how design navigates a world defined by contradictions and division.
Title: Extinction / Salvation
Edition: 5th Edition, Venice Design Biennial 2025
Dates: 5 September – 2 November 2025
Curators: Francesca Giubilei and Luca Berta
Main Venues:
- SPARC – Spazio Arte Contemporanea, Campo Santo Stefano, San Marco 2828A, Venice
- SPUMA – Space for the Arts, Ex Birreria Dreher, Fondamenta San Biagio 800/R, Giudecca, Venice
Instagram: @venicedesignbiennial
Website: venicedesignbiennial.org
