The vibrant cultural hub of India Habitat Centre in New Delhi will come alive on March 8, 2025, with the inaugural South Asian edition of What Design Can Do (WDCD). The globally celebrated festival, known for its innovative approach to addressing global challenges through design and creativity, will host a dynamic lineup of designers, innovators, and changemakers at WDCD Live Delhi 2025. This one-day event promises to be a melting pot of ideas, solutions, and collaborations, addressing the pressing ecological and social challenges of the region.
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Organized in partnership with Unbox Cultural Futures, Quicksand, and The Design Village, the festival will explore regenerative and innovative solutions to build a better world. Through an engaging program of talks, exhibitions, and workshops, WDCD Live Delhi 2025 aims to empower individuals and communities to take action and redefine the future.
The main stage will feature thought-provoking talks by influential leaders and creative thinkers from diverse fields. Among the speakers are Deepali Khanna, Head of The Rockefeller Foundation’s Asia Regional Office and a prominent advocate for climate action; Somnath Ray, CEO of CLIP and a serial entrepreneur driving innovation; Shashank Mani, Member of Parliament and founder of the transformative initiative Jagriti Yatra; and Monish Siripurapu, the innovative architect behind Ant Studio. The lineup also includes Kailash Nadh, CTO of Zerodha and founder of Rainmatter Foundation, which focuses on climate change projects; Dutch fashion designer and waste textile artist Femke van Gemert; and the founders of Breathe Easy, Depanshu Gola and Abhimanyu Singhal, tackling air pollution in India.
Adding an international flair to the festival, Emma Van Der Leest, a bio-designer and researcher from the Netherlands, will present her groundbreaking work blending craft, science, and production techniques. Renowned Dutch architect Thomas Rau, celebrated for his forward-thinking concepts like Material as a Service and the Material Passport, will also share his insights. More speakers and participants will be announced in the lead-up to the event.
The festival’s themes will explore the interconnectedness of humanity’s greatest challenges and solutions. Key topics include Circular Planet, focusing on nature-inspired design, production, and consumption; The Power of Community, highlighting the role of radical collaboration across sectors for impactful change; and Rethinking Technology, which will delve into emerging technologies for social and environmental transformation.
Beyond the main stage, a parallel program offers visitors the chance to immerse themselves in exhibitions, panel discussions, and project showcases. Workshops and interactive labs will encourage collaboration and empower participants to amplify their impact. Visitors can also enjoy breakout sessions, networking opportunities, and hands-on experiences designed to inspire and inform.
The day will culminate in an after-hours celebration curated by Eyemyth Festival, featuring cutting-edge audio-visual experiences by the UK-based art collective D-fuse and live performances to close the festivities in style.
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WDCD Live Delhi 2025 underscores the immense potential of design and creativity in addressing the world’s most urgent issues. By bringing together a diverse group of visionaries and changemakers, the festival aims to inspire transformative ideas and actionable solutions for a more sustainable and equitable future.
Richard van der Laken, Co-Founder and Creative Director, What Design Can Do said, “This is a must-attend event for anyone passionate about using design as a tool for good, and we are confident our program will provide the knowledge and inspiration needed to drive real-world change.”
