28 November 2026 – 7 March 2027
Press Conference: Thursday, 26 November 2026, 11 am
Opening: Friday, 27 November 2026, 7 am
How to Design a Revolution: The Chilean Road to Design is a comprehensive exhibition exploring graphic, textile, and industrial design during Salvador Allende’s government in Chile, from 1970 to 1973. It presents an exceptional chapter in the history of design, in which the unprecedented decision to pursue a peaceful revolution through the ballot box gave rise to a unique national project that sought to bring socialism and democracy together, with design playing an integral role in this political and social transformation. As part of the programme commemorating the 50th anniversary of the civil-military coup, the exhibition was on display in the Centro Cultural La Moneda in Santiago de Chile from 2023 to 2024, and in the Disseny Hub Barcelona in 2025.
Developed by academics from MIT and UC Chile, the exhibition brings together approximately 500 pieces designed to democratize access to reading, music, and clothing; reduce technological dependence; and address child malnutrition, among other social challenges.
One of the exhibition’s highlights is the first reconstruction of the Cybersyn Operations Room, a project for networked communication between the country’s industries and the government that also sought to enable the participatory management of production. Nowadays it has been recognized as a landmark in the history of cybernetics and design.
Together, these projects demonstrate how design can serve as a powerful tool for advancing social change within a democratic system. They also stand as a testament to Latin America’s transformative potential, while offering a valuable source of reflection and creative inspiration.
Curators:
Hugo Palmarola, Eden Medina, Pedro Ignacio Alonso