Designer Nassia Inglessis discusses how she uses wonder in her work, in this exclusive interview produced by Dezeen in collaboration with ASUS.
Dezeen commissioned Studio INI founder Inglessis to create an experiential installation as part of a showcase exploring materiality, craftsmanship and artificial intelligence.
Titled Design You Can Feel, the showcase was hosted with Taiwanese electronics brand ASUS, and took place in the historic art nouveau Galleria Meravigli, located near the Duomo in the heart of Milan.
The showcase ran during Milan design week, following on from ASUS and Dezeen’s collaboration at London Design Festival the previous year.
Inglessis told Dezeen about her experience of partnering with ASUS, and her design process.
“It was such a natural collaboration because of their deep thoughtfulness on materiality”, she explained.
Inglessis’ installation was titled Wilful Wonder, and was formed of a series of moving wing-like panels, organised around a central walkway.
Each wing was made using aluminium honeycomb panels and ASUS’s proprietary Ceraluminum material.
Ceraluminum is a material developed by ASUS for its Zenbook laptops, which combines aluminium’s lightweight nature with the durability of ceramics.
“The aluminium honeycomb is unique in how structurally strong it is, but also how well it dissipates heat” said Inglessis.
“It’s used in aerospace. In spacecraft, it’s in the Voyager, still roaming space, but rarely seen in its raw form.”
As visitors walked through the centre of the installation, the panels moved around them in response to their steps.
“We’re drawing data from the changes in the conductivity of the piece as people walk through it,” explained Inglessis
Touch sensors in the panels relayed each step to a generative AI model, which then interpreted each interaction and formed a screen-based 3D visualisation of the installation.
“The material innovation, the sensorial experience, and the AI algorithm, they’re all interlinked,” Inglessis said.
In addition to the installation, the showcase also feature a behind-the-scenes area which explored ASUS’s design thinking through interactive exhibits.
“At the end of the day it comes back to the human,” Inglessis said. “It really comes back to creating that moment of wonder”.
Design You Can Feel ran from 8 to 13 April at Galleria Meravigli in Milan. See our Milan design week 2025 guide on Dezeen Events Guide for information about the many other exhibitions, installations and talks taking place throughout the week.
Partnership content
Design You Can Feel is a partnership between Dezeen and ASUS Zenbook. Find out more about Dezeen partnership content here.
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