From 6 April to 31 July 2022, the Biennale Internationale
Design Saint-Étienne invited the public, the international
community of designers and businesses to explore
"Bifurcations" through exhibitions, events and all kinds of
innovative formats. A theme that tied in with citizens' current
concerns and allowed the Biennale to reach a wide audience
while providing a sounding box for the ideas and projects of
different economic and institutional actors and organisations
representing civil society.
Because choosing a direction when faced with a bifurcation
often means taking a step sideways, changing course, this
Biennale adopted a position, more than ever before, as a
forward-looking tool and a laboratory for trying out new
scenarios. Against this background, Esadse students and the
young generation of designers were the focus of several of
the exhibitions.
In spite of a difficult context for France's cultural sites and
events, the attendance figures for the 2022 Biennale 2022
reached a satisfactory level, with 127,000 visitors across the
five main Biennale venues and an overall attendance of
262,000 visitors, which was achieved thanks to a strong
territorial dynamic and a tight mesh of links stretching across
the country and extending the Biennale's reach.
