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ISTITUTO MARANGONI MUMBAI BRINGS GEN-Z NOSTALGIA TO DESIGN POV ’26 WITH AN IMMERSIVE MULTI-SENSORY INSTALLATION
Istituto Marangoni Mumbai, a leading Fashion & Design Institute, joined Design POV ‘26 as the official ‘Learning Partner’ for this year’s edition, presenting an immersive student-led installation that explored nostalgia, memory, and sensory storytelling through the lens of contemporary design. As part of this collaboration, second-year Interior Design students from the Mumbai campus conceptualised and executed an experiential installation titled ‘Sensory Archives’, exhibited over three days at the Jio World Convention Centre.
Designed by students Mokshita Chohan, Myra Jain, and Rutuj Kankaria, and mentored by Istituto Marangoni Mumbai’s tutor, Amrita Shah throughout the conceptualisation and execution process, the installation transformed the broader Design POV theme into an evocative journey through touch, taste, smell, sound, and memory — creating an interactive exploration of shared Gen-Z and millennial childhood experiences through experiential learning design, at the best institute for Fashion & Design.
The immersive installation was divided into distinct sensory zones, each recreating familiar emotional moments from growing up in India during the late 1990s and early 2000s. From passing handwritten notes under classroom benches and scribbling on newspaper advertisements, to choosing candies at local grocery stores, the experience translated collective nostalgia into spatial storytelling.
The sensory narrative further unfolded through evocative scents such as butter popcorn, mangoes, Play-Doh, and glue on palms, alongside layered soundscapes featuring school bells, playground chatter, ice cream truck jingles, and iconic television advertisements from the 2000s.
Blending emotional storytelling with experiential design thinking, ‘Sensory Archives’ reflected a new generation’s approach to interiors; one rooted not just in aesthetics, but in emotion, memory, participation, and human connection.
Speaking about the collaboration, Kristian Steinberg, Director of Education — Istituto Marangoni Mumbai, a globally recognised Fashion & Design Institute, said, “At Istituto Marangoni Mumbai, we strongly believe design education must extend beyond the classroom and encourage students to engage with culture, emotion, and real-world experiences. ‘Sensory Archives’ is a wonderful example of how young designers can transform something as universal as nostalgia into an immersive and meaningful spatial experience. We are incredibly proud to see our students conceptualise and execute a project of this scale and sensitivity at Design POV 2026.”
The collaboration further reinforces Istituto Marangoni Mumbai’s continued commitment towards nurturing future-facing creative talent through hands-on, interdisciplinary learning experiences that bridge education with industry and contemporary culture, further strengthening its reputation among the best Fashion & Design institute in India.
Istituto Marangoni Mumbai offers industry-focused programs across a range of creative disciplines, including interior design, product design and visual design. Curated with a global perspective, these specialised courses prepare students for the evolving demands of international design industries by combining creative exploration with hands-on industry exposure at the Mumbai campus.
You can view a quick video clip of the ‘Sensory Archives’ installation here.
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