"Turn Signals - Design is not a Dashboard" is an exhibition within the Bright Cityscapes Program, about the industry of Timișoara, the main economic force of the city, for over 200 years. Its uniqueness and informative value are reflected by works made through unique collaborations, between researchers of the Politehnica University of Timișoara and Romanian and international designers.
Since Romania’s integration into the European Union, its manufacturing sector has surged. Simultaneously, the global manufacturing landscape has undergone a profound shift due to rapid digitalisation and global supply chain integration. Innovation has become pivotal for the country.
The needed expertise is evident throughout Timisoara’s industrial parks, specialised labour, technical universities, and engineering excellence. Yet, design's potential often remains untapped and incidental, concealed within academia, corporate IP, mechanics, tech, and profits—much like the discreet turn signal indicators on vehicles, manufactured in both local and multinational automotive plants in Timisoara. These indicators, intricately woven into engineering and discreetly nestled onto dashboards, exemplify design’s confinement to mechanics and technological complexities.
The exhibition offers a demonstration of how design intersects with other fields and asks questions related to the industry but also in a more general way, showing that design has a wider reach.
The exhibition serves as a beacon for Timisoara, proposing a new trajectory for the city's design, architecture and digital culture.
Anchored in an extensive research named - "Economy of Timișoara: Territorial Distribution of the Economy in the Timișoara Metropolitan Area", the works in the exhibition used the local engineering network and interacted with well-established knowledge systems inside and outside the industrial ecosystem of Timișoara.
Participants: Théophile Blandet, Cinzia Bongino, Cristina Cochior, Jing He, Flora Lechner, Guillemette Legrand, Alina Lupu, Petre Mogoș and Laura Naum / Kajet Journal, Simone C Niquille /technoflesh Studio, Parasite 2.0, Santiago Reyes Villaveces
Curator: Martina Muzi
During the opening weekend of the exhibition, FABER and the Politehnica University of Timișoara are organising guided tours with the curator of the exhibition Martina Muzi and the designers. Guided tours will take place on September 8th and 9th, from 12 AM and 6 PM. Access is free and registration is not required.
Program created with the support of: Azur Romania, Banca Transilvania, Continental Romania, Flex Romania, Hamilton Central Europe, Honeywell, Nokia Romania, Vivalia Real Estate. Mobility partner: Autonom Romania