“Il Pianeta delle Piante” has been included in the ADI Design Index 2026

PRESS RELEASE

‘THE PLANET OF PLANTS’ INCLUDED IN THE ADI DESIGN INDEX 2026

The project, realised in the Tineo Hall of the University of Palermo’s Botanical Garden, has been selected as one of the finest examples of Italian design and will be in the running for the Compasso d’Oro Award.

Milan/Palermo, 1 October 2026 – ‘Il Pianeta delle Piante’, the museum experience created in the Tineo Hall of the Botanical Garden of the University of Palermo, has been selected for the ADI Design Index 2026, the annual publication that showcases the most significant examples of Italian design.

The project was presented to the public yesterday at the opening of the ADI Design Index 2026 exhibition, hosted at the ADI Design Museum – Compasso d’Oro in Milan.

This recognition highlights a collaborative design and curatorial initiative between Unipa Heritage – the University’s Museum System – and ODD Agency, in collaboration with CoopCulture. Drawing on the collections, history and research of the Botanical Garden of Palermo, the exhibition offers a contemporary perspective on the role of plants in the evolution of life and the future challenges facing the planet.

THE PROJECT

In the Tineo Room of the Botanical Garden, *Il Pianeta delle Piante* presents a permanent exhibition dedicated to the role of the plant world in the evolution of life, in the planet’s ecological balance and in its relationship with human society.

Books and botanical materials, graphic displays, videos, animations, immersive projections and interactive installations come together to form a single narrative space. Through science communication, exhibit design, visual identity and multimedia technologies, the exhibition guides visitors on a journey of discovery through complex themes – from plant adaptation and photosynthesis to the environmental challenges of the future – making them accessible and engaging for a diverse range of audiences.

The exhibition design integrates the historic space, artefacts and multimedia tools into a unified narrative system, capable of bringing the processes of the plant world to life and creating a direct connection between scientific content, heritage and the public.

The project forms part of the restoration and regeneration works on the historic garden of the Palermo Botanical Garden, funded by the European Union – NextGenerationEU as part of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan, Mission 1, Component 3, Investment 2.3, dedicated to enhancing the identity of historic sites, parks and gardens; and stems from an idea by Paolo Inglese and ODD Agency, with a scientific committee comprising Michelangelo Gruttadauria, Rosario Schicchi, Paolo Inglese, Manlio Speciale and Manfredi Leone.

The University of Palermo, through its Department of Construction, Technical Services and Sustainability, provided support and technical expertise, whilst the Unipa Heritage working group provided scientific advice. ODD Agency contributed to the conception and curation, overseeing the creative and artistic direction, coordination and content writing, visual identity, graphic and audiovisual production, and the development of technological and interactive elements, in consultation with the management and scientific committee of Unipa Heritage and the Botanical Garden.

The exhibition design was carried out by Odd Agency in collaboration with Manfredi Leone and Degma Studio.

“Being selected for the ADI Design Index is a significant honour for the University of Palermo and for the work carried out by Unipa Heritage to promote the university’s heritage,” says Michelangelo Gruttadauria, president of Unipa Heritage – the University’s Museum Network. “Il Pianeta delle Piante demonstrates how the University’s historical and scientific heritage can give rise to new forms of expression and new ways of engaging with the public. The quality of the result stems from the convergence of research, knowledge, curatorial expertise and diverse design skills, all united by the aim of bringing the public closer to the extraordinary complexity of the plant world.”

“Being featured in the ADI Design Index with *Il Pianeta delle Piante* is particularly significant for us” says Luca Pintacuda, CEO of ODD agency and creative director of the project. “This experience fully embodies our way of working: taking a rich heritage and complex content as our starting point to construct a clear, evocative and memorable narrative. We did not view technology as an afterthought, but as part of a single cultural, narrative and spatial project. The result stems from a genuine collaboration with Unipa Heritage and from our belief in a shared vision of cultural innovation.”

Inclusion in the ADI Design Index 2026, the result of the annual selection process carried out by the ADI Permanent Design Observatory, enables *Il Pianeta delle Piante* to be shortlisted for the Compasso d’Oro Award, one of the most prestigious international accolades in the field of design.

The ADI Design Index 2026 exhibition will be open to the public at the ADI Design Museum, at Piazza Compasso d’Oro 1 in Milan, in accordance with the schedule and opening hours announced by the organisers.