Playo, Interzum, and IFFINA+ have teamed up for the fourth time to present MADENESS 2026 under the theme “Made in Asia.” The event runs from 24 to 27 September 2026 at Hall 3, Building A, NICE PIK 2, Jakarta. Genie Anggita designed the installation, with Iqra Firdausy joining as guest designer.
The theme looks at how design practices across Asia are evolving. Designers are no longer relying only on materials from nature. They are exploring what is available around them, and even the city itself can become a source of material. By combining heritage and technology, this approach opens new ways to create designs that are more circular and better suited to today’s needs.
Over the past few years, MADENESS has become a meeting point for the materials and design ecosystem, from resources to market. Through the initiative, the organizers envision Indonesia as a hub for knowledge and creative inspiration, while encouraging innovation in product design, interior, and architecture built on sustainable and responsible practices.
This year’s program consists of five main activities: Material Atlas Asia, Alterrama, Common Ground, MADE Dialogue, and Microfactory Tour.
Material Atlas Asia takes visitors on a journey of materials, from raw to processed form. Supported by CAST Foundation, Bioeconomy Corporation Malaysia, and Borneo Laboratory, it features materials from countries across Asia, including Indonesia, Malaysia, and Japan.
Alterrama is an interior installation that explores how alternative materials can be used in space. It shows how bio-fabricated and circular materials can be processed into products and shape a distinctive interior experience. Participating exhibitors include Bell Living Lab, Boolet, Borneo Laboratory, Conture Concrete Lab, Homlab, Pable, Primatama Carpet, Repair Project, ROA Handwoven, and a collaboration between The New Factory and Studio Mahardika.
Common Ground is an open space for public activities and collective play. Featuring works by MYCL and Dus Duk Duk, the installation invites visitors to interact and take part.
Microfactory Tour brought Southeast Asian regenerative biomaterial practitioners together with micro factories in Indonesia to build relationships and exchange insights. Held before the exhibition dates, the tour visited MYCL, The New Factory, Conture Concrete Lab, Banana Paper, and ITB Design Center.
MADENESS 2026 shows that the future of Asian design lies in looking closely at local resources, from natural materials to the urban environment, and pairing them with technology and collaboration. By connecting makers, researchers, designers, and the public, the event positions Indonesia as a meaningful player in the regional conversation on circular and responsible design.