From November 26, 2026 to March 28, 2027
Design, Fashion, and Architecture Program
Curator: José Antonio Sada Sánchez Mejorada

Project Room

As part of the 40th Guadalajara International Book Fair (FIL), with Italy as Guest of Honor, and in collaboration with the Italian Cultural Institute, the Museo de Arte de Zapopan (MAZ) presents,within its Design, Fashion and Architecture Program, the exhibition Autoprogettazione: Enzo Mari and the Ethics of Design. Curated by José Antonio Sada, the exhibition revives the original intent of the iconic Italian designer’s project, Proposta per un’autoprogettazione (Proposal for Self-Design), creating a space to reflect on production processes, knowledge, and the practice of design.

In 1974, Mari, a pioneer of critical design and design philosophy, presented Proposta per un’autoprogettazione, an experimental catalogue that offered instructions and working drawings for anyone to freely build eighteen furniture designs using basic carpentry techniques. The project sought to prompt critical reflection on what “good design” entails through the interpretation and execution of the drawings,that is, through people’s direct involvement and interaction,fostering a more conscious, egalitarian, and responsible design culture.

Through an open call, the Museo de Arte de Zapopan has facilitated the fabrication of several of the original designs, supporting participants throughout the entire process. The finished pieces will be exhibited and integrated into the museum’s daily life, available for use throughout the duration of the exhibition.

The exhibition will also feature a showcase of products and everyday objects that Mari designed between 1957 and 1976 for Danese, the emblematic Milanese design house. This section delves into the qualities of his creative process and his approach to functional, durable, and effective everyday objects.

Finally, the third section extends the spirit of Autoprogettazione through the Ecolo project, developed in collaboration with Alessi. It will consist of a workshop and installation of vases made from reused PVC and PET, following Mari’s original guidelines, as a starting point for reflecting on the implications of design today and on designers’ responsibility in the face of contemporary challenges. The installation will be made with reused materials and will form part of the museum’s public programming.