Upcoming Exhibitions

ADAPT/EVOLVE

A Cross-Disciplinary Exploration of Adaptive and Inclusive Design 

September 18–October 26, 2025

Adapt/Evolve is a multidisciplinary exhibition that considers various approaches to designing for accessibility as well as adaptive design’s relationship to culture and society. Fashion, jewelry, toy, and interior designs by FIT faculty, students, alumni, and invited designers and artists highlight creative new approaches to adaptive and inclusive design. The design objects and projects on view in Adapt/Evolve bring to light a network of care, interdependence, and access to good design for all, paving the way to a built world that supports everyone. 

Artists, designers, and makers in the exhibition redefine accessible design, creating objects from stylish mobility aids to community-focused solutions that prioritize both function and human dignity. Fashion designs are inclusively re-envisioned by alums, including Vertige Adaptive by Haley Schwartz (FIT 2022), Slick Chicks by Helya Mohammedian (FIT 2004), and Kevin Santana (FIT 2025). A project by Fashion Design faculty, Amy Sperber, to create virtual reality avatars for diverse bodies ensures that everyone has the perfect fit. Navigation accessories are reimagined by Footwear and Accessories alum Keith Kirkland (FIT 2010) as stylish haptic devices to guide the blind or assist in physical therapy recovery. Toys specifically engineered to appeal to autistic children by FIT Toy Design students also appeal to all children. Interior furnishings by OFS support not only medical environments but also office interiors where everyone can contribute meaningfully regardless of their personal needs. Artist Alex Strada presents a socially engaged mobile project that facilitates redistribution and mutual aid to support people experiencing homelessness. Adaptive Design Association objects for mobility, play, and communication provide creative design interventions for people with disabilities through co-creating with clients, caregivers, educators, and therapists.

A symposium, taking place on October 16, 2025, accompanies the exhibition and brings together exhibitors, collaborators, and scholars to present and discuss adaptive and inclusive design. A keynote presentation will be delivered by Grace Jun, Associate Professor at the University of Georgia, founding member of Open Style Lab, specializing in interdisciplinary design processes, and author of the book Fashion, Disability & Co-design (Bloomsbury Publishing 2024). In addition, the symposium will host panel discussions investigating adaptive design with invited guests and FIT faculty, students, alumni and Industry leaders such as OFS and the Adaptive Design Association. FIT alumni, who have launched their own adaptive brands, including Haley Schwartz (Vertige Adaptive), (SlickChicks), haptic device designer Keith Kirkland, and children’s sensory-wear co-founder, Kevin Santana (Comphie).

On the occasion of the exhibition and symposium, a publication will be produced. Edited by FIT Chief Storyteller, Alexander Joseph, the booklet includes a roundtable conversation moderated by Joseph with participants, Ethan Lu,  Assistant Professor, Interior Design and Barbara Weinreich, Assistant Professor, Interior Design; Fawz Kabra, Curator, Art and Design Gallery; Eric Gottshall, Designer at Adaptive Design Association, and Tamara Morgan, Community Partnerships Coordinator, Adaptive Design Association; and Amy Sperber, Assistant Professor, Fashion Design, and featuring work by Toy Design’s Autism Research Project with Professor Damian Mucaro, Assistant Professor and Associate Chair, Toy Design.  

The exhibition and symposium are organized by Assistant Professors of Interior Design, Ethan Lu and Barbara Weinreich, Librarian Carli Spina, and Curator of the Art and Design Gallery, Fawz Kabra. 

Exhibition Production Coordinator, Dimitrios Dimizas. 

Graphic Design by Assistant Professor of Graphic Design, Joshua Whitehead, and FIT student Amanda Chan. 

Exhibition mannequins provided by Assistant Professor of Spatial Experience Design, Glenn Sokoli from Bernstein Display.