While visual, acoustic, and tactile impressions often take center stage in design education, olfactory perception has received relatively little attention in design practice. Yet, most of our experiences are accompanied by a scent, even if we are not consciously aware of it. Among all our senses, none is as deeply connected to personal memories, and emotions - both positive and negative - as the sense of smell. Shouldn’t this dimension receive at least as much focus and appreciation in design education as the more established media of contemporary design?

This exhibition marks the culmination of a summer semester dedicated to exploring scent as a meaningful and designable medium. Through empirical research - including smell-walks in Bolzano and Bressanone - intensive material experimentation, and creative practice, 20 product design students have examined the role of olfaction in shaping human perception and interaction with objects. Their projects range from compact high-tech devices that enhance breathing to scent-integrated textiles, games, clothes, and furniture designed for both private and public environments. Each work invites visitors to engage with individual smellscapes, challenge established sensory hierarchies, and reconsider what it means to design products with - and for - the sense of smell.

Klaus Hackl, June 2025