Designing for mental health at every age: the platform at Poznań Design Festival 2026

Longevity is usually discussed as a question for medicine and health care. The exhibition “The Lighthouse of Longevity. Designing a World for Longer, Better Living” looks instead at the environments around us. It defines a good long life as more than added years. It also means well-being, independence, strong social connections and good mental health, and the design of our surroundings can support each of these.

Assoc. Prof. Beata Fabisiak of the university’s Department of Furniture Design curated the exhibition. It draws on the department’s work in Interreg Baltic Sea Region cooperation. Visitors can try an age simulator, look through a guide to public spaces designed with older people in mind, and see products and spaces made for people with different needs and abilities, from children in the classroom to older adults. The main message is that public spaces should support well-being from childhood through to old age.

The exhibition also introduces visitors to the BSR Mental Health Platform. Many of the factors that shape mental health lie outside the health sector, in schools, workplaces, public spaces and communities. The platform brings together results from EU-funded projects across the Baltic Sea Region to show how these settings can protect mental health. It uses them to inform policy recommendations on cross-sectoral approaches.

Guided tour: learning spaces for all ages

On 29 October, Beata Fabisiak will lead a guided tour with a lecture through model interiors on the university campus. The interiors were designed for both students and older people, following universal design principles, and were created in the BaltSe@nioR 2.0 project. Visitors will see:

• furniture made from recycled materials and renewable resources
• seat and table heights set for good ergonomics
• gently rounded edges and extra lighting
• unobstructed table access for wheelchair users

The tour then moves to children and schools, with examples of sensory design:

• a sensory garden concept
• a DIY sensory book that helps teachers make children more aware of sensory stimuli while they imagine their ideal classroom
• an educational game for redesigning learning environments together with the people who use them
• leaf-shaped sensory beanbags and guidance on building a sensory path

These examples show how spaces that engage touch, sight and hearing can build mental resilience. When public institutions design for older people and people with disabilities, these groups feel more included and are more likely to take part in social life.

Practical information

• Exhibition opening: Friday 23 October 2026, 19:00-21:00, Stary Browar, Słodownia +3, Poznań
• Exhibition open: 24-29 October 2026, 12:00-20:00, Słodownia +1. Free admission.
• Guided tour: Thursday 29 October 2026, from 17:00, Poznań University of Life Sciences, ul. Wojska Polskiego 28. Meet in front of the Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology. Registration required.

More information: Exhibition | Guided tour and registration

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