The CONTRIBUTIONS festival was born from a shared desire: to present design in a new way. By adopting their own immersive and curatorial approach, Anna Caradeuc and Élise Daunay champion a vision of collectible design focused on storytelling and interdisciplinary dialogue. Portrait.
It all began with a meeting. Anna Caradeuc and Élise Daunay crossed paths at the Bildung office, which was then involved in supporting the first edition of CONTRIBUTIONS. A connection quickly formed. Fueled by a budding friendship and shared creative interests, the duo decided to continue the adventure. "The first part was very intense. We went through this experience together and it created something powerful.", confides Anna. In 2025, Elise officially joins the project for the second edition, as director of the festival.
The genesis of CONTRIBUTIONS
The idea matured in Anna's mind several years before the creation of CONTRIBUTIONS in 2023. It stemmed from the desire to present the collectible design In Paris, she envisioned a different approach, responding to often traditional formats that leave little room for storytelling and visitor experience. She then imagined a more immersive and sensitive model.
Anna, a consultant in communication, image and branding for designers, often supports those who are starting out. "I encourage creators to tell a story, to design an environment, to invite the visitor to immerse themselves rather than simply displaying pieces."she explains. The arrival of Design Miami/Paris allows her to position the festival within an international dynamic, reaching an audience already aware of the collectible design.
More than just a journey, CONTRIBUTIONS is conceived as a festival, driven by a desire for community and a focus on showcasing emerging and established designers and artists. The first edition was such a success that one question keeps coming up: when will the next edition be held?
©MARCO GALLOWAY
Music as a common thread
Although Anna felt she had explored many of her ideas during the first edition—notably inviting designers such as Studio HAOS, Sophie Lou Jacobsen, and Conie Vallese, for whom it was sometimes their very first exhibition in Paris or Europe—the duo chose to wait a year before considering another edition. It was at this point that CONTRIBUTIONS Design, a non-profit organization, was born, with the ambition of breaking away from the commercial logic so prevalent in the design world.
Music, central to the lives of the organizers, is the theme of this second edition. Like design, it evokes emotion and opens up a field for sensitive experimentation. Five composers are invited to contribute to the installations, each given free rein.
As with the featured designers, collaborations are built on intuition and shared affinities, often stemming from relationships developed over time. Some pieces are created specifically for the exhibition, sometimes even in the final days before installation, embodying the trust and creative freedom that characterize CONTRIBUTIONS.
A strong curatorial stance
“We are not artists, but we have ideas that we wish to put at the service of creators we admire, inviting them to experience something different from traditional salons or galleries.”"This vision translates into careful research of venues, chosen for their history and far removed from classic exhibition spaces, fully contributing to the festival's identity," explain Elise and Anna.
While this requirement makes the project unique, it rests on a fragile financial balance. CONTRIBUTIONS rarely intervenes in the upkeep of the venues, which is most often handled by the designers, sometimes with the support of their galleries. “CONTRIBUTIONS will remain a festival. It’s not about reinventing itself with each edition, but about continuing to foster dialogue between design and other artistic disciplines. After music, other conversations will emerge.”they conclude.
©Kate Devine
