The conversation about sustainability is inherent to the very nature of design. It’s somewhat inconceivable to design an object without profound consideration for what came before it, how it’s going to take shape and what it is set to end up as. And, equally, for the design-conscious, it’s unthinkable to admire the exquisite form of a stunning piece not only without appreciating the vision of its creator, but also without probing the origins of its materials, investigating its ability to withstand the passing of time and enquiring about what will happen to it at the end of its life.

Today, this ongoing dialogue is only growing stronger, louder and more urgent. This is unavoidable – tackling immense issues like industry waste and embodied carbon is only becoming more pressing, and requires powerful, collective and enormous cross-industry efforts.

And while galvanising action, setting sweeping initiatives in motion and fostering transformative change often involve significant commitments and lofty promises, it’s in the comforting cocoon of intimate conversations where they gently, often inconspicuously, crystallise and solidify. It is in the smaller-scale, cosy settings that fuel an empowering sense of connection and possibility that these progressive ideas often start taking tangible shape. And when this fusion is energised by a much-needed dose of optimism about the future, this context inevitably leads to positive action.

This is precisely the environment MillerKnoll created at its “Conversations for a Better World” series of events in Melbourne and Sydney just last month. Masterfully balancing the inviting atmosphere of an intimate, dinner-table setting with an inspiring agenda, the global design collective brought together leading designers, clients and partners for evenings of meaningful dialogue on the future of design.

MillerKnoll’s role as the host is, of course, particularly fitting. The unwavering belief in the power of design to foster a transformative sense of connection has defined MillerKnoll’s trajectory throughout the decades, establishing the collective as the design dialogue facilitator extraordinaire. Each object in the extensive, multi-brand collective dynamically unfolding under the overarching MillerKnoll banner – be it the iconic Herman Miller Eames Shell Chair, Knoll’s quintessential Barcelona Chair or any of the contemporary HAY releases – has always been born out of a creative exchange and become a contributor to the perpetual global discourse.

The events elegantly highlighted MillerKnoll’s unique ability to generate, moderate and curate this essential dialogue with exceptional finesse. While the menu of seasonal delicacies doubled as a delectable conversation starter, the spaces themselves – punctuated with a curated cross-section of modern designs and compelling graphics highlighting MillerKnoll’s environmental goals – set a galvanising stage for thought exchange.

Communicating the company’s commitment to carbon reduction through lower-impact products, sourcing 100% recycled or bio-based materials and advancing circularity through enduring design, the brightness of impactful displays quietly reinforced the collective’s goal to achieve net-zero emissions and eliminate waste by 2050 with high-contrast clarity.

The powerful, yet abstract nature of the claims was then epitomised by the physicality of the designs, contextualising the environmental proof-points within their progressive vernacular. Redesigned to significantly curb its carbon footprint, Herman Miller’s Mirra 2 Chair stood out as a powerful statement on emissions reductions, while the Muuto Fibre Chair, crafted from post-industrial recycled plastic and FSC-certified wood fibre, modelled the collective’s commitment to responsible and innovative material sourcing. The cone-shaped NaughtOne Pippin Chair, on the other hand, playfully embodied MillerKnoll’s circular design agenda with its delightful, resilient and designed-for-disassembly volume.

By seamlessly encapsulating the demanding duality of endlessly relevant, future-forward form and high-performing function, the objects served as tangible reminders of what’s possible in sustainable design, palpably underscoring MillerKnoll’s unwavering ambition around carbon, materiality and circularity.

And while this multifaceted setting certainly put MillerKnoll’s impactful claims on display, the main goal was – as James Barnby, Senior Marketing Manager, APAC & MEA, MillerKnoll, explains – to encourage the participants to explore the themes of sustainability, circularity and carbon reduction in ways that transcended the time and place of both events. “These conversations are more than moments around a table,” James enthuses. “They’re about creating meaningful connections and inspiring design thinking that drives both environmental and cultural change.”

He adds that by bringing both designers and clients together, MillerKnoll hoped to create an inclusive platform that bridges the elusive realm of creativity with the practical domain of business priorities. And judging by the invigorating interactions on both nights, this dialogue will continue well beyond the dinner tables, leveraging design’s connective tissue to collectively deliver meaningful impact across business, people and planet for a more sustainable, circular and better world.

Learn more about MillerKnoll’s sustainability and environmental goals.