In 2022, RIOS held an internal competition for its employees to design an activation concept design for Milan during design week. The submissions needed to account for existing site parameters and a theme “Between Space and Time”. I collaborated with a colleague on our winning submission “Superbloom”, which welcomed visitors to a vivid experience inspired by Southern California blooms. The installation portrayed nature via large-scale bright fabricated elements, various scent applications, lighting, digital projections, and a musical score. Superbloom is an immersive, synesthetic experience showcasing how design can steer emotions, create a moment of wonder, and joyfully bring people together. The journey orients the visitor through colors, scents, and sounds across three rooms – the Rain Room, Sprout Room, and Bloom Room – each building a crescendo of activity as one approaches the final space. These rooms create simulations of biological processes such as the watering, propagation, and blooming of wildflowers.

Halfway through our short timeline, we ended up needing to fabricate the full installation in-house and ship to Italy. To do this, we had to design the exhibition to be fabricated in-house flat-pack and able to ship from California to Italy on budget. I helped design files for our in-house Fabrication Lab and problem-solved how we could pack the pieces and install them in the space. We also physically cut and pack material and traveled to the site to build the exhibit. With such a small team and a short timeline, the process involved frequent problem-solving both prior to shipping and with unexpected obstacles on-site.

My involvement included coming up with the “Superbloom” story. Other responsibilities included material, color, and scent selection throughout the rain and bloom room, the 3D design of the rain room, assisting with PR, and being a point of contact for our brand collaborations with PF Candle Co., Janus et Cie, Syng, and notNeutral. In Milan, I was also involved with on-site construction, and social media, as well as being a host and ambassador throughout the duration of the exhibition.

Instead of being discarded, the physical elements of the activation were donated to Ai.Bi., a nonprofit association fighting child neglect in Italy as well as supporting Ukranian refugees.