the 6th design triennial, ‘belgium is design, design for mankind’ analyses the interplay between design and the wishes, needs and wants of man. through a mix of about one hundred objects and services, designed by designers and design studios based in belgium, the story of user-centered and human centered design is outlined, focusing on durability and quality of life. in order to stress the societal dimension of the selection, the organizers have linked every project with one out of ten values that, according to them, refer to the essential needs of man: tradition, play, affection, living together, intimacy, environmental awareness, user-friendliness & do-it-yourself, mobility, efficiency and safety. the values are highlighted throughout the exhibition via different colour labels. visitors step from the outside world into a spatial story in which the products act as protagonists. the aesthetics, the added value and the expression of the products are brought to a higher level by means of a supportive platform: the scenography. the layout of the exhibition is setup like a ‘city’ with different ‘neighborhoods’. just like a real city, each neighborhood is characterized by something unique that sets it apart from other places in the city. that distinction is expressed in various ways: design, placement in space, lighting design, colour gradations, audio support and tactile support. the concepts are represented by clustered frame structures within which objects and images are displayed. white bases bring the products to the required heights for them to be seen, touched or tried out.