“Welcome to Miami…” I couldn’t get the song by Will Smith out of my head as I headed from South Beach, Miami to the vibrant Design District, a neighbourhood dedicated to design, architecture, luxury boutiques and dining experiences. It’s a place where creativity and innovation intersect and the perfect location for a brand like Lexus – renowned for its blend of future-forward technology and artisanal craftsmanship – unveiled a transformative experience.
Design Miami is one part of a three-part story that unfolds during the first week of December. There is Art Basel Miami, Design Miami and Art Miami – a week of immersion, experiences, conversations and inspiration. Lexus has participated in Art & Design Week for nine years, and this year returned for the third year as a partner to the Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA) to present a multi-sensory, immersive experience in luxury and sustainability.
The Lexus journey was also a multi-part story. Liminal Cycles depicted the LF-ZC (Lexus Future Zero Catalyst) concept car in a four-part installation that engaged guests through sight, sound, touch and smell. Created in collaboration with design and research studio Crafting Plastics, the central sculpture in the garden of ICA Miami embodied Lexus’ forward-thinking approach to blending responsive technology with sustainable design. The fragmented sculpture of a vehicle inspired by the LF-ZC was crafted from Nuatan®, a biodegradable bioplastic developed by Crafted Plastics, that leaves no microplastics behind. The material reacts dynamically to UV light and proximity, symbolising the harmony between nature and technology. As it’s exposed to these elements, it changes colour and makes breathing-like movements like a living organism. Suffice it to say, the audience was transfixed.
Surrounding the sculpture were three satellite installations that explored sensory innovation. The LF-ZC steering wheel and headrest were reimagined in sculptures that used environmental stimuli, such as wind and UV light, triggered by the viewer’s proximity, to prompt tactile, auditory and olfactory responses. The steering wheel lights up when touched, the headrest representations emit the new custom Lexus fragrance, and the wind and UV-sensitive lattice-like installation reveals the Lexus logo as it responds to the triggers.
Complementing the installation, Lexus unveiled the Lexus in Design capsule collection, featuring 26 limited edition collectible objects crafted by top designers, including Crafting Plastics, Germane Barnes, Michael Bennett, Tara Sakhi and Suchi Reddy. These pieces showcased sustainable materials like amber glass, recycled aluminium and interlocking slit paper, merging aesthetic beauty with eco-consciousness. The objects are designed to house a bespoke Lexus fragrance (candle or diffuser) developed in collaboration with the clean-scent brand dilo. Even the notes of the fragrance were cleverly selected to represent the Lexus notions of progress (top notes of blood orange and bergamot), renewal (amber and fir) and being grounded by nature (cedar and moss).
Lexus also hosted Art and Innovation Talks featuring leading designers and automotive experts discussing materiality, luxury and sustainability. These conversations amplified the brand’s commitment to fostering dialogue on the future of design. Pieces from the collection are available from the ICA Miami gift shop and online at HBX.com, with proceeds from the sales going towards ICA Miami’s sustainability initiatives to support environmental stewardship through luxury consumption.
Design Miami 2024 represents the pinnacle of art and design innovation, drawing a select crowd of top creators, thought leaders, collectors and industry insiders from around the world and being able to witness these forward-thinking concepts was a rare opportunity.
