After a decade, DRIFT returns to Milan Design Week with Drift Us, a site-specific installation presented in collaboration with Audi. Taking place at the Audi House of Progress in the courtyard of Portrait Milano Hotel from April 16th–21st, 2025, the installation transforms movement into a dynamic visual experience, inviting visitors to engage with their surroundings in an entirely new way.
Inspired by the rhythmic motion of wind across a grassy field, Drift Us mirrors the seamless dialogue between nature and technology. As visitors navigate the space, their presence activates the environment, making them a direct force of change—just as wind shapes the landscape. DRIFT’s founders, Lonneke Gordijn and Ralph Nauta, emphasize that movement is essential for progress, and through this installation, they highlight how human interaction can create harmony within an ever-changing world.
A fusion of robotic elements and organic inspiration, Drift Us offers a meditative experience, aligning synchronized movements with natural breathing rhythms. In a fast-paced urban environment, the installation provides a rare moment of tranquility, reconnecting audiences to the subtle, yet powerful, forces that shape our existence.
The collaboration with Audi underscores a shared vision of innovation through movement. “In today’s complex world, flexibility and adaptability are key to staying at the forefront of technological and human-centered progress,” say Gordijn and Nauta. Within the House of Progress, visitors are invited to become catalysts for change, mirroring Audi’s commitment to pioneering advancements in mobility.
Since debuting at Salone del Mobile in 2006, DRIFT has continuously redefined the relationship between art, technology, and human experience. Their immersive installations bridge the physical and digital realms, fostering emotional connections between people and space. Drift Us exemplifies this ethos, blending art and engineering to create an environment where innovation feels instinctive and deeply personal.
As Milan Design Week unfolds, Drift Us stands as a testament to the power of movement—not just as a physical phenomenon, but as a force that drives evolution, creativity, and progress. Visitors are invited to explore this transformative experience and reflect on the interconnectedness of nature, technology, and human agency.
Photography courtesy of POINT.ARCHITECTS
