Designed by the public, the 2023 Exhibit Columbus Installation, created by Tatiana Bilbao ESTUDIO, is reinstalled at Ivy Tech Community College in Muncie, Indiana
The J.Irwin and Xenia S. Miller Prize installation was a part of the 2022–23 Exhibit Columbus cycle, Public by Design.
Columbus, Indiana — Landmark Columbus Foundation is pleased to announce the reinstallation and dedication of Designed by the public, an artwork created by Tatiana Bilbao ESTUDIO, at the Ivy Tech campus in Muncie, Indiana. It is now on view on the east plaza of Ivy Tech’s John & Janice Fisher Building, where it will continue to invite people to design their own public spaces.
Designed by the public is a participatory work that provides a “library of objects”—furniture, tools, art supplies, and sports equipment—for visitors to use, borrow, and play with. The work was conceived to explore how public space can become a platform for collective and social exchange. By offering a broad collection of objects for use, the installation encourages people to build their own ideas, embrace the unexpected, and literally design new spaces. The piece’s democratic ethos aligns with Tatiana Bilbao ESTUDIO’s research into architecture as a social and inclusive practice.
It was created for the Exhibit Columbus 2023 Exhibition and transformed the Bartholomew County Library Plaza in downtown Columbus. It was one of four J. Irwin and Xenia S. Miller Prize Installations in the 2023 exhibition. The reinstallation of this artwork was made possible through a collaborative partnership with Ivy Tech Community College and MuncieArts and Culture Council.
“We are so delighted to see this important artwork live on in another community,” said Kate Powers, partnership officer for Landmark Columbus Foundation. “We included gifts from the Ivy Tech Columbus Campus and the broader arts community in Columbus to express our interest in connecting these two communities in meaningful ways.”
A ribbon‑cutting ceremony at Ivy Tech was held on Oct. 2 to welcome the installation to its new home. The event, hosted by Ivy Tech and the MuncieArts & Culture Council, drew the mayor, students, civic leaders, and arts advocates. After the remarks, guests were invited to tour the artwork across Ivy Tech’s campus and to participate in the DWNTWN Arts Walk festivities later that evening. The relocation underscores Ivy Tech's and MuncieArts's partnership, highlighting how design education and community engagement can unite to transform public spaces.
“Designed by the public moves to Muncie with the same community‑building spirit that made it a centerpiece of the Exhibit Columbus 2024 Exhibition,” said Richard McCoy, executive director of Landmark Columbus Foundation. “Our goal is to show that the work we do together in Columbus continues to inspire innovation, foster pride, and generate economic vitality across the state.”
Exhibit Columbus is a catalyst for innovation, community building, and tourism
Exhibit Columbus—an internationally recognized program of the Landmark Columbus Foundation—demonstrates that Columbus continues to innovate and model new ways of connecting design to daily life. By commissioning bold, site‑specific works like Designed by the public, the exhibition sparks conversations about community, belonging, and the future of downtowns. It also drives tourism and economic vitality, bringing visitors to downtown Columbus, filling hotels and restaurants, and energizing public spaces with creative activity. The relocation of Designed by the public to Muncie extends that impact regionally and invites new audiences to participate.
Partnerships make the project possible
The Muncie installation was realized through a collaboration between Landmark Columbus Foundation, Ivy Tech Community College, and the MuncieArts & Culture Council. Seven Ball State University iMADE students also contributed to the project’s fabrication and installation, working under Professor Kevin Klinger to translate the design into a built work using regionally sourced materials. Tania Said of MuncieArts praised the partnership, noting that every contributor helped make the project “greater than the sum of its parts.”
A grant from the Allen Whitehill Clowes Charitable Foundation made the relocation and reinstallation possible. Brose Partington Studio of Indianapolis was responsible for reconfiguring the installation from the original design for this new iteration.
Visit and participate
The public is invited to explore Designed by the public at Ivy Tech’s Muncie campus (345 S. High Street). Visitors can borrow objects from the installation’s compartments, use them in the plaza, and return them for others to enjoy. MuncieArts is collecting ideas for what items should fill the library of objects, inviting community members to help shape the experience. The installation is free and open to the public during campus hours.
Downloadable images
High‑resolution photography of Designed by the public in Muncie is available for press use at this link. When using these images, please credit Hadley Fruits for Landmark Columbus Foundation.
For more information about Exhibit Columbus, upcoming events, or ways to support public art initiatives, visit landmarkcolumbusfoundation.org. To learn more about MuncieArts programs, visit munciearts.org.
Media Contact
Jamie Goldsborough
jamie@landmarkcolumbus.org
About Landmark Columbus Foundation
Landmark Columbus Foundation (LCF) cares for, celebrates, and advances the cultural heritage of Columbus, Indiana. To fulfill its mission, LCF directs three locally engaged and globally connected programs that are interwoven in their impact and networks: Progressive Preservation, Exhibit Columbus, and Columbus Design Institute. landmarkcolumbusfoundation.org
About Exhibit Columbus
Exhibit Columbus is a feature program of Landmark Columbus Foundation and an exploration of community, architecture, art, and design that activates the modern legacy of Columbus, Indiana. It creates a cycle of programming that uses this context to convene conversations around innovative ideas and commissions site-responsive installations in a free public exhibition. exhibitcolumbus.org
About Ivy Tech Community College
Ivy Tech is Indiana’s largest public postsecondary institution, serving nearly 200,000 students across the state and providing degrees, certificates, and training that align with the needs of local communities. ivytech.edu/locations/muncie
About MuncieArts & Culture Council
MuncieArts champions arts experiences and public art that build a thriving community. Formed in 2009 as the City of Muncie’s official arts partner, the council supports artists, cultivates partnerships, and promotes cultural enrichment. munciearts.org
Header photo: Ribbon-cutting ceremony, photo by Hadley Fruits for Landmark Columbus Foundation.
