Down Under by Milan’s Formafantasma explores Nature and science through art

Building on the conversations around the environment and educating children about Nature, Milan’s research-based design studio Formafantasma is out with a picture book for young readers and adults alike. Titled Down Under: The Curious Fall of a Child Who Knew Nothing and Became Everythingthe book (illustrated by Clément Vuillier) is structured in two parts. It begins with the story about a child ‘who, upon falling into a hole in an open field, embarks on a journey through the hidden layers of the Earth, encountering unexpected lifeforms that shift his worldview’. The book’s second part features contributions from scientists and educators who inspired the story such as geologist Roland Dreesen, and ecologist Natalie Beenaerts, among others.

Formafantasma “investigates the ecological, historical, political and social forces shaping the discipline of design today” through product design, spatial design, etc. Founded in 2009 by Andrea Trimarchi and Simone Farresin, the studio aims at facilitating “a deeper understanding of both our natural and built environments and propose transformative interventions through design and its material, technical, social, and discursive possibilities”.

As for Down Underthe project originated from a commission and residency programme by C-mine (a creative hub and cultural centre in Belgium) that explored the nature and purpose of Belgium’s post-industrial territories. “To challenge the perception of these sites as ruins awaiting reclamation, we focussed our attention on terrils — artificial heaps formed by the accumulation of waste soil from coal mine excavations — presenting them as dynamic landscapes in a continuous state of transformation, even in the absence of human intervention,” says Andrea, adding that following their site visits and conversations with curator Louise Osieka, and geologists, entomologists, and microbiologists, the team saw an opportunity to broaden the scope of the project. “Eschewing conventional research outputs, we set out to create a children’s book that explores the intricate relationship,” he adds.

Together with Roland Dreesen and the University of Hasselt, the team collected microscopic imagery — using petrography and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) — which played a crucial role in shaping the book’s visual language. “At the same time, we initiated a dialogue with art historian Teresa Castro, exploring representations of Nature and the critical significance of these unique landscapes. All of this material laid the foundation for the fable that opens the book, a story we chose to write ourselves,” explains Andrea.

Inspired by designers like Bruno Munari and Enzo Mari — who saw childhood as a critical space for shaping civic imagination and social responsibility — this project “engages with children’s education as a meaningful site for design intervention”, says Simone, “We believe that addressing today’s ecological challenges requires a cultural shift, one that moves beyond a human-centred perspective and embraces the complex interdependence between species. Down Under is an attempt to contribute to that shift.”

Explaining how the fable moves on to a more analytical section, featuring critical texts and interviews with experts from the scientific community, Simone says through this dual structure, Down Under“encourages reflection at different stages of life, functioning as both a children’s book and a transgenerational educational tool. Regarding the physical object, we sought to preserve the materiality and sense of seriousness associated with a book in general, restoring the dignity and presence often missing in children’s publications, which are typically brief and overly simplified. Our goal was to offer children a meaningful object that acknowledges their agency and intellectual capacity.”

Designing for children also meant the team had to reconsider their way of presenting the book. “Not by simplifying content, but by reframing it through storytelling. We were committed to avoiding any form of patronising attitude or oversimplification. Instead, we sought to convey the complexity of the post-industrial landscape and ecological themes in a way that felt tangible, yet remained clear and truthful. This demanded a careful calibration of tone and structure to ensure the book could engage younger readers without diluting the subject matter,” concludes Simone.

Priced at ₹3,494, the book is available on neroeditions.com