Solar Impulse Foundation – City of Tomorrow Exhibition

In 2016, Bertrand Piccard made history when he embarked on a round-the-world flight aboard the Solar Impulse aircraft, a project symbolizing a vision of a sustainable future. During this journey, Martin Saive, our Creative Director, accompanied him to document key milestones through impactful illustrations. This daring journey enabled the foundation to gather over 1,000 concrete, efficient solutions for a more sustainable world. These innovations, the result of a demanding selection process, formed the basis of the “City of Tomorrow” exhibition at the Cité des Sciences in Paris.

The major challenge was to present these technologies in a way that transcended the simple framework of a trade show and avoided inducing environmental anxiety. We had to appeal to a diverse audience, from children to expert adults, communicating in a clear, accessible, and optimistic way. And we had to create a coherent, educational narrative that effectively illustrated the solutions available in the face of global warming.

To meet these challenges, we illustrated the solutions and linked the five themes of the exhibition with a red thread. This thread features Bertrand Piccard and a compass, pointing not north but towards the unknown, a symbol of future discoveries. The compass accompanies Bertrand, questioning and challenging him on the technologies on display. It embodies Bertrand’s curiosity, and above all that of the viewer.

The compass guides the visitors through the exhibition, making the textual and scientific content accessible and engaging. This progressive, playful approach enables all ages to grasp ecological and technological concepts intuitively. By transforming technical information into a captivating adventure, Bertrand and his compass become familiar figures who facilitate learning and engagement.

The “City of Tomorrow” exhibition was a resounding success, attracting over 62,000 visitors in just a few months. Thanks to our visual storytelling approach, the exhibition was able to make complex concepts accessible and attractive. It also acted as a catalyst, stimulating events and meetings focused on sustainable solutions for the cities of tomorrow, bringing together a community committed to common goals.

Following the success of the Paris exhibition, “The City of Tomorrow” travelled to Brussels in 2024. This tour underlines the flexibility and universality of the scenography and illustrations, capable of reaching an international audience without major modifications.