Designer Fabio Novembre questions the desire to return to normal after the coronavirus pandemic, claiming that "the virus is in the system we used to live in", in a video message recorded for Virtual Design Festival.

"We are all living in a surreal situation," Novembre says. "It's really like when reality goes much further than science fiction itself."

In his video message, recorded in his studio in Milan, Novembre expressed scepticism towards a collective desire to return to normal life and called for a new world order to be created in response to the societal conditions created by the pandemic.

"People say: let's go back to normality. But what is normal?" he said. "The virus is in the system that we used to live in."

"The answer to a catastrophe is not about re-establishing the previous order. It's about creating a new one."

"A better world"

Novembre called on architects and designers to put forward new imaginative ideas to help create "a better world".

"We are dreamers. Let's try to dream about a different world, a better world," he said. "This is the greatest chance we might have."

Novembre ended his video message by looking to a future beyond the social distancing measures currently in place around the world.

"In spite of this digital message, I really hope to give you an analog hug as soon as possible"

Novembre's video message features in Dezeen's launch movie for Virtual Design Festival, along with video messages from 34 other architects, designers and artists in lockdown around the world, including Stefano Giovanni, Es Devlin, Ini Archibong, Ben van Berkel and Bec Brittain. You can watch the movie here.

Novembre is an Italian designer and architect who has previously designed pieces for furniture brands such as Driade, Kartell and Gufram.

In 2018, he was appointed scientific director at the Domus Academy's school of design in Milan.

Send us a video message

Dezeen invited architects, designers, artists and industry figures to record video messages from lockdown and made a montage of 35 video messages, to launch Virtual Design Festival.

We'll be posting an individual video message each day. Check them out here. To submit your own message, see the brief here.

About Virtual Design Festival

Virtual Design Festival runs from 15 April to 30 June 2020. It intends to bring the architecture and design world together to celebrate the culture and commerce of our industry, and explore how it can adapt and respond to extraordinary circumstances.

We will host a rolling programme of online talks, lectures, movies, product launches and more. It will complement and support fairs and festivals around the world that have had to be postponed or cancelled and it will provide a platform for design businesses, so they can, in turn, support their supply chains.