In the relentless churn of the design world, where trends emerge and evaporate with seasonal speed, it is the quiet, unexpected gesture that often speaks the loudest. This season, that gesture comes in the form of an object so ubiquitous, so fundamentally tied to human experience, that it has remained largely invisible in the high-design discourse: the walking stick. Prepare to have your perceptions radically altered. The internationally acclaimed designer Keiji Takeuchi is bringing his profound and poetic exhibition, "Walking Sticks & Canes," to New York City, transforming the mundane into the magnificent and positioning this humble aid as the next frontier of personal expression.
Following a celebrated premiere at the prestigious Triennale Milano, the exhibition will make its final U.S. stop at MillerKnoll’s reimagined flagship space at 251 Park Avenue South. Arriving on November 13, 2025, and opening to the public on November 17, this is not merely a collection of objects; it is a meticulously curated dialogue about movement, identity, and the power of design to infuse everyday tools with soul. By convening a global cohort of design luminaries, Takeuchi challenges us to look again at an object we thought we knew and to see in it a story of human connection, resilience, and style.
From Necessity to Narrative: Redefining an Archetype
The walking stick is an archetype, an object that has accompanied humanity for millennia. It is at once a practical tool for support and a powerful symbol of authority, wisdom, or dandyism. It is precisely this rich, layered history that Keiji Takeuchi seeks to unpack and expand. His curatorial premise is built on a deep, philosophical inquiry into the object's essence.
“It is not possible to go back in time to the very first walking stick,” Takeuchi explains, highlighting the object's primordial and anonymous origins. This historical ambiguity, however, is not a limitation but a source of creative freedom. “Over time, the cane has been used as both accessory and necessity, with limitless potential for exploration.” This dual identity is the exhibition's creative engine. It moves the conversation beyond mere ergonomics and into the realm of narrative and personal statement. The cane is no longer just a medical aid; it is a companion, a "gesture of movement and connection."
This reinterpretation is profoundly relevant today. In a culture grappling with inclusivity, aging, and the desire for authentic self-expression, elevating the walking stick from a symbol of infirmity to an object of desire is a radical act. The exhibition implicitly asks: Why should a tool that offers support not also offer beauty? Why must utility be divorced from elegance? The answer, presented through 19 distinct creative lenses, is that it shouldn't. Takeuchi’s vision is to “broaden our general awareness of this essential and expressive tool,” hoping visitors will leave with a lasting shift in perspective.
A Global Design Summit on a Single Object
To realize this ambitious vision, Takeuchi convened a veritable who's who of contemporary design. The exhibition features new works from 19 designers from around the world, each tasked with bringing their unique voice to this singular object. The roster is a testament to the project's significance, featuring industry titans and innovative talents alike. Among them are names that resonate deeply within the design cognoscenti:
- Jasper Morrison: A master of "super normal" design, known for finding exceptional grace in everyday objects.
- Cecilie Manz: A Danish designer celebrated for her minimalist aesthetic and warm, tactile approach to materials.
The inclusion of designers like Morrison and Manz is particularly insightful, given their existing collaborations with MillerKnoll brands such as Maharam and Muuto. This creates a beautiful synergy, weaving the exhibition seamlessly into the fabric of its host's design ecosystem. It’s a brilliant stroke of curatorial matchmaking that grounds the conceptual exploration in a tangible, brand-adjacent reality without sacrificing artistic integrity.
By focusing the collective creative energy of such a diverse and talented group on one "universal yet understated object," Takeuchi orchestrates a powerful symphony of ideas. Each cane becomes a character, a different answer to the same fundamental question. The result is a showcase that transcends a simple product display, becoming a global summit on how form, material, and intention can redefine our relationship with the objects that support us.
MillerKnoll's New Vision: The Showroom as a Cultural Hub
The choice of venue is as significant as the works themselves. By hosting "Walking Sticks & Canes" at its reimagined Park Avenue South flagship, MillerKnoll makes a bold statement about its own evolution. This is not business as usual. The brand is actively transforming its physical footprint from a commercial showroom into a dynamic cultural hub, a place for dialogue, experience, and inspiration.
Kelsey Keith, Creative Director at MillerKnoll, articulates this mission with clarity. "Our role is to open doors to design experiences that aren't always accessible," she states. This is a crucial pivot in the age of e-commerce, where physical retail must offer something more than just products on a shelf. It must offer a point of view. "Bringing 'Walking Sticks & Canes' to New York connects people to these designers' work and draws a line from very big questions to detailed, tactile answers."
This approach signals a deeper understanding of what modern consumers and design lovers crave: connection and meaning. MillerKnoll is "rethinking our showrooms as spaces where design becomes a living, evolving practice—something to experience." By programming its space with culturally significant, thought-provoking exhibitions like Takeuchi's, the company positions itself not just as a seller of furniture, but as a curator of the broader conversation around design's role in our lives. It’s a forward-thinking strategy that builds community and brand loyalty on a foundation of shared intellectual and aesthetic values.
More Than an Exhibition: A Dialogue on Design's Power
To further enrich the experience and cement its status as a serious cultural event, the New York installation is complemented by a series of thoughtful additions. The inclusion of photography by Albert Lee promises a visually stunning context, capturing the sculptural beauty and narrative potential of the canes. This artistic layer elevates the objects from functional items to subjects of aesthetic contemplation.
Perhaps most importantly, the exhibition will be accompanied by a public panel featuring Keiji Takeuchi himself, alongside directors from prominent design museums. This forum elevates the discourse to an institutional level, exploring the exhibition's central theme: how design moves people physically, emotionally, and culturally. This is the crux of the entire project. The walking stick is the perfect vessel for this conversation—it is an object that facilitates physical movement, and through the thoughtful application of design, it can profoundly affect our emotional state and reflect cultural shifts towards inclusivity and self-expression.
This multi-faceted approach ensures that visitors are not just passive observers. They are invited into an active dialogue. They are encouraged to consider the deeper implications of the designs on display and to connect them to broader themes of movement, healing, and personal identity. It is an intellectual and sensory experience designed to linger long after one has left the gallery.
Your Invitation to a New Perspective
This is a rare opportunity to witness a pivotal moment in design—a moment where a forgotten object is reclaimed and celebrated, and where the line between aid and accessory is beautifully and irrevocably blurred. For a limited time, New Yorkers will have the chance to experience this unique showcase before it continues its global journey.
The "Walking Sticks & Canes" exhibition will be open to the public starting Monday, November 17, 2025. It is located on the 9th floor of MillerKnoll’s flagship at 251 Park Avenue South. As this is the final U.S. presentation, demand is expected to be high, and securing tickets online is recommended.
This is more than an exhibition; it is an invitation to see the world differently. It is a quiet but powerful revolution, arguing that good design is not a luxury reserved for the few, but a fundamental tool that can enhance dignity, inspire confidence, and bring beauty to every step of our journey. Keiji Takeuchi and his collaborators have given us a profound gift: a new perspective on an old friend. Don't miss the chance to accept it.
