Creating a temporary gathering point in the city through QDSinternational’s installations

In the hustle and bustle of urban centers, it’s rare to see passersby stop — let alone engage with strangers. Yet sometimes, all it takes is a participatory art installation to transform a public space and breathe new energy into it. These works, far more than simple aesthetic objects, create temporary gathering points where the city slows down, pauses, and comes alive in new ways. By inviting people to interact, these installations become excuses for encounters, catalysts for dialogue, and sources of collective wonder.

Create opportunities for passersby to pause and engage

These playful and participatory gathering spaces generate multiple impacts:

• Transform a thoroughfare into a lively and welcoming meeting place.

• Break the routine of daily life, encouraging interactions within communities.

• Extend visitors’ presence in public spaces by giving them a reason to stay a little longer and make the place their own.

• Increase foot traffic around the installation, boosting activity for nearby businesses.

• Offer citizens and visitors a fresh perspective on their environment by revealing the creative potential and richness of the places they pass through every day.

Playful Spaces to Experience the City Differently

Public spaces play a crucial role in fostering a sense of belonging between citizens and their city. When interactive artworks invite curiosity and exchange, they help strengthen the invisible bond connecting people to their living environment. By creating simple moments of joy — a shared smile, a discovery, a spontaneous interaction — these installations nurture community spirit and help make cities feel warmer, more human, and welcoming.

As part of the Winter Glow event, organized by the Flatiron NoMad Partnership in New York, the Spectrum installation captured the attention of passersby and encouraged interactions. This intention was at the heart of the artwork’s creation:

“Our mission is to gather and to question. With Spectrum, we wanted to reflect on communication. It’s incredible that we can connect through simple vibrations! Promoting exchanges in public space helps change how we perceive a place. One evening, there was a family on one side and a homeless man on the other, interacting through Spectrum. That’s when our project truly took on its full meaning.”
– Gonzalo Soldi, Director & Co-founder of Mirari