The Empty Chair Project
2026
Design Thinking Award
Winner
Chișinău Institute of Social Design & Innovation (CISDI)
Designers / Creators / Authors / Leaders
Elena Rusu, Lead designer;
Ion Cojocaru, municipal coordinator;
Andrei Munteanu, Design researcher and anthropologist
As Moldova advances toward EU membership, many urban as well as rural communities are experiencing growing social isolation due to migration and demographic change. Older residents are increasingly disconnected from everyday community life despite the availability of public spaces where people naturally gather.
The Empty Chair Project was developed to transform unused seats in cafés, libraries, markets, and community centers into invitations for conversation. A simple visual marker identifies designated chairs where anyone can sit if they are open to meeting and talking with others. This also signals the entry of democracy to the republic which has long been more authoritarian.
Rather than creating new infrastructure or social programs, the project reimagines an existing resource—the empty chair—as a catalyst for connection. The design-thinking solution quite simply, brings people together.
By turning an ordinary object into a symbol of openness and participation, The Empty Chair Project demonstrates how design thinking can create meaningful social impact through simplicity. And also assist the country into a newer view of Europe and its identity.
