Janice Li

Janice Li is a London-based curator and lecturer, currently serving as Head of Curatorial Programme for Future Observatory at the Design Museum. Her practice explores the intersections of art, design, history, and science, through the lens of material culture, ecology, and intersectionality—bridging the gap between complex research and public discourse to center historically marginalised narratives.

Her recent exhibitions include The Cult of Beauty and Thirst: In Search of Freshwater at Wellcome Collection. Previously, she held roles at the Victoria & Albert Museum, contributing to V&A East, Fashioned from Nature and the Photography Centre. Internationally, she has realised exhibitions, commissions and research for MoMu Antwerp, London Design Biennale, and Milan Design Week, among others. She currently teaches on the MA Design for Social Innovation & Sustainable Futures at UAL and has lectured widely, from the Royal College of Art to Columbia University.

Janice Li will be speaking at the Green Museums Summit 2026 :

Regenerative Design from Wellcome Collection’s Thirst Exhibition

Come with us through the design and production of Thirst: in Search of Freshwater, a temporary exhibition at Wellcome Collection that explored how our relationship with water reveals the wider dynamics of the climate crisis — from inequality and contamination to care and resilience. Using pioneering regenerative materials in its design, in collaboration with studios Material Cultures and Wolfe Hall, the exhibition featured innovative building boards made from wetland reeds, hemp, straw and London clay ceramics. The project involved master craftspeople and prioritised safe, sustainable materials, with close attention to conservation. An environmental audit by Urge Collective informed future practices.