Final Thoughts
Special thanks to Professor Jay Wang, Director of the Master of Public Diplomacy (MPD) program and to faculty member Nicole Valdez for their invaluable coordination and support of the Expo 2025 Osaka Maymester program. Additional gratitude to my colleague Yao Li (Leo) for providing the captivating images featured throughout this website.
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Created by:
Katerin Ortega Villanueva
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The national pavilions at Expo 2025 Osaka collectively demonstrate how technology and sensory design can powerfully communicate both cultural heritage and futuristic visions. From the immersive storytelling of the United States’ space journey to the tactile algae-based innovation in Japan, each country utilizes a distinct blend of interactivity, spatial design, and multi-sensory engagement to evoke emotion, curiosity, and connection. Technology is not merely displayed, it is embodied, often requiring the visitor’s movement, breath, or touch to activate the narrative. Sensory design deepens this engagement, using light, sound, scent, and texture to root abstract ideas in personal experience. Whether emphasizing sustainability, diversity, digital transformation, or emotional resonance, these pavilions use design strategies that place the visitor at the center, turning passive viewing into active participation. In doing so, they not only showcase national identity but also invite a collective reimagining of our shared future.