Public School x Canva Cannes Lions Activation Finds a Second Life in Design Education

When Canva teamed up with creative studio Public School, part of the Czarnowski Collective, to deliver an experiential activation at Cannes Lions, the result was an immersive brand environment that stopped people in their tracks and it featured nearly 100 lush plants woven into the space’s aesthetic.

But what happened to the plants once Cannes closed down? 

Too often, carefully sourced décor ends up in landfill, especially at international activations where logistics can complicate reuse.  Keen to avoid waste and align with their values of cultural connection and purposeful storytelling, Public School partnered with Event Cycle to handle asset dissolution with environmental and social impact in mind.

Working closely with our charity network in the south of France, Event Cycle coordinated the redistribution of 96 plants, from petite succulents to towering potted palms, to BESIGN, Sustainable Design School, based just outside Nice in Cagnes-sur-Mer. Founded on the ethos of “learning by doing,” BESIGN trains the next generation of designers with sustainability at the core of their education. The plants now breathe new life into both indoor classrooms and outdoor collaborative spaces, helping to inspire environmentally conscious design thinking in a real, tangible way.

What began as an immersive brand environment on the Boulevard de la Croisette in Cannes has become part of an everyday learning environment just down the road. This shows that temporary doesn’t have to mean disposable and once used event materials can have a life beyond the project they were planned for. 

From Cannes to Cagnes-sur-Mer, this project shows how Public School’s experiential vision extended beyond the audience and into the local community. It is another example of how Event Cycle helps creative agencies activate responsibly, even on international ground.

Want to bring social impact and sustainable thinking to your next activation, wherever it is? eventcycleuk@gmail.com