The European Design Festival, one of the most important design events in Europe, will be opened in Ljubljana by the European Design Federation. The highlight of the festival will be the presentation of the European Design Awards, with several regional designers among the finalists. Around 500 designers, theorists, students, and industry representatives from across Europe will arrive in Ljubljana.
For the first time, the festival is being held in Slovenia, marking an important recognition of the quality of regional design. Under the auspices of the Brumen Foundation and in cooperation with the European Design Festival (EDF), various festival events will take place throughout the city – from conferences and exhibitions to workshops and design tours.
Prestigious Awards in Multiple Categories
“The European Design Festival, which will take place this June in Ljubljana, puts Slovenia’s capital on the map of European design. Hosting the festival is a recognition not only for Slovenia but for the region and the rich history that design here carries,” said Radovan Arnold, Chairman of the Brumen Foundation Board, the organizer of this year’s European Design Festival.
As part of the festival, the European Design Awards will be presented, and some works by regional designers are among the finalists. The awards ceremony will take place on Saturday, June 7, across ten categories: branding, packaging, promotion, publications, typography, illustration, digital applications, in-house productions, miscellaneous, and special awards.
The Central Theme of the Festival is Eccentricity
This year’s main theme is Eccentricity – Design Outside the Centre, through which the organizers highlight design’s role as a tool for innovation, diversity, and social commentary.
“This year in Ljubljana, we will bring together designers from the former Yugoslav republics who have exceeded the ‘norms’ and dared to be different. Their work will also be featured in the main EDF exhibition,” adds Arnold.
The EDF’s main exhibition will be held at Ljubljana’s City Hall, while the Greetings from Sarajevo exhibition at Cukrarna will showcase works by the legendary Trio Sarajevo. Special attention will also be given to student projects, which will be displayed at multiple locations throughout Ljubljana. Students from the Department of Visual Communications at ALUO UL will exhibit on Dolenjska Street as part of the Open Academy; students of media technology and graphic and interactive communications at NTF UL will exhibit at the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Engineering; and visual communications students at FD will exhibit at the Faculty of Design. The TAM-TAM poster gallery near Figovec will host works by Chinese students from the Institute of Creative Arts, Xiamen University.
Tickets and more information about the program are available at www.europeandesign.org.
