Events
Set the Agenda - Spring's Must-See Design Events
Vicky Stoakes
Communications Director
We’re kicking off our ‘Set the Agenda’ series with a new quarterly focus, rounding up what we think are the most interesting events that celebrate design and creativity in coming months.
We know that being engaged in creativity is scientifically proven to make people feel happier. Whilst we can’t control the world around us, surrounding ourselves with fresh ways of thinking and seeing the world through a different lens, is a positive way to live.
Here are our five events that we’ve handpicked this spring:
SXSW – Austin, Texas (11-20 March)
South by Southwest, in the heart of Austin, Texas, is the world's biggest creative conference and it’s live now! The festival and conference celebrate the ‘convergence of the tech, film, and music industries’. Creatives gather to exchange cutting-edge ideas, discover new interests, and network. If you can’t make it there IRL, your badge allows access to all online content and live streamed events. Speakers include Lizzo, Beck and Ethan Hawke, alongside many other creators and storytellers.
Football: Designing the Beautiful Game – Design Museum, London (8 April-29 August 2022)
The opportunity to discover the incredible stories of design behind the world’s beautiful game. Football is the world’s most popular sport, with a huge and dedicated fan base. It’s one of the most diverse and inclusive sports with men, women and people of all ages and backgrounds taking part or watching regularly (over half of the world’s population watched some part of the 2018 FIFA World Cup).
This exhibition unpicks how design has pushed the game to its technical and emotional limits. From the master-planning of the world’s most significant football stadiums to the graphic design of team badges and the grassroots initiatives pushing back against the sport’s commercialisation. This is an opportunity to look into the people and processes that have made football what it is today.
OFFF – Barcelona (5-6 May)
Creativity conference OFFF is back at Barcelona Design Museum this May. A programme full of inspiring lectures with industry insiders, workshops with incredible artists, networking sessions and more. Speakers announced so far include Greg Lutze, Wayne Wu, Brendan Dawes, Vinicius Costa and Rebeka Arce.
NYCxDESIGN Festival – New York (10-20 May)
New York’s design community is comprised of 61,496 designers; 1,029 museums and galleries; and 7,586 design firms. NYCxDESIGN was created as a city-led initiative in 2013 to empower and promote the city’s diverse creative community. The festival has grown from a grassroots initiative to the city’s preeminent festival in celebration of design disciplines, people, events and related industries. The programme includes the annual festival, plus year-round events. Diversity, purpose, cultural placemaking, economic opportunity, and creativity are core to the not-for-profit’s values.
Valencia World Design Capital 2022 (All Year)
The Spanish city's reign as World Design Capital 2022 kicked off in early March with a programme of events that will continue throughout the year. It features an array of exhibitions, conferences and other events that celebrate design in Valencia. If you’re thinking of a weekend away combining the best of Spanish culture (and tapas!) with a celebration of design, Valencia is your ticket this year!