In Naples from 30 May to 2 June 2024
From May 30 to June 2, the city of Naples will be the host of the European Design Festival 2024, curated by AIAP the Italian Association of Visual Communication Design.
Since 2007, the award had never landed in our country, and to properly celebrate the occasion, we chose Naples. Perhaps no Italian city is a symbol of the intersection of cultures, history, and myths that is the Mediterranean, and that Naples vividly represents.
Naples is a real city, the residence of Spanish viceroys, the Bourbons, and the Savoy, the traces of its illustrious past are still visible at every corner. But Naples is at the same time a city of contemporaneity, with a community of artists and designers that turns the life of the city centre into a true open-air gallery.
We are happy to invite you to join this celebration of creativity. Open to the wider public, the festival promises a rich tapestry of design innovation and collaboration.
The Festival program is designed to allow designers and creatives from all over Europe to intimately experience some of the symbolic places of the city centre.
Stay tuned for more updates!
ED FESTIVAL NAPLES VENUES
Chiesa Santa Maria delle Anime del Purgatorio ad Arco, via Tribunali, 39 Napoli
Fondazione FOQUS Quartieri Spagnoli, via Portacarrese a Montecalvario, 69 Napoli
Accademia di Belle Arti di Napoli ,via Santa Maria di Costantinopoli, 107 Napoli
Teatro Mercadante, Piazza Municipio, Napoli
Made in Cloister, Piazza Enrico de Nicola, 48 Napoli
Thursday May 30
12am EXHIBITION OPENING
EXHIBITION #01
F***ING IDENTITY
I am not what you think I am
@ FONDAZIONE FOQUS
FREE ENTRY
EXHIBITION #02
ANIME, THE MEANINGS OF DEATH
Meanings and symbols of death
@ CHIESA SANTA MARIA DELLE ANIME DEL PURGATORIO AD ARCO
FREE ENTRY
SUNNY LECTURE #01
4pm
Chiara Cesaretti and Daniele Lupo of Lungomare
AS IF
What role can design play in building collective identities by following inclusive and participatory processes? What function does a practice that moves on the boundary between art performance and design? Lungomare is a platform for design and cultural production.
@ ACCADEMIA DELLE BELLE ARTI
TICKET
SUNNY LECTURE #02
5pm
Marco Petroni
DESIGN AS WORLDING: A GLANCE SOUTH
@ ACCADEMIA DELLE BELLE ARTI
TICKET
SUNNY LECTURE #03
6pm
Kinda Ghannoum
DESIGNING ACROSS BORDERS
A Syrian Journey of Inspiration and Preservation
@ ACCADEMIA DELLE BELLE ARTI
TICKET
KICK-OFF
OFFICIAL OPENING ED FESTIVAL
7.30pm
VOLCANIC REAL OPENING
Mario Epifani, Director Palazzo Reale
Marco Tortoioli Ricci, President AIAP
Demetrios Fakinos, Director ED Awards
Official opening of the Festival with the presentation of the program. During the evening, a special moment, the official presentation of the new brand identity project for Palazzo Reale.
@ PALAZZO REALE DI NAPOLI
FREE ENTRY
TUMULTUOUS DESIGN CONVERSATION #01
Non-formal conversation with Italian design masters
9pm
dotfog+FM studio
Visual Symbiosis: The Co-Designed Identity by dotfog+FM Studio
How this sunny, tumultuous, volcanic identity that merges the diverse design heritages of two leading Italian design firms popped up.
@ dotfog studio
FREE ENTRY
Friday May 31
EXHIBITION #01
F***ING IDENTITY
I am not what you think I am
@ FONDAZIONE FOQUS
FREE ENTRY
EXHIBITION #02
ANIME, THE MEANINGS OF DEATH
Meanings and symbols of death
@ CHIESA SANTA MARIA DELLE ANIME DEL PURGATORIO AD ARCO
FREE ENTRY
CITY STROLLING #01
10pm
TYPO TOUR
Welcoming strolling tour to enter the city spirit
@ NAPLES CITY CENTER
TICKET
WORKSHOP CLASS
10am – 4pm
STRANGE PAIRS
by dotfog – Paper Bar
The workshop aims to create handmade bookbinding products joining together papers, stamps and prints, pulling out the expressive value of their combination. Participants will learn to make “signifying” objects using the figures created by dotfog for the visual identity project of the European Design Festival. All materials and working tools will be provided.
@ dotfog studio – via Nuova Pizzofalcone 2, Napoli
info@dotfog.it
SUNNY LECTURE #04
10pm
INSIGHTS FROM ITALIAN GRAPHIC DESIGN FESTIVALS
Fabio Guida e Ilaria Reposo, Torino Graphic Days, artistic directors
Francesco Dondina, BIG Biennale Internazionale della Grafica, Milan, curator
Stefano Pellone, Desina Festival Napoli, curator
Lecture moderator Marco Tortoioli Ricci, AIAP President
Festivals has become in recent years in Italy the most widespread and lively encounter for the promotion and reflection on the visual communication design profession. Just In 2024 from Turin to Naples, stepping by Milan three important events were held. We will discuss with their curators the state of graphic design in Italy in all its applications
@ ACCADEMIA DELLE BELLE ARTI
TICKET
SUNNY LECTURE #05
11pm
Bram Broerse, Maurits Wouters • Studio Airport
SUNNY LECTURE #05
11pm
Bram Broerse, Maurits Wouters Studio Airport
STORYTELLING ON THE INTERSECTION OF FILM AND GRAPHIC DESIGN
@ ACCADEMIA DELLE BELLE ARTI
TICKET
@ ACCADEMIA DELLE BELLE ARTI
TICKET
SUNNY LECTURE #06
Monica Pastore
12pm
@ ACCADEMIA DELLE BELLE ARTI
TICKET
SUNNY LECTURE #07
4pm
Mario Piazza
To be a good graphic designer… Performative lecture, twenty visual responses
@ ACCADEMIA DELLE BELLE ARTI
TICKET
SUNNY LECTURE #08
5pm
AWDA Aiap Women in Design Award
PLACES, COMMUNITIES AND TERRITORIAL IDENTITIES IN THE PROJECTS OF THE ARCHIVES
AWDA is an award curated today by Cinzia Ferrara, Laura Moretti, Carla Palladino together with a small collective of young designers. Project Leader since the first edition is AIAP; ICoD, the International Council of Design, is Institutional Partner. The goal of the project is to research different languages, poetics and approaches to the project, fill in the history’s gaps, as well as map the work conditions of women designers around the world.
@ ACCADEMIA DELLE BELLE ARTI
TICKET
SUNNY LECTURE #09
6pm
Sébastien Fasel, Fabienne Kilchör • Emphase studio
EXPRESSIVE DATA!
Through Information Design, we make complex or abstract issues easily accessible. We will explore various facets of data visualization through three of our projects nominated for the EDAwards: Data for Impact, Data for Experience, and Data for Exploration. Using methodological approaches, we transform raw data into expressive graphic visualizations. From creating data sculptures to making data tangible and realizing interactive infographics, each project demonstrates how design can resolve contemporary issues.
@ ACCADEMIA DELLE BELLE ARTI
TICKET
TUMULTUOUS DESIGN CONVERSATION #02
Non-formal conversation with Italian design masters
9pm
@ RIOT / dotfog
FREE TICKETS, RESERVATION REQUIRED
Saturday June 01
EXHIBITION #01
F***ING IDENTITY
I am not what you think I am
@ FONDAZIONE FOQUS
FREE ENTRY
EXHIBITION #02
ANIME, THE MEANINGS OF DEATH
Meanings and symbols of death
@ CHIESA SANTA MARIA DELLE ANIME DEL PURGATORIO AD ARCO
FREE ENTRY
CITY STROLLING #02
10am
STREET ARTIST
Welcoming strolling tour to enter the city spirit
Curated by Progetto Museo
@ NAPLES CITY CENTER
TICKET
SUNNY LECTURE #10
10am
Francesco E. Guida Politecnico Milano, AIAP CDPG
DISCOURSES AND NARRATIVES ON THE HISTORY OF ITALIAN GRAPHIC DESIGN.
Experiences from the AIAP CDPG / Graphic Design Documentation Centre
@ ACCADEMIA DELLE BELLE ARTI
TICKET
SUNNY LECTURE #11
11am
Pitis & CO
STUDIO EXPERIENCE FOR THE SENZATOMICA PROJECT
@ ACCADEMIA DELLE BELLE ARTI
TICKET
SUNNY LECTURE #12
11am
Jeroen Van Erp
THE POWER OF DESIGN IN A WORLD WITH AI
Let’s not stop at midjourney and dall-e, it is limited to think that AI is the tool for the fast production of images, fonts, infographics, animations. What do we know about AI as a tool that can speed up the processes that underpin our work?
@ ACCADEMIA DELLE BELLE ARTI
TICKET
OPEN STUDIO WALKS #02
11am
City walking tour discovering the Naples design scene and professionals
@ ACCADEMIA DELLE BELLE ARTI
TICKET
AWARD CEREMONY
6 – 8pm
@Teatro Mercadante
ED AWARDS VOLCANICA NIGHT
8pm
– Gran Tour video projection
– buffet aperitif in the Chiostro
– 1 drink Cloister Bar (alcoholic or non-alcoholic)
– Dj Set
@ MADE IN CLOISTER
TICKET
Sunday June 02
EXHIBITION #01
F***ING IDENTITY
I am not what you think I am
@ FONDAZIONE FOQUS
FREE ENTRY
EXHIBITION #02
ANIME, THE MEANINGS OF DEATH
Meanings and symbols of death
@ CHIESA SANTA MARIA DELLE ANIME DEL PURGATORIO AD ARCO
FREE ENTRY
CITY STROLLING #03
10am
POINT OF VIEW
Discovering Capodimonte Park and collections and the higher part of the city
Curated by Progetto Museo
@ NAPOLI
TICKET
ED AWARDS VOLCANICA NIGHT
Saturday June 1th • 5.30 pm until 00.00 am
Saturday, June 1st, a tumultuous, volcanic, sunny evening dedicated to celebrating the best European designers. We’ll see them first at the ED Awards Ceremony, then discuss them at the ED Awards Volcanic Party.
An evening not to be missed in the historic heart of Naples.
First, the anticipation builds as we await the announcement of the winning projects among the finest talents in European design at the Mercadante Theater during the ED Awards Ceremony.
Then, it’s time for connections, discussions, and relaxation as we come together to celebrate. Join us for an evening of engaging conversations, meaningful connections, and of course, great music in a vibrant and stimulating atmosphere and location.
It’s an opportunity to meet other creative minds, exchange ideas, and reflect on the innovations presented during the Festival. This event is a chance to expand your network and connect with other design enthusiasts.
Reserve your spot in advance as seats are limited.
Ticket Cost €60 (VAT included) includes:
– Awards Ceremony
@Teatro Mercadante
P.za Municipio, Napoli
– ED Awards Volcanica Night
– Gran Tour video projection
– buffet aperitif in the Chiostro
– 1 drink Cloister Bar (alcoholic or non-alcoholic)
– Dj Set until midnight
@Made in Cloister
Piazza Enrico de Nicola, 48 Napoli
EXHIBITION #01
F***ING IDENTITY
I am not what you think I am
@ FONDAZIONE FOQUS
Curator, AIAP
Institution, Fine Arts Academy, Naples, Prof. Enrica D’Aguanno, Course Coordinator and Communication Design teacher
External designer, Liza Enebeis Studio Dumbar
— One of the exhibition projects that we are planning for the next ED Awards in Naples concerns the design and realisation of posters (static and dynamic) that carry out an experimental reflection on the linguistic, symbolic and semantic elements that determine the profound meaning of the identity of places.
If historically we have always categorised our places of life – countries, regions, cities, neighbourhoods, squares and streets – as enduring ecosystems, connections between past and present, today we realise that we inhabit places whose transformation is incessant and continuous. The visual project, in its forms, is therefore transformed from being an action of synthesis to an action of exploration and mapping of this incessant change.
Moreover, designing a poster still corresponds to a public act, posted in collective places, of taking responsibility for one’s point of view and interpretation of a message. So why not take up again, through a dedicated project, the more ‘political’ meaning that the poster has always assumed, applying it, however, to strongly contemporary identity instances.
Another founding element of the project is the exploitation of the work carried out so far by the Academy within the dense urban network of neighbourhoods, having wanted to bring a substantial component in urban and social regeneration projects such as higher education in the arts into the Foqus spaces.
FREE ENTRY
EXHIBITION #02
ANIME, THE MEANINGS OF DEATH
Meanings and symbols of death
@ CHIESA SANTA MARIA DELLE ANIME DEL PURGATORIO AD ARCO
— An exhibition set up in the hypogean spaces of the complex displaying graphic design projects commissioned from national and international designers. We will ask them to interpret symbols, iconography, meanings, rituals of whatever revolves around the meaning of death from different cultural roots. The aim is to bring together the objects and sediments that popular tradition has accumulated along with the contemporary signs that visual and design culture produces today on a theme that has changed in meaning over time and has lost that sense of coexistence with the world of the living that instead shines through the ancient rooms of this complex.
FREE ENTRY
