The thirteenth edition of the festival, from September 8 to 20, brings a record 339 finalists from 16 countries, with the main program returning to the renovated Academy of Fine Arts at Ilica 85.
From September 8 to 20, Zagreb will host the 13th edition of Zagreb Design Week, taking place across 30 locations throughout the city. The central part of the festival, from September 15 to 20, moves back to the renovated building of the Academy of Fine Arts at Ilica 85 after a multi-year hiatus. The program was last held there in 2022.
Exhibition setups will be spread across three levels of the building and in the surrounding sculpture park, where festival activities will take place daily. The Academy will be open to visitors on weekdays from 2 PM to 9 PM, Saturdays from 11 AM to 9 PM, and Sundays from 11 AM to 7 PM. The evening program moves to the Sculpture Garden, where musical performances last until midnight.
The central theme of this year's festival is "Friction." Organizers describe it as a key stage in the design process where different ideas collide, are questioned, and filtered, and from the tension and creative break, a clear idea and top-notch design emerge.
The backbone of the program is the ZGDW AWARD, an international recognition that this year attracted 339 finalists from 16 countries, setting a new record. Students and professionals, large studios, and independent authors compete together, with submitted works divided into six categories: graphic design, digital communication and interaction design, product design, spatial design, textile and fashion design, and social innovation design.
The winners are decided by an international jury consisting of Pablo Aldaba, Michał Piernikowski, Maro Pitarević, Marija Ružić Vukmanić, and Mária Štraneková. The winners will be announced on September 15, and the exhibition of all finalists' works remains open until the last day of the festival.
The festival will also host the tenth edition of Italian Design Day, jointly organized by the Italian Trade Agency (ICE) and the Embassy of Italy in Zagreb. This year's theme is "Redesign. Regeneration of spaces, objects, ideas, and relationships," focusing on the origin of materials, their lifespan, recycling possibilities, and the impact of new technologies on production.
On September 16, Italian representatives will present products with the Made in Italy label in the field of contemporary design in Zagreb, highlighting the blend of manufacturing craftsmanship and technological innovation, sustainability, and circular production models. Visitors will also be able to view two photographic exhibitions: "100 Vases of Italian Design," which showcases nearly a century of Italian design heritage through an everyday object, and "Light On MADE in ITALY," focused on the contemporary Italian design industry, material research, and the development of more environmentally friendly production models.
In partnership with the Łódź Design Festival and the Embassy of the Republic of Poland, Zagreb Design Week is also preparing two exhibitions offering a cross-section of contemporary Polish design.
The ZGDW Faculty and School Exhibition brings together educational institutions from Croatia and abroad. International participants include Universidad Diego Portales from Santiago, Chile, Universidad Autónoma de Ciudad Juárez from Mexico, and Tomas Bata University in Zlín. The display showcases diverse approaches to contemporary design, from physical products and visual communications to digital media, spatial solutions, and new technologies. As part of the Studio Space program, three studios will present themselves independently at the Academy: Regular Company, Clinica Studio, and Graphonaut.
The ZGDW Market will take place in the Sculpture Garden, featuring exhibitors such as Arte & Bellezza, Modle / Modlemint, Croatian Design Society, Laridae, Magic Elements Studio, RAW BAG, PARAÏMA by Angelica Shitoff, Little Wonder, Drop Co., and Zagreb Electronic Music Week.
Fashion shows are scheduled for September 17, with presentations by Off Balance, VLAAZ, Dada and Dunda, Petit Fil, Enlogiq, and designers from the Profokus School. The festival's music segment features performances by MRFTB Trio, Sergej Snooze, Radiona, DVB, ZEST, and Isa Mai. The highlight of the music program is a performance by the band Svemirko on Saturday, September 19 at 9 PM. The festival concludes on Sunday with a record fair.
Zagreb Design Week is held with the support of the City of Zagreb, the Zagreb Tourist Board, and the Ministry of Culture.
