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8th International Design Conference & 15th Students Design Review
AGRAFA’24 – Reflection 26 April 2024

AGRAFA 2024 – Reflection

The rapid progress of technology and advanced information tools mean that we make fewer and fewer decisions in our everyday lives. Our preferences are aggregated in services and devices that help us in our numerous small tasks on a weekly, monthly and yearly basis. Artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), related systems of information exchange and everyday operations on gigabytes of data, move us away from analogue reality and our own resourcefulness. They tempt us with attractive, quick and accessible solutions that “make life easier”. In return, they demand access to a small – only seemingly – amount of data about ourselves. The world does not require us to be attentive and to practice correct spelling and counting, to understand whole structures, it only requires efficient use of technologies that write, calculate, suggest… and finally create. As a result, we are moving away not only from humanism, but also from the everyday practice of reflectivity.

For design, reflection and reflexivity seem to be essential. This raises a question: how will the changing reality affect the work of designers?

This problem could not but become the topic of the next edition of the AGRAFA project.

The event is part of the celebrations of the European City of Science Katowice 2024.

See the video material from last conference — AGRAFA’22 — BEYOND

Programme

Just like previous editions, AGRAFA’24 will consist of several elements: a student competition review concluded with an exhibition of selected and winning works, a conference titled Reflection, and workshops combined with Young AGRAFA: presentations by young designers.

The opening of the review, conference and workshops are scheduled for April 26, 2024. Unlike in previous years, the entire event will take place during one busy day, offering a variety of activities. More details coming soon!

Conference

The following speakers have so far confirmed their participation in the 8th AGRAFA International Design Conference: Aleksandra Hantkiewicz-Lejman (PL) and Paweł Jaworski (PL), Joanna Murzyn (PL), Emmi Salonen (FI) Ruben Pater (NL) and Thomas Wedell (USA).

Registration starts 15th December at 12.00!

The conference participation fee is:

– from 15 December 2023 (12:00 noon) to 25 December 2023 (23:59 p.m.) or until stock lasts: PLN50

– from 27 December 2023 (12:00 noon) to 25 March 2024 (23:59 p.m.) or until stock lasts: PLN150

from 26 March 2024 (12:00 noon) to 26 April 2024 (9:00 a.m.): PLN200

Participants’ entry to the conference is possible after prior online registration:

Registration is open between 15 December 2023 and 26 April 2024 while seats are still available.

The number of participants at the conference is limited. The possibility of participation shall be determined by the order of registration.

Payment can be made by BLIK payment, payment card or electronic transfer through the imoje external payment system, operated by ING Bank Śląski S.A. with its registered office in Katowice. It is possible to receive an invoice, you need to select the appropriate option during registration.

Speakers

Workshops

Agrafa workshops will complement the day’s program with reflection on design. In addition to the obvious things, such as gaining new experience and skills, they will give you an opportunity to:

• have your reflection deepened by a personal meeting with the speakers

• work on a wide spectrum of topics: from material recycling, to subjective ceramics or examining your personal creative ecosystem

• use the capabilities of the laboratories and studios of the AFAD in Katowice (e.g. modelling studio, serigraphy studio)

• meet people with similar interests.

The schedule and profiles of the workshop instructors will be available soon 🙂

Registration for the workshops will take place independently from registration for the conference and participation will be free of charge. More details coming soon!

Young AGRAFA

Would you like to present your idea at Young Agrafa 2024? Submit your application and become one of the speakers. Your speech must meet the 10-minutes time limit and be delivered in English. It is important to support your talk by some kind of visual presentation. 
Young Agrafa, as the younger sister of Agrafa, gives a platform for young designers to present their ideas and thoughts to a wider audience. For this reason, we are accepting applications from those currently studying at design universities or who have defended their degree no earlier than 2022 (BA, MA or PhD).
The event will take place on 26 April 2024 at the Academy of Fine Arts in Katowice, right after the main part of the Agrafa 2024 conference.
Applications will be accepted until 17.03.2024. The list of selected speakers will be announced on 25.03.2024. Selected persons will be contacted via the details provided in the form.


Important: joining is free – you pay nothing to attend as a speaker. We also do not foresee honoraria for speakers, but we recommend asking your student government or other unit related to your home university or workplace for a travel refund.

Review

For over 30 years, AGRAFA has included a comprehensive presentation of the latest accomplishments in the field of graphic design, and student works were judged in several categories. The 2021 edition introduced an important change, opening up to broadly understood design (and not, as before, limiting the competition categories only to the fields of graphic design), including areas such as product, interaction and service design.

What’s new in this upcoming edition? We say goodbye to diploma theses and welcome studio presentations!

The works selected in the pre-selection stage will be presented at an exhibition at the Rondo Sztuki Gallery in Katowice. The winners will be selected by a jury composed of conference guests, and the results will be announced during the exhibition opening that will also be the closing event of the AGRAFA’24 project.

Important dates:

08.01. to 15.02.2024 – we accept applications via the application form:

By 29.02.2024 the Review jury will announce the list of projects nominated for the Exhibition

Due to the large number of applications and the extended deadline for the submission of works, we are forced to change the date for the announcement of the results from 29.02.2024 to 08.03.2024. Thank you for your patience!

26.04.2024 – opening of the Exhibition at the Gallery of the Academy of Fine Arts in Katowice – Rondo Sztuki and announcement of the results

13.05.2024 – closing of the exhibition

Selection jury

European City of Science Katowice 2024 Official Event

Partners

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Media patronage

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Organiser

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