Forward Festival: Connecting creatives since 2015
The Forward Festivals are a series of international events created in 2015 by Othmar Handl, founder and curator, held annually in various cities across Europe, such as Hamburg, Amsterdam, Berlin, and Vienna.
At different times of the year, they bring together top creatives in various fields such as design, art, technology, or photography, among others, to share their knowledge and experiences, allowing us to be inspired.
If you’ve ever attended, you’ll also know that the festival offers a comprehensive experience covering everything from keynotes to exhibitions, workshops, interactive formats, parties, gastronomy, happenings, as well as numerous networking opportunities, as its aim is to serve as a platform to inspire, connect, and promote creativity and innovation in various disciplines.
Its edition in Hamburg recently took place, and the upcoming events will be held in Amsterdam and Berlin.
“The integration of cutting-edge technology in the realm of creativity will be a highlight at all Forward Festivals.”
Amsterdam: May 23/24
The Dutch gathering will take place at the Internationaal Theater in Amsterdam. This multi-day event will showcase the latest trends and ideas in creativity and design through a diverse selection of over 30 international speakers.
Among the participating speakers, notable names include Erik Kessels, Eva Creemers, Dada Projects, Baugasm, Builders Club, Studio Feixen, Aurelia Durand, Anna Ginsburg, Base Design, Sander Plug, The Rodina, and Jim Stoten.
Furthermore, the role of artificial intelligence for the creative industry and especially for designers will be a key theme in the various talks of the festival. In fact, iconic creatives like Fura Johannesdottir, the Global Creative Director of HUGE, will delve into the realm of creative strategy, navigating the collaborative landscape between humans and AI.
Additionally, the team from Bus.group, an agency based in Berlin, will explore contemporary visual content with a distinctive approach through the integration of AI. Simultaneously, The Rodina will showcase their distinctive practices that activate our imagination through the combination of physical and digital approaches.
More information about the program is available at this link.
Berlin: August 29/30
Forward Festival Berlin will take place across three stages at the HKW (Haus der Kulturen der Welt). The lineup is impressive, with over 40 prominent international creatives from fields such as digital art, motion design, graphic design, typography, and photography, among others.
Across three stages, speakers will seek to inspire attendees by sharing insights into their creative process and discussing hot topics in the industry such as artificial intelligence in art and creation, as well as other future trends and the importance of maintaining a practical approach.
Notable speakers include Stefan Sagmeister, Max Siedentopf, Nicole McLaughlin, Future Deluxe, Ariel Lu, Viktor Hammarberg, Yoko Shimizu, Grif Studio, Kelly Anna, Mélanie Courtinat, Johanna Jaskowska, Gavin Strange, Olf, Pitch Studio, Reed Words, and Hugo Hoppmann.
In this edition, similar to Amsterdam, the role of artificial intelligence for the creative industry and especially for designers will be a fundamental theme in the various talks. Renowned creatives such as Ariel Lu, a Taiwanese CGI artist based in Berlin, will focus on the power of vulnerability in her work created using Houdini as the main tool.
Additionally, graphic designer Shane Griffin, founder of GRIF Studio, will speak about sculpting design through innovation in various creative areas such as graphic and interior design. Likewise, the London-based creative studio Future Deluxe will delve into the work of their creative studio, where they combine design, technology, and motion imagery to create aspirational visual experiences.
“Last year’s festival was great, and we are looking forward to returning to Berlin’s HKW.” Othmar Handl
In this case, due to the extraordinary modernist architecture of the HKW, new forms of gathering will be offered, and experiential spaces between art and discourse will be opened. Therefore, once again, the Forward Festival Berlin will fill the halls with its diverse mix of creative content and many parallel events.
More information about the program is available at this link.
In summary, what makes this festival, of which we are Media Partners, so interesting is that, as we mentioned earlier, it’s above all an experience. Here, not only do we get inspired and learn from the greatest creatives and design masters, but all the conditions are set for us to unleash our creativity.
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PS: To get around the city we recommend the Berlin Welcome Card, which is the one we use.
(*) Photographic material provided by Forward Festival.
