IED MUSES Talks returns: Design, art and a vision for the future
The second season of IED MUSES Talks: Decoding Inspirational Minds kicks off on November 12, 2025, at IED Barcelona with a talk by artist Quayola.
The Istituto Europeo di Design (IED) once again brings together leading voices in contemporary creativity with a new season of its talk series, IED MUSES Talks. Conceived as a space for inspiration, critical thinking and the exchange of ideas, it functions as an open cultural platform for audiences passionate about design, innovation and the social impact of the creative industries.
This season, the programme grows in ambition and expands geographically, consolidating its presence across three key cities within Spain’s creative ecosystem: Barcelona, Bilbao and Madrid. A dynamic triangle where design intersects with other disciplines to provoke fresh, necessary conversations.
The calendar includes five carefully curated events, offering five unique perspectives that connect generations, contexts and ways of thinking. Together, they provide an illuminating overview of the narratives currently redefining the present — and shaping the future — of design, architecture, art, ethics, technology and social innovation.
Each IED MUSES Talks session is far more than just a talk: it’s an invitation to challenge the status quo, awaken curiosity and recognise, in someone else’s experience, the early signs of what is yet to come. It is a space where ideas flow freely, where differences spark meaningful dialogue, and where creativity becomes a tool to imagine — and shape — more conscious, human and transformative futures.
More voices, more cities, more design
IED MUSES Talks is an intimate journey into the heart of contemporary creative thinking. An invitation to pause, listen and discover how ideas that reshape disciplines, industries and realities are born and nurtured.
The second season — curated by creative consultant Irem Erkin — presents a rich itinerary of inspiration, led by prominent figures who stand out not only for their talent, but for their ability to question the boundaries of art, design, technology and architecture.
Each event opens a window into the internal processes that fuel creation: decisions that shape paths, unexpected turns that define styles, and personal obsessions transformed into languages of their own. These deep conversations uncover contradictions, flashes of intuition and the living material of creative thought.
Listening to those who create from a place of authenticity is a way of reconnecting with the essential: ideas that are born, refined, transformed… and capable of inspiring others.
This season’s line-up includes:
– Quayola (12 November 2025, Barcelona):
Visual artist who merges classical art and technology in immersive installations and robotic sculptures.
– Omar Sosa (25 February 2026, Barcelona):
Designer and co-founder of Apartamento Magazine, known for his narrative-driven, cross-disciplinary approach to design.
– Albert Folch (5 March 2026, Bilbao):
Multidisciplinary creative and founder of Folch Studio, a key figure in visual design and editorial communication in Spain.
– Speaker to be announced (8 April 2026, Madrid):
A new voice will join the programme in the capital to explore design’s social impact and future-facing vision.
– Silvia Brandi (6 May 2026, Barcelona):
Architect and cultural manager with a strong focus on sustainability, new materials and innovation in rural environments.
Through this link you will find all the official information and the full schedule.
Chapter 1: Quayola | Between the Machine and the Landscape
12 November 2025 · 6:30 p.m. · IED Barcelona (talk in English) · Book your ticket here.
Italian artist Quayola, a pioneer in generative digital art, opens the new season by exploring the tension between the artificial and the natural.
His work has been shown at iconic venues such as the Palais de Tokyo, the V&A Museum and Casa Batlló, and is known for its use of robotics, digital sculpture and algorithms to reinterpret artistic tradition.
Chapter 2: Omar Sosa | Narratives that Shape Worlds
25 February 2026 · 6:30 p.m. · IED Barcelona (talk in English) · Book your ticket here.
Designer and art director Omar Sosa is co-founder of the influential Apartamento magazine. His interdisciplinary practice connects editorial design, creative direction, storytelling and contemporary aesthetics.
In this talk, he will reflect on his career, his relationship with everyday life and the cultural dimension of design.
Chapter 3: Albert Folch | Beyond Visual Design
5 March 2026 – 7:00 p.m. – IED Kunsthal Bilbao (talk in Spanish)
Designer, communicator and creative force behind projects like Apartamento Magazine, Folch Studio and Acid House. Albert Folch will share his vision of interdependent design, the power of visual language, and his philosophy of creating soulful brands.
A conversation about the role of design in contemporary culture.
“Five leading creatives share their processes, visions and future possibilities in the second season of IED MUSES Talks.”
Chapter 4: Madrid
8 April 2026 – 6:30 p.m. – IED Madrid (speaker to be confirmed)
The next stop will be Madrid, where a yet-to-be-announced speaker will continue the editorial line of the programme, addressing design through the lenses of social impact, innovation and forward-thinking vision.
Chapter 5: Silvia Brandi | Ethics, Materials and Sustainable Futures
6 May 2026 – 6:30 p.m. – IED Barcelona (talk in English) · Book your ticket here.
Architect and cultural producer Silvia Brandi has worked with IAAC, Mias Architects and now leads FarmLab, a rural platform for sustainable design experimentation.
Her talk will focus on future materials, ethical innovation and how creativity can revitalise environments through sustainability.
A platform for inspiration with transformative power
IED MUSES Talks not only bridges disciplines like art, architecture, editorial design and technology — it also fosters community, opening up dialogue around the major creative and social challenges of our time.
With campuses in 11 cities, including Barcelona, Madrid and Bilbao, and a global network of over 130,000 alumni, IED further cements its role as an international hub of talent and critical thought.
“IED MUSES Talks builds community by opening spaces for dialogue around the major creative and social challenges of our time.”
Why follow IED MUSES Talks?
– Because it brings together brilliant minds shaping new ways of thinking, living and creating.
– Because each talk offers a window into real creative processes — with all their contradictions, challenges and lessons.
– Because it’s not just inspiration: it’s an invitation to take a stand, through design, ethics and innovation.
– And because design today is no longer just about form or function: it’s conversation, vision and cultural action.
Access the full programme and book your tickets here.
(*) Photo credits: Quayola by Gioele Vettraino; Omar Sosa by Andrew Zuckerman; Albert Folch by Dizy Diaz; Silvia Brandi by Silvia Brandi. All images courtesy of IED Barcelona.
