With their working lives spent looking at computer screens and drawing on tablets, it’s no wonder designers don’t usually get to meet fellow creatives in person. Forward Festival, held last Thursday and Friday (22 & 23.09.2022) at Kino International, offered a rare chance to come together. We headed to the ornate cinema to pay a visit to the sold-out event, which saw digital drawers and camera clickers from all over gather to chat design, creativity, and communication. There was no shortage of ideas as a line-up of 30 speakers showed off their portfolios and revealed insider knowledge in talks hosted by graphic designer Eike König. The line-up amounted to a who’s who of influential, on-trend creatives: color-blending 3D artist Vincent Schwenk, Type legends Grilli Type and deliciously sarcastic illustrator Mr Bingo and many more were in attendance.
Over at the workshop area, designers were honing their professional skills and getting portfolios critiqued at sessions on type design and – our personal favorite – collage making.The partner for the festival was the Senate Department for Economics, Energy and Public Enterprises, with the responsible State Secretary Michael Biel taking to the stage. Berlin creatives were well represented too: typographer Charlotte Rohde and artist Ju Schnee took part, as did collective _thek, who printed shirts in support of creatives and small business owners. After all this input, we left the retro venue inspired and eager to sketch, shoot and illustrate to our heart’s content.
Text: Benji Haughton / Photos: Al Browne, Daniel Horn / Credit: Yorck Kinogruppe & Eike König
Forward Festival
@forwardfestivals