DESIGN
AUSTRIA
25.09–04.10.2026.
designforum Wien
As part of the anniversary programme celebrating 20 years of designforum Wien and 20 years of Vienna Design Week, designaustria presents NEXT GEN DESIGN – Futures Worth Living.
The exhibition is accompanied by talks and lectures, guided tours and studio visits during Austria’s largest design festival. With a focus on the New European Bauhaus and its vision of a sustainable, inclusive and beautiful future, designaustria and NEXT GEN DESIGN highlight the importance of personal exchange, collaboration and shared knowledge in creating meaningful and sustainable projects.
FESTIVAL PROGRAMME
24.09.2026 13:00
Next Gen Design Residency Official Start
As the second stop in a series of five European residencies, ten young designers, winners of the Next Gen Design Open Call 2026, will begin their on-site work. Inspired by Vienna Design Week, a studio visit to EOOS Next, Barbara Gollackner’s keynote, and encounters with leading design figures, participants will explore circularity and creative resourcefulness to guide their design process.
24.09.2026 14:00
EDU TALK with Barbara Gollackner
Barbara Gollackner
Award-winning Austrian designer based in Salzburg, specializing in sustainable design. She will share insights from projects like Wasteware (tableware made from food waste) and Rest in Beauty (objects from material offcuts), exploring how design unlocks value in discarded resources. This talk serves as an inspiration and introduction to the residency theme.
24.09.2026 15:00
EDU TALK with Reanne Leuning
Reanne Leuning
Head of Creative Industries, ADVANTAGE AUSTRIA will share insights on internationalization, supporting creative entrepreneurs, and building global business opportunities for Austrian design and innovation.
24.09.2026 16:00
Hands-on Residency Working Session I at designforum Wien
Participants will brainstorm and reflect upon the residency theme, form groups, and begin their creative process to develop their projects.
24.09.2026 19:00
Vienna Design Week opening party
Kick off Vienna Design Week at the official opening party in the Festivalzentrale! Join designers, creative professionals, and festival visitors for an evening of networking, nd celebration as this years program launches!
25.09.2026 10:00
Studio Visit: EOOS NEXT
Join an open public visit to EOOS NEXT studio and take the opportunity to meet co-founder Lotte Kristoferitsch and explore how industrial, circular, and open design strategies drive social change, sustainability, and transformative technologies for global challenges.
25.09.2026 14:00
Awakening Gastronomy’s Potential: How innovation begins by rethinking what gastronomy can become
Juan Umbert
Beyond products, restaurants and experiences lies an opportunity to rethink how innovation happens within the sector. By combining design, entrepreneurship, technology, science, research and creativity, gastronomy can become a platform for generating new ideas, businesses, methodologies and new ways of creating value.
25.09.2026 15:00
Next Gen Design EXHIBITION Opening
The Next Gen Design Travelling Exhibition makes its next stop at designforum Wien during Vienna Design Week. Selected residency winners will be present to guide attendees through an exclusive exhibition tour.
25.09.2026 16:00
VIENNA DESIGNWEEK Residency visits part I
Residency participants will have a guided tours through various and dynamic VIENNA DESIGN WEEK program.
26.09.2026 10:00
VIENNA DESIGNWEEK Residency visits part II
Residency participants will have a guided tours through various and dynamic VIENNA DESIGN WEEK program.
26.09.2026 14:00
Hands-on Residency Working Session II at designforum Wien
Residency teams will refine, synthesize, and finalize their design projects and prepare final presentations.
27.09.2026 11:00
Residency Projects Final Presentation
Public presentation of the final Residency group projects.
Find out more about designaustria
VISIT designaustria
26.09–05.10.2025.
designforum Wien
As part of Vienna Design Week, designaustria’s programme featured NEXT GEN DESIGN – Futures Worth Living, showcasing 51 international design positions by young professionals under the theme “Empowering Young Designers in Europe to Shape a Sustainable Future.” at designforum Wien. Through exhibitions, talks and network events designforum Wien created an unique space for designers to exchange and co-create.
As an official partner of the New European Bauhaus since 2022, designaustria advocates for circular-oriented design and uses designforum Wien as a space to present, discuss and promote approaches to a more sustainable future.
20-29.09.2024.
Landstraße
Annually, during Vienna Design Week, designaustria showcases and advocates contemporary design as well as the crucial interaction between designers, companies, and the public audience. With talks, advisory and exhibitions, the programme of designforum Wien demonstrates best practise of a strong professional community of designers.
As official partner of the New European Bauhaus since 2022, designaustria strongly puts emphasis on the necessity of circular oriented design for a successful transition to circular economy. Therefore, designaustria makes use of its centrally located headquarters designforum Wien in Vienna to present, discuss, and promote the importance of design to a large audience.
FESTIVAL PROGRAMME
05.11.2024 15:00
Workshop: What do we want? What do we need
Therese Balslev
Strategic Circular Designer at the Danish Design Center: DDC
20.09.2024 16:00
Next Gen Design: Women Creating the Future of Design
Moderation: Sigrid Bürstmayr, Communication designer (Austria)
Speakers: Maja Lalic, Founder and creative director of Mikser Festival Belgrade. Co-founder of Balkan Design Network (Serbia)
Valentina Auer, Interior and graphic designer (Austria)
Barbara Weingartshofer, Information designer(Austria)
20.09.2024 19:00
Female Aspects on Diversity in Europe
Valentina Auer
University of Applied Sciences Salzburg (Austria)
20.09.2024 18:00
Next Generation Design: Barbara Weingartshofer about Women in the Design Profession
Barbara Weingartshofer
Graphic Designer (Austria)
20.09.2024 17:00
Next Generation Design: What Young Europeans Can Do
Maja Lalic
Architect / Founder of Mikser Association and Creative Director of Mikser Festival