From May 9 to June 1, 2025, the city of Graz once again transforms into a vibrant hub of creativity. This year’s Designmonat Graz explores the theme “The New Real”, inviting designers and visitors alike to question and redefine the boundaries between reality and virtuality.
Theme Focus: The New Real
In a world where artificial intelligence and digital technologies are reshaping our perception of reality, this year’s Designmonat poses essential questions:
What is authentic in the age of AI? How do we define human creativity when machines generate content?
Designers are challenged to reflect on the ethical and philosophical dimensions of this new hybrid world—where the physical and digital coexist, often indistinguishably.
Festival Headquarters: Hornig Areal
The Hornig Areal (Waagner-Biro-Straße 39) serves as the festival’s beating heart. This central venue hosts a series of exhibitions, workshops, and talks that bring “The New Real” to life.
📍 Open daily from 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM
📍 Free admission
Grand Opening – May 9, 2025
The festival kicks off on Friday, May 9 at 6:30 PM at the Hornig Areal. Guests will get a first look at the main exhibitions and enjoy an inspiring evening of design, dialogue, and digital immersion.
Program Highlights
- The New Real – Exhibition
A multimedia experience that questions the role of design in a world of blurred realities. What does “real” even mean when algorithms shape perception? - Stitching the Centuries
Ten designers reinterpret medieval embroidery patterns, bridging historical craftsmanship with contemporary design thinking. - Rebel Prints
The artist duo Poster Rex explores political propaganda through experimental printing—reminding us that design is never neutral. - Design plus
Five design teams examine how exhibitions can become inclusive spaces for participation, conversation, and innovation. - Oracles of Possible Futures
A forward-looking installation that imagines alternative futures—technological, ecological, and social—through a design lens.
Workshops & Citywide Experiences
- Tools for Transformation – Workshop
A hands-on session exploring how artificial intelligence influences creativity and how analog design practices can still thrive. - Design in the City
Shops and creative businesses across Graz become pop-up stages for design interventions, making creativity tangible in everyday life.
A Festival for the New Era of Design
Designmonat Graz 2025 provides a platform to reflect on the shifting landscapes of design, technology, and identity. With exhibitions, workshops, and events throughout the city, the festival invites us to rethink what’s real—and what’s next.
For the full program and more info:
👉 www.designmonat.at
👉 www.cis.at/event/designmonat-graz-2025/