It’s that time of year again when all our focus and energy are dedicated to the Melba Festival. Design is inseparably connected to people and their everyday lives — a belief that has always been our guiding principle. In its eighth edition, the festival continues to explore the intersections between disciplines — where design meets social, technological, and cultural processes, functioning as a mindset and method for change, not merely as an aesthetic solution.
We seek to highlight examples from Bulgaria and abroad that contribute to a more intelligent and sustainable way of life, a harmonious visual environment, and the responsible use of resources. We believe that good design creates meaningful change by educating, facilitating, and inspiring.
Speakers at the Melba International Symposium
We are delighted to introduce the special guests of the Melba International Symposium. Join us on Saturday, November 8, at Toplocentrala, Hall 1, to discover their exceptional work.
Martyna Wędzicka-Obuchowicz (WEDZICKA) – Polish designer with an experimental approach to graphic communication who redefines the boundaries between form and content. Her work addresses topics such as social justice and the role of women in the creative industries, using visual communication as a vehicle for advocacy.
Ineke Hans – Dutch designer with an impressive career and numerous distinctions. She specialises in furniture and product design, focusing on sustainability and strong social context. Among her notable recent works is REX, a chair with a deposit system designed for recycling or reuse.
Julie Richoz – French-Swiss designer based in Paris, creating furniture, lighting, and objects characterised by minimalist elegance, refined sensitivity, and attention to materials. She moves fluidly between artistic, critical approaches and commercial projects, collaborating with design institutions and exhibition platforms.
T.O.T Studio (represented by Lara Badía) – Spanish studio combining art, technology, and strategic thinking to build brands with depth and sustainable presence. Working on visual identities and communication systems, the studio emphasises design as a strategic tool for cultural influence. Among its clients are global names such as Adidas, Sony, and Google.
Richard van der Laken (What Design Can Do) – A leading figure in the international design scene. As co-founder and creative director of What Design Can Do, he works toward a fair, sustainable, and inclusive society through the power of design. WDCD develops initiatives and challenges that give designers worldwide a platform to propose solutions to pressing systemic issues — from climate change to social inequality.
Mario Lombardo – One of Germany’s most prominent contemporary art directors and graphic designers. His practice spans magazines, visual identities, print design, and typography, marked by a refined sense of cultural context. In parallel, in 2016 he founded Atl. Oblique in Berlin — a luxury perfume house dedicated to the invisible language of scents and the art that accompanies it.
Jordan Ralph – Irish architect, interior and product designer, known for his futuristic minimalism. His practice experiments with materials, spatial installations, and conceptual ideas that transform the visual environment into an experience. As part of the festival, he also presents a special installation at Depoo Gallery.
Exhibitions and Events
“The Pepper Roaster – Open-ended Stories”
Port.A Gallery, 5 Triaditsa St.
November 6–16 | Opening: November 6, 19:00
An exhibition that revisits Bulgarian domestic culture through the iconic “chushkopek” (pepper roaster), reimagined by contemporary artists Albena Todorova, Alina Papazova, Denitsa Boyadjieva, Zahari Radev, Ilian Iliev, Mila Mineva, Mila Yaneva-Tabakova, and Studio TASH.
“Moment – The City of Different Perspectives” – Diploma Project by Vicheslava Tashkova
UniCredit Studio, 7 Sveta Nedelya Sq.
November 11–16 | Opening: November 11, 18:00
An interactive book exploring visual perception and storytelling, inspired by personal experience and human sensitivity.
“As Far as the Light Goes”
Octopus Gallery, Largo Underpass
November 5–16 | Opening: November 5, 18:30
A result of the artistic residency of writer Violeta Zlatareva (Bulgaria) and designer Arianna Casarin (Italy) – a visual and verbal dialogue between light and shadow, fear and courage.
Creative Workshop with Mario Lombardo – “Torn Harmony: The Echo Between Pages”
RCAC Toplocentrala, Hall 4
November 7, 11:00–16:00
A workshop dedicated to collage as a dialogue between chance and intention, open to designers, artists, and students.
Program “Design Initiatives in the City”
“Theory of Secular Temples” – Exhibition by Jordan Ralph
Depoo Gallery, 12 Vrabcha St.
November 6–16 | Opening: November 7, 19:00
An exploration of the idea of the shrine beyond religion – as a personal space for contemplation and for finding the sacred in the everyday.
“Karol Śliwka – The Legend of Polish Design”
Polish Institute, 12 Veslets St.
November 12–30 | Opening: November 12, 17:30
An exhibition of 20 emblematic posters by the Polish designer Karol Śliwka – a master of logos and symbols as a universal language of art.
Discussion: “Creative Balkans: Contemporary Furniture Design”
DOM, 1 Angel Kanchev St.
November 10, 18:00
A conversation on the identity and potential of Balkan furniture design with the participation of the MD platform and Bismar publishing.
“&NOWEAST”
Entrance of Metro Station “St. Patriarch Evtimiy”
November 6–16
A selection of contemporary posters that rethink the visual language of Eastern Europe and affirm the poster as a living medium for dialogue and collective memory.
Design at L44
L44, 44 Neofit Rilski St., Sofia
Mon–Sun, 10:00–22:00
Opening of the exhibition Fight For Kindness: November 13, Thursday, 18:30
An international initiative by Italian studio Zetafonts (Melba 2023 lecturers) marking World Kindness Day 2025 with 760 posters by 600 authors from 75 countries, united by positive messages in 34 scripts.
Drink & Draw: November 14, Friday, 18:30 – an informal evening of drawing and inspiration at L44 Café.
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This program is funded under the project “Capital of Culture – The Pulse of Sofia”, financed by the European Union through the National Recovery and Resilience Plan, procedure BG-RRP-11.021, Grant Scheme “New Generation of Local Cultural Policies for Large Municipalities.”
This publication was created with the financial support of the European Union – NextGenerationEU. The project has received funding from the European Union through the NextGenerationEU instrument. The entire responsibility for the content lies with the authors, and under no circumstances can it be considered to reflect the official opinion of the European Union or the Monitoring and Reporting Structure.