The sixth edition of INTERDESIGN, an international platform dedicated to interdisciplinary design and innovation, organized by Faculty of Arts and Design within West University of Timisoara (UVT), will take place between May 5 and May 20, 2026, in the Timișoara Garrison Command building (Liberty Square no. 5).
The event bears the imprint of an institution historically marked by the avant-garde spirit of the Sigma group. This experimental stage defined the resilience and creativity of the institution founded in 1933. Today, Sigma's legacy is reflected in the vision of the biennial, which transforms the rigor of artistic pedagogy into digital experiment and social impact.
Established as an essential space for reflection and dialogue, this year's edition, entitled "Beyond Boundaries", challenges participants to explore beyond conventional boundaries. "INTERDESIGN is a multidisciplinary event: through the open call, we created the framework for a collective project, inviting designers, artists and researchers to contribute to the transformation and interpretation of space."", specifies the dean of the faculty, Diana Andreescu.
From over 170 works coming from 31 countries, the selection process was managed by an international jury of seven renowned experts, who brought complementary perspectives from academia and practice: Kye-soo Myung (Professor Emeritus, Konkuk University, South Korea), Inga Mațcan-Lîsenco (Scientific Researcher and Teacher, Technical University of Moldova), Iosif Mihailo (Professor, West University of Timișoara), Rikke Hansen (Graphic Designer, Denmark), Mohamed Zakaria Soltan (Associate Professor, October 6 University, Egypt), Hajime Tsushima (Associate Professor, Osaka University of the Arts) and Wesam Haddad (Professor, New Jersey City University, USA). They evaluated the projects in terms of excellence, innovation and interdisciplinary dialogue.
The theme of the edition explores design integrating technology, science and culture to create experiences with lasting impact. In a context where design is often consumed only as an image, the biennial proposes to reduce the distance between idea and implementation. Design is approached as a practical, evolutionary and negotiated act, reconfirming the faculty's mission to remain an experimental force, constantly aligned with European cultural changes.
In this context, curators Corina Nani and Veronica Toma emphasize the importance of direct involvement in the creative process, transforming the Garnizoana building into a living laboratory of practice and experiment, with visible and useful interventions for the community. The location in the Timișoara Garnizoana, a space with a huge potential for social reintegration, transforms the activation of this historic building into an exercise in understanding design as a continuous process of shaping the built environment and the quality of life.
The event organically connects to the creative community through three strategic directions: INTERDESIGN Biennial, as the central exhibition core, Design Lab, which reveals the process behind the academic specializations of the Department of Design and Applied Arts and Circuit Design, an urban route that invites you to discover a curated selection of creative studios, shops and workshops throughout the city.
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The Jury of the INTERDESIGN 2026 Biennale
The jury of the INTERDESIGN 2026 International Biennale brings together world-renowned design professionals, recognized for their significant contributions to the field. Coming from diverse cultural and academic backgrounds, the jury members offer complementary perspectives on design, at the intersection of practice, theory and research. Through their professional expertise and academic leadership, they ensure a rigorous evaluation process, emphasizing excellence, innovation and interdisciplinary dialogue.
Director of the INTERDESIGN 2026 Biennial – Prof. Dr. Diana Andreescu
Curators: conf. univ. dr. Corina Nani, university lecturer, dr. Veronica Toma
