Birmingham Design Festival 2026 Highlights

A summary of my experiences when attending this edition of the Birmingham Design Festival, under the theme of "Change" at multiple locations in Digbeth, Birmingham City University and at Millennium Point. This was my fifth attendance of the festival with the most expansive projects covering different design elements from a variety of different perspectives.

Day one

Myungeun Kim

The first day of experience started with projects from Motion graphics design Myungeun Kim. Originally from Seoul, South Korea her passion transitioned from her story from South Korea and when moving to the UK. She shared live footage and her project development works. She also shows additional projects outside her daytime work.

Travelling & discovery was an important factor to improve her confidence.
Her approach was not attached to one style, her mindset in projects was curiosity, new challenge. She keeps asking questions is her approach with choices & solving problems to the destination of completing a project.

Myungeun emphasises that she does not want to be too reliant on Artificial intelligence.


Alison Richings

Alison, addresses the importance of way findings related to information design & signage. She mentioned individual aims in projects can create obstacles.
Due to the heavy rain it affected everyone to hear what Alison was trying to mention. However the examples of work brings the importance of high standards. I did have an opportunity of a one to one question on how it is important to join up thinking should not use politics to interfere. Alison agreed, I explained how I was involved with awareness suggestions to improve joined up integrated & connected Way findings to the passenger information team locally.
Find out more on my developments

Kim West

Kim showed examples of Vibrant light displays at a large scale.
This includes the projects in Manchester, Bradford & worldwide.
One of her open space projects had toured at 16 locations at 4 continents worldwide.

David Johnson

During this year's Birmingham Design Festival I have experienced two guest speakers who focused the philosophy centred round historical process from the beginning of civilisation through to today. David Johnson is one of two guests with this approach. David focused on signalism based on his publication under the same title. This is related to understanding the world in a wider sense to explore through 40, 000 years with the emphasis that everything we do is signalism.

Shared the same Art & Design Education background with David

One of David's education was located at Hereford College of the Arts, the same college which I have previously studied Art & Design at Further Education level.

Late Night

Also on day one of the event I watch presentations from guest speakers including, Barrington Reeves (Too Gallus), Nicholas Hulley & Nadja Losdgott (AMV BBDO) and in his first ever visit to the UK Aneesh Bhoohathy (Forge Design) from USA

(Day 2)

Dr William Bradlow (University Hospital Birmingham) & Laura Smith (unboxed)

I began my experience on day two with a personal and an important matter. Dr William Bradlow (University Hospital Birmingham) & Laura Smith (unboxed) addressing how design is an important factor in changing healthcare.

I had an opportunity to ask directly the question based on the campaign which Paula McGowan has developed over the years over how healthcare needs to be supportive and accommodating for people with autism and towards other disabilities. My question to the guests and ask how design could change how patients are treated. I have to elaborate on the clarification when it comes to treating patients with dignity and respecting their human rights.

The guest fully sympathised with the question I shared and admitted that more improvements are needed on how patients are treated especially with specific disabilities and difficulties.

Elmer Stefan (The Pyte Foundary)

Elmer admitted that some of his work is between eccentric and genetic. He addresses that typography is a homage to social endeavour and questions the notion of the correct in what is big or a feature.
This includes structure planning and a carbonation of accidental eccentricity in his publication.


Grahame McGowan

Graham brings an important part of representation for the event as a neurodivergent he admits to the audience that he lives with ADHD and the autistic spectrum.

Generally Grahame hates change and he mentioned change is done to us than with us.
He addresses the issue of artificial intelligence (AI) and mentioned AI is here wherever we like it or not, we need to embrace more change. Also he questions everyone on if we be in fear related to change or we frame it & and emphasises that there is magic in creativity.
In summary we all need to take control of the narrative of change.




Sachnini Imbukfeniya & Darren Smith

The second guests in this year's Birmingham design Festival where they look back in history to address an overall point. Examples of historical context are about different examples of human achievements which inspire the mindset and ethics in design and creative developments forward.

However they emphasise the reality that AI is disrupting everyone. The smarter and hunger people will move forward not what they call fat cats.
A serious question is what's the point of view if it can't replace the human imagination. They address different examples of what AI can't do including how they can't define the problem for solving or excel in combined unexpected things. In comparison how humans could tell stories as opposed to AI in just content creation.

They addressed a warning that we need to be careful of not losing imaginative creativity.

Both partners career on journalistic backgrounds and shared that weird makes a difference which makes stand out and clients really want to understand the audience.

They conclude that we must outwit artificial intelligence and not compete with the technology.


Illustrators social
I attended the special social gathering as part of the permanent design Festival. This was developed in conjunction with panic which is supported by the association of illustrators.

(Day 3)

Matt Caldwell & Alice Frazer

I started with the 3rd and final day with a presentation from Matt Caldwell & Alice Frazer has presented the work for World Snooker Tournament with implementation of branding presentation and motion growth a cohesive look. This involves a lot of studying and understanding of the sport in detail.


Yakai Du

Yakai shared her design and motion graphics story from China to the UK. Her inspiration from childhood was drawing. Her pursuit includes going through national art examination, the route to art & design education in China. Yakai massive changing decision was to move to the UK. See initially worked for a Design studio in London but after she was laid off and after the pandemic she got recognised by Design studio in Brighton. Currently she now has more freedom with her projects. She concludes, Just like water creative can change and adapt


Karen Hughes & Khadija Kapacee

The emphasis of Change means to edit what it means to brands in an ever-changing world. This includes stripping things back, cutting things down and doing things that matters first.

Making some sort of change in why brands come to go whether it's a minor change or a transformation.

The emphasise that the audience in arts and culture are getting older and they are the first target when it comes to budget or funding cuts.

The team thinks ahead about the future when developing project for brand and how they're organisation can last regardless of any changes society goes through. Their clients include The Lowry, The CBSO, National Portrait Gallery, and a lot more.

They conclude advice we want to think about the organisation when working on projects for today and in the future.

Matt Baxter & Dom Bailey

The team wanted to bring a lighter and humorous side of design and how messy the process can happen behind the scenes.
This includes how this approval and disaster can occur, the team also presented voices from other designers how design work can go tragically wrong. This is presented through their mini feature "The Design Laundry"

Conclusion

In this year's festival it brings voices from a different perspective from design and the creative process. Just like previous years the event makes designers and creative think when developing projects and developing solutions and ideas to clients. The event is a powerful force on the combination of projects development philosophy and insight to think consider and to think forward.

Previous editions
You can view & read article of my previous article on previous editions of the Birmingham Design Festival.

This article is linked with Active

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Keith Mckenzie
Keith is an awareness campaigner, a creative designer (Graphic design and digital art) and a salsa dancing participant
With a background in Art & Design (including Graphic Design & Digital art) and a participant in music-related film documentaries, events & record label project King Of the Beats including filming and behind the scene preparations.
Keith was educated at Hereford College of the Arts, the University of Northampton, Birmingham City University and Google's Digital Garage. Since 2000 , he has developed over twenty years in providing awareness projects, campaigns and activities with the Awareness brand Plus Value Awareness along with Differences Originals. Also am involved with salsa classes in the local community
as an assistant. I also have participated in major dancing conventions in Birmingham including Motion City (created by Birmingham Latinmotion and London's ManboCity) during the summer and Latinmotion's NYE Fest during the New Year public holiday.
In 2022. Keith became a featured community participant for Birmingham who became part of special projects and campaigns to promote a positive legacy beyond hosting the Commonwealth Games