How does creativity work in the current and rapidly changing times? Where to draw the line between reality and fiction? Or how does digital overstimulation affect the creative process? These are some of the queries the Forward Festival is willing to ask – and reply – this year. The renowned German conference for the local and international creative industries announces its start today in a sixth edition that focuses on the virtualisation and post-digitisation of creativity, with talks by the likes of designer Stefan Sagmeister, renowned photographer Martin Parr and digital artist Ines Alpha, available from today until the end of the end of the month.
With a hybrid concept that mixes an on-site program with livestream talks and workshops from some of the top creatives in the industry, the event intends to serve as a platform for creative people and to promote inspiration as well as exchange. But this is not their first try as a hybrid event, with a successful premiere in October 2020, the program is entering the next digitalised round and makes itself more accessible to audiences across borders. The festival starts with its digital version, Forward Online Festival, which takes place today and tomorrow, and will be available to rewatch until the end of the month.
Even though the world is slowly entering a new normality, 2021 is a year profoundly influenced by the lockdowns. This is a certainty that has not been overlooked by the festival, which emphasises that we are learning how to deal with a new dominant online focus, a case that especially applies to creatives. Combining forums, workshops, exhibitions, talks and side-events, the Forward Festival includes all disciplines of creativity and covers a range of topics that go from graphic design, typography, marketing and branding to VR/AR, artificial intelligence or architecture to photography and film. Subjects that currently – and inevitably – concern creatives and their environment.
Even though the world is slowly entering a new normality, 2021 is a year profoundly influenced by the lockdowns. This is a certainty that has not been overlooked by the festival, which emphasises that we are learning how to deal with a new dominant online focus, a case that especially applies to creatives. Combining forums, workshops, exhibitions, talks and side-events, the Forward Festival includes all disciplines of creativity and covers a range of topics that go from graphic design, typography, marketing and branding to VR/AR, artificial intelligence or architecture to photography and film. Subjects that currently – and inevitably – concern creatives and their environment.
Emily Cohen
Esra Gülmen
Ines Alpha - Photo: Maxon
Martin Parr