By Simone Dresens / 23-05-2008

This weekend sees the start of the first Graphic design festival Breda (GDFB). Simone Dresens from the festival organisation lets us know what to expect.

For six weeks the unsuspecting public will be confronted with graphic design. The programme will include exhibitions, open-air projections and installations, publications, workshops, a seminar, a student day and the opening of the Graphic Design Museum.

Challenges
The festival shows a broad public how diverse graphic design is. How the resources available to the graphic designer such as the flyer and the poster are used to bring a message to the world. This message is often initiated by a client: large multinationals, businesses or governments. GDFB has challenged designers from the all over the world to proclaim their own message in several projects which will be seen in Breda.

Public space
As of 19 May 2008, 67 bus shelters will be filled with unique posters by local, national and international designers. At night every poster will be illuminated with the slash (/) from the festival logo. This slanted line stands for connection. GDFB is the binding factor between designers, institutions and businesses.

Projections
As of 23 May from 22.00 every Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday night 10 projections on buildings can be seen, all within walking distance of one another. Projector Spectre shows that graphic design doesn’t have to be static. Ctrl+ shows that doesn’t need a flat area to function. At three locations there will be 3-D installations.

Schoolkids
In the project Kijk mijn wijk! (Look at my neighbourhood!) 1800 primary school students get to know graphic design by devising signs for their favourite spot in the city. As inspiration they will first be given a guided tour around the new Graphic Design Museum. For this project GDFB are still in search of guides. Are you graphic designer and would like to help at the workshops on 16, 17, 23 and/or 24 June? Sign up via www.graphicdesignfestival.nl

Seminar
You can also register for the seminar Characters: Personality and Design. Always wanted to know how the individuality of a designer influences their designs? This is your chance to find ou

Stefan Sagmeister, Ji Lee, Dietwee, Harmen Liemburg, Mieke Gerritzen, Studio Dumbar, I love dust, Dennis Koot, Staynice, Smidswater, Pixelgarten, Niessen en de Vries, Anthon Beeke and many, many more have contributed to the GDFB. We hope with this first edition of the festival to give a wide public insight into the profession and that designers are challenged to look at the borders between commissioned work and personal preferences.

Come and discover how well things are going in Breda, May 23 – June 29 2008.

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