Gentler Futures Festival: Independent Design as a Counterpoint to Brand Spectacle
The Gentler Futures Festival, held on June 5-6, 2026, took place in Lisbon, Portugal, across venues such as Mouraria Creative Hub, JAM Lisbon, and Bio Lab Lisboa. This not-for-profit event, organized by By the End of May, centered on design that prioritizes society, life, and the planet. Featuring 49 participants, the festival showcased a variety of exhibitions, installations, performances, talks, and workshops. Highlighted projects included Interspecies Internet, Phyta Biodesign, Grounds of Care x Studio Method, and Pousio. The festival challenges the conventional design focus on brand spectacle and luxury, resonating with independent design events like Vienna Design Week and EDIT Napoli. Its mission promotes gentler futures amidst a rapidly changing world. The article was authored by Anna Lazzaron.
Key facts
- Gentler Futures Festival third edition took place June 5-6, 2026 in Lisbon, Portugal.
- Venues: Mouraria Creative Hub, JAM Lisbon, and Bio Lab Lisboa.
- Organized by By the End of May, a Lisbon-based research and design studio.
- Festival is a not-for-profit initiative focusing on society-centred, life-centred, and planet-centred design.
- 2026 line-up included 49 participants across exhibitions, installations, performances, talks, and workshops.
- Featured projects: Interspecies Internet, Phyta Biodesign, Grounds of Care x Studio Method, Pousio.
- Part of a broader trend of independent design festivals in Europe, including Vienna Design Week, EDIT Napoli, and Stockholm Creative Edition.
- Festival aims to counter mainstream design industry's brand spectacle and greenwashing.
Entities
Artists
- Anna Lazzaron
- Domitilla Dardi
- Emilia Petruccelli
Institutions
- By the End of May
- Mouraria Creative Hub
- JAM Lisbon
- Bio Lab Lisboa
- Vienna Design Week
- EDIT Napoli
- Stockholm Creative Edition
- Grounds of Care
- Studio Method
- Pousio
- Interspecies Internet
- Phyta Biodesign
Locations
- Lisbon
- Portugal
- Milan
- Barcelona
- Vienna
- Naples
- Stockholm
- Alentejo