The Designforum Steiermark, a cornerstone of design presentations and networking in Graz, UNESCO City of Design, for the past 14 years, is set to close due to budget cuts by the City of Graz. With approximately 120 exhibitions, events, and workshops and over 330,000 visitors, it has been an indispensable hub for the creative community, regional designers, and international collaborations.
Established in 2010 as part of the Designforum Austria initiative, the Designforum Steiermark, a sub-brand of Creative Industries Styria, quickly evolved into a central platform for dialogue, education, and showcasing design in Styria. Working closely with design forums in Vienna, Vorarlberg, and Tyrol, it became a key venue for connecting the design community in Graz.
As a physical space and thematic stage for design in Graz, designated a UNESCO City of Design in 2011, the Designforum Steiermark highlighted design and innovation, offering substantial value to the creative community, businesses, and the general public. It served as an exhibition space for designers, companies, and partners to present products, prototypes, and creative developments to a design-savvy audience.
Additionally, it played a vital role in linking the design sector with academia in Austria’s second-largest city. The forum collaborated closely with institutions such as the Information Design and Industrial Design programs at FH JOANNEUM, the Faculty of Architecture at TU Graz, and the Ortweinschule Graz.
On a national and international level, the Designforum Steiermark acted as a bridge between the Styrian design scene and the global UNESCO Creative Cities network. Collaborations with institutions such as the School of Visual Arts in New York, the Istanbul Design Bureau, and the Dutch Design Week in Eindhoven underscored its far-reaching influence. With over 330,000 visitors and 120 exhibitions, events, and workshops, the forum was a driving force for the design economy and helped raise awareness of design’s societal and economic relevance.
Despite its success, this story comes to an end in 2025. Due to budget cuts by the City of Graz, the Designforum Steiermark will close its doors after 14 years of operation. This loss leaves a significant gap in Styria’s creative landscape, raising questions about the future visibility and support of design in Graz.
Creative Industries Styria expresses its heartfelt gratitude to all designers, partners, and visitors who have supported the Designforum Steiermark over the years, as we reflect positively on Designforum Steiermark’s achievements: the forum successfully highlighted design as a shaping force for all aspects of life and has left a lasting impact on the Styrian creative scene.
View a chronology of all exhibitions and events as well as a photo gallery on the German version of this page.
