And just like that, we wrapped up the second edition of the Tbilisi Design Festival, titled ‘In Creative Resistance’. This year our event took a slightly different shape and focused on hands-on sessions and functional workshops, instead of flashy stages and pompous celebrations. The decision was deliberate: our team has always tried to provide local creatives with events that are first and foremost relevant and reflective of the realities around us. And with the Georgian creative community facing unprecedented challenges both locally and globally, TDF 2025 - practical, cosy, and free to attend - was no different. 

The change in the format paid off: various interactive sessions were attended by more than 200 people, and the vacant spots were gone within the first hours of the registration opening. Logo creation, strategy, book cover design, fonts and lettering - we talked about it all. We also couldn’t just leave out the hot topic of AI, the imprint of Soviet legacy on local architecture, and the history of protests, immortalized in photographs. Of course, the networking portion of the event was as crucial as ever - with Georgian and Polish speakers giving our guests plenty of food for thought. 

And, to put a cherry on top of a productive day, just like last year, we announced an amazing new design project, which will be curated by none other than Paula Scher herself. “Designers in Creative Resistance” gives all interested a chance to have their voice heard in the ongoing battle against censorship, authoritarianism, and suppression of the freedom of expression.

With all this said and done, we also tried to give back to the local community by holding an exhibition where the participants could purchase artworks and books made by Georgian artists and designers. 

Yes, this year, giving back was especially important… because we have plenty to be grateful for - for everyone’s participation, interest, feedback and support. But then, of course, we absolutely have to mention those, without whom none of the abovementioned things would be possible:

TBC, UN Women, MINI Georgia, Bakuriani, Karva, Smartsoft, D Block, Tbilisi Photography and Multimedia Museum, Design Institute, Tbilisi School of Communications, Contact, Windfor’s, Windfor’s Workshops, Legacy, Holy Motors, Indigo, Ministry of Culture and National Heritage - Republic of Poland, Polish Graphic Design, Polish Institute in Tbilisi, April, Entrepreneur, Marketer.

All-in-all, we’ll dare to say that the Tbilisi Design Festival 2025 was a raging success.

Now, the team behind the region’s favorite creative gathering will take a little breather, and move on to preparing for our next meeting - on September 11-13, in Batumi, at the International Festival of Creativity Ad Black Sea.