How can design as an interdisciplinary tool address social, economic and political challenges? To answer this question, the ‘Together by Design’ programme will offer a varied line-up of exciting lectures, panel discussions and interactive workshops.

The event kicks off on 23 April with the evening event of the same name, ‘Together by Design’. After a keynote speech by Nicola Stattmann, founder of OMC°C, a panel discussion will take place with Uwe Becker, State Secretary at the Hessian Ministry of Finance, Ruth Reichstein, European Commission, Carolina Romahn, CEO of World Design Capital 2026, Maria Möller, founder of talking hands flipbooks.
Afterwards, a get-together will give all participants the opportunity to network. The evening programme has been conceived by the German Design Council and will be hosted by its CEO, Lutz Dietzold.

On the second day of the event, attendees can participate in workshops, another panel discussion and a joint lunch, choosing from the following tracks “Beyond the Niche: The Potential of Universal Design”, “The Blueprint for Change: Design Policies”, “Design for All: Shaping Diversity and Inclusion”, “The Art of Politics: Creativity as a political tool”. Participants include designer Lola Behrens, Franziska Warnke of HA Hessen Agentur and Piotr Swiatek of BEDA and the New European Bauhaus. The day will be hosted by World Design Capital 2026.

‘Together by Design’ in Brussels is a cooperation between the ‘Hessischer Staatspreis für Universelles Design’ (Hessian State Prize for Universal Design), the Minister for Federal and European Affairs, International Relations and Bureaucracy Reduction, the German Design Council and the World Design Capital Frankfurt RheinMain 2026. The event is aimed at designers and representatives of European design universities, funding programmes and associations, as well as decision-makers from the creative and political sectors. The aim is to inform, actively participate and make new contacts. Attendance is free of charge.