The trade fair incorporates Grada&CongresGràfic to expand synergies between graphic design and printing
Félix Beltrán, Fernando G. Baptista, Martina Paukova and Julius Wiedermann, main speakers at Graphispag
Félix Beltrán, creator of the iconic design of Che Guevara; Fernando G. Baptista, graphic editor of National Geographic and one of the best infographics in the world; Martina Paukova, influential Slovak illustrator who works for global brands and Julius Wiedermann, editor of Taschen are some of the speakers who will participate in Grada&CongresGràfic, one of the highlights of this upcoming Graphispag, which will be held from March 26 to 29 in the Gran Via venue of Fira de Barcelona.
This year, the benchmark trade fair for the Spanish graphic and visual communication industries, Graphispag, allied with Grada&CongrésGràfic, a new event organized by the Col.legi de Disseny Gràfic de Catalunya and Fira de Barcelona, which brings together knowledge about disciplines as graphic design, infographics, illustration, concept art, typography or graffiti, among many others.
The Grada & CongrésGràfic program includes talks, master classes and workshops around the image that explains and helps illustrate stories; to the image reproduced through editing, typography or visual communication; and the dynamic image via calligraphy, skectching or motion graphics. The gaudeamusProjecta Awards for students of graphic design are held in conjunction with the event.
The following names stand out among the speakers; the head of graphic design at National Geographic and one of the world’s best graphic designers, Fernando Baptista, who will talk about the art of telling stories in a visual way. Félix Beltrán is also noteworthy, considered the father of Cuban posters and a benchmark for graphic design in Latin America; the Mexican graphic designer and expert in new technologies, Teresa Camacho; and the influential Slovenian illustrator, Martina Paukova who collaborates with Google, Converse and The New York Times.
Other disciplines that use and reproduce images in their creative processes will also be represented at Grada&CongrésGràfic by experts such as the architect Benedetta Tagliabue; the chief editor of Taschen, Julius Wiedermann; the illustrator and urban sketcher (live urban life artist), Gabriel Campanario; and the multidisciplinary artist, Judas Arrieta.
We will also analyse the state of the design industry with the founder of the communication studio Vasava, Enric Godes, and the Catalan designer based in Amsterdam, Marta Cerdá. The psychological approach to the persuasive power of images will be provided by the neurolinguist Víctor Amat, while the designer Joan Anchon will deliver a workshop on Motion graphics.
There will also be an area for typography and calligraphy with the designers Octavio Pardo and Pablo Mariné; journalism Infographics with the head of this department at La Vanguardia newspaper, Jaime Sierra; scientific illustration with Carles Puche and Blanca Martí; and the decorative arts with the designer specialising in corporate visual identity, Javier González Solas, among other specialities and speakers.
Recognition of emerging talent
Grada&CongrésGràfic will also dedicate a space to the future professionals of the design industry with the exhibition of selected works and the award ceremony of the second edition of the Gaudeamus Projecta Awards, with an overall monetary award of close to 50,000 euros, in which final degree projects in graphic design are presented by students from art education centres and Spanish faculties that offer this degree.
Sobre Graphispag
Graphispag, el Salón Internacional de la Industria Gráfica y la Comunicación Visual es la feria decana y referente de su sector en España. Organizada por Fira de Barcelona y Graphispack Asociación desde 1966 reúne a los principales suministradores de tecnología gráfica, equipos de impresión y acabados, soportes y consumibles para las artes gráficas. En su próxima edición contará con la participación de cerca de 200 expositores directos y casi 380 marcas representadas y pondrá el foco en el diseño, la personalización y la digitalización de la industria gráfica.
Barcelona, marzo de 2019