Creative inspiration today is increasingly no longer limited to lecture halls or screens. This is especially true for design students, for whom theory and technical skills alone are no longer enough. Their creativity depends on hearing real stories from the industry, discovering different directions, and seeing up close how true visionaries think — the people shaping today’s visual culture. That is why more and more people just beginning their creative journey are looking not only for a study programme, but also for a space where an ongoing dialogue with the creative world takes place.

The most renowned design professionals

Exhibitions, creative workshops, collaborative projects, and international opportunities all strongly enrich the study experience and help shape an inspiring environment for a young creator — someone who is just beginning to search for their creative path and is not afraid to experiment.

This is exactly the kind of space Vilnius Design College created during the 2025–2026 season, welcoming some of the brightest stars of the international creative scene. From graphic designers and fashion creators to technology researchers, cultural critics, and visual communication innovators, these prominent names invited students to open lectures, discussions, and meetings that revealed diverse professional experiences and a broader perspective on design.

For the creators who visited VDK, design is a way to speak about society, people, and the future. This is especially visible in the work of Timothy Goodman. Often called a voice of the New York design scene, the creator who visited VDK is known for bold typography, hand-drawn visuals, and socially sensitive projects. Having worked with Apple, Google, Nike, Airbnb, and other world-famous brands, the designer spoke to students about creative authenticity, personal style, and the courage to create outside the rules.

Equally unique is Marcos Rodrigues — creative director and designer at the iconic New York studio Porto Rocha, working at the intersection of brand strategy, visual communication, and cultural projects. His lecture focused strongly on the emotional connection created through design and with audiences today. For him, it is especially important how visual language affects our everyday lives.

Dave Sedgwick, meanwhile, is a well-known name to fans of experimental graphics, music culture, and alternative visual aesthetics. Based in the United Kingdom, the designer stands out for his bold visual solutions and his work with cultural and music projects. He spoke to VDK students about creative freedom and the role of intuition in the creative process.

This is also the perspective of Verónica Fuerte. She is the founder of the Barcelona-based studio Hey, known for its colourful, minimalist, and easily recognisable aesthetic. Her work is published in design magazines around the world, and in her lecture she shared thoughts on visual consistency, creative discipline, and how to create a visual identity that is not subject to short-lived trends.

Another prominent personality who visited VDK was Richard Malone. He is one of the most distinctive names in contemporary fashion, known for his sustainability ideas and conceptual approach to fashion — a field in which he shines particularly brightly on the London scene. The creator spoke to students about responsible creativity and the relationship between a person and a garment, as well as the role of fashion in a broader cultural context.

Designer, artist, and creator of futuristic projects Nelly Ben Hayoun-Stépanian combines science, technology, and human emotion in her work. She has collaborated with NASA, MIT, and other global institutions, and during her meeting with students she presented the power of imagination, speculative design, and creativity for the world of the future.

Two more striking figures who visited VDK in 2025–2026 were Oobah Butler and Vladan Joler. The former — a journalist, documentary creator, and provocateur of internet culture — became famous for experiments analysing the impact of social networks, media, and digital reputation on society. His lecture became a discussion with students about critical thinking, communication, and the manipulation of contemporary content.

The latter is a well-known researcher, artist, and academic whose work examines the relationship between technology, data, and power. His visual investigations are exhibited in international exhibitions and biennials, and he introduced the VDK community to topics related to artificial intelligence, digital ethics, and the invisible impact of technology on humans.

VDK was also visited by some of Europe’s most prominent typographers — Frederik Berlaen and Peter Verheul — who invited Vilnius residents to open sessions and encouraged them to explore the distinctive world of typefaces and analyse it from various perspectives.

The impression will be no less powerful

It is clear that ordinary lectures are only one part of everyday life at VDK. The multicultural industry experiences and renowned names that complement the studies here help shape personalities who are open to contemporary trends, a modern outlook, and diverse forms of creativity.

And it seems that the upcoming 2026–2027 season at VDK will be no less impressive. New international names are already being announced — people who will bring different perspectives on design, technology, fashion, and visual culture to Vilnius.

Among them is technology anthropologist Amber Case, who explores the relationship between humans and technology and the influence of digital everyday life on our behaviour. Also joining is Astrid Stavro, one of the most prominent contemporary visual communication creators, whose work stands out for its subtle aesthetics and conceptual depth.

British designer Sarah Boris will also come to VDK, known for experimental typography and the intersections between art and design. The direction of sustainable fashion will be presented by Marina Spadafora — a designer and activist who has spent many years speaking about a more ethical future for the fashion industry.

Among the expected guests are also Anna Higgs, a film and creative industries producer working with innovative media projects, and James Bridle, a writer, artist, and technology critic. His work examines the relationship between artificial intelligence, the internet, and humans in the contemporary world.

These are only some of the names that will join Vilnius Design College’s open lecture programme next season. But one thing is already clear: studying here today is becoming not only a professional choice. VDK invites people to stay close to the ideas and individuals shaping today’s creative world.

As a reminder, although the open lectures are primarily intended for VDK students, all Vilnius residents and design and technology companies are invited to attend them free of charge.

See you in the 2026–2027 season.