BEDA - The Bureau of European Design Associations

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BEDA - The Bureau of European Design Associations

BEDA’s vision is for design to be embraced in Europe as a driver of sustainable growth and prosperity.

BEDA’s 53 members include design promotion organisations and professional and trade associations from 27 countries of Europe. Through its lobbying and advocacy at the European level, BEDA seeks to enlarge the opportunity for design to be a positive contributor to a successful Europe, supporting design as a strategy for social and economic development and the sustainable evolution of society. It do

es this through promoting and enabling next generation design policy for Europe. Established in 1969 as a not-for-profit organisation and based in Brussels, BEDA is led by an elected President, Vice President and Board of Directors. Through its members’ members, BEDA represents to the European Commission and the institutions of Europe, some 800,000 designers in every discipline of work from industrial design and interiors to digital design and branding. Through its design promotion members, it taps into the national and regional agendas for design across Europe.

17/04/2026

🌟 Beyond Thoughtless Design: Putting accessibility at the heart of design.

Join us at the BEDA Design Forum in Munich on 8 May 2026!

We’re excited to welcome Rihards Funts , a designer, curator, and educator who explores how design can open doors—to culture, education, and everyday life—for everyone.

🎤 As founder of the International  and a MADres G42 Expert on Accessibility, Rihards has worked across design, art, craft, and social responsibility for years. Since losing his sight in 2020, he has redefined his design practice—bringing a powerful, lived perspective to our Forum.

💡 Don’t miss him at our Accessibility Panel, where he’ll share how design can move beyond assumptions to create environments and experiences that are truly empowering, and accessible to all.

🎟 The event is free to attend – register via link in bio
🗓 8 May 2026 | 9:30–18:00
📍 Bavarian Ministry of Economic Affairs, Regional Development and Energy; Prinzregentenstraße 28, 80538 Munich

✨ The provisional programme is now available. Find it via the link in our bio.

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Supported by • • .bayern

MADres: Co-funded by the European Union • Powered by BEDA • Supported by Creative Europe
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24/02/2026

BEDA welcomes the European Commission’s initiative to revise EU public procurement rules. Public procurement is a huge part of Europe’s GDP – a powerful lever to drive innovation, sustainability, and competitiveness across the Single Market.

⚠️ The challenge:
Even though EU law aims to award the ‘most economically advantageous tender’ (MEAT), decisions still often favour the lowest price. This sidelines quality, long-term value, and innovation. Procedures are rigid, fragmented across Member States, and design’s strategic role is still under-recognised.

💡 BEDA’s recommendations:
1) Reward human-centred, high-quality design
2) Level the playing field for European design
3️) Strengthen IP protections to boost innovation
4️) Enable flexible, iterative, innovation-friendly processes
5️) Integrate design into procurement for usability, sustainability & aesthetics
6️) Support public authorities with guidance & collaboration

🤝 The statement reflects input from , showing the power of collaboration. By putting quality and innovation at the core, Europe can deliver better public services, stronger industry resilience, and citizen centred outcomes.

🔗 Access the full statement via the link in our Bio.

BEDA CreativeEurope

16/02/2026

🌱 What does it take to design for a planet in transition?

The final three Glorious 42 experts in Eco & Planetary Design bring decades of experience in sustainability, systems thinking, and public innovation. From biodesign to participatory democracy, they’re shaping regenerative futures by connecting people, policy, and the environment.

🌍 Meet the experts:
🔹 François Jégou — A pioneer in sustainable design and public innovation. Founder of Strategic Design Scenarios (Brussels), François has led major EU research on food, energy, and democracy, and advised cities across Europe. Co-founder of the , he champions design as a driver of Europe’s green, digital, and democratic transitions.
🔹 Dr. Liat Rogel — Service designer and founder of .lab , Liat brings a human-centred approach to urban sustainability. With a PhD from , she supports cities through .eu and the European Urban Initiative, co-designing inclusive housing and teaching sustainable urbanism at .
🔹 Dr. Melissa Sterry — Scientist, designer, and futurist. With a PhD in ecomimetic design for wildfire resilience, Melissa is a global leader in biodesign and ecological systems thinking. A member of the expert network and Chartered Scientist, she advises organisations on climate adaptation and nature-inspired innovation.

🔗 Discover all the G42 experts: https://madres.beda.org/en/glorious-42

Co-funded by the European Union | Powered by BEDA | Supported by Creative Europe

11/02/2026

🤖 In a world shaped by algorithms, who’s making sure innovation stays human?

The Glorious 42 experts in AI & Ethics are asking bold questions about power, responsibility, and the real-world impact of emerging tech. From civic innovation to climate AI, they’re designing systems that serve people — not the other way around.

🌍 Meet two experts:
🔹 Stephanie Hankey — Co-Founder of , where she leads the Climate and AI Initiative. An award-winning creative and Fellow, she’s spent 20+ years designing public engagement projects shown in 90+ countries — always championing digital literacy, ethics, and critical thinking.
🔹 — Strategic designer and CEO of .govtech , an accelerator for public sector innovation. With 15+ years of experience, he’s worked with 100+ organisations and 300+ startups, pioneering civic hackathons and helping governments design more ethical, people-centred services.

🔗 Discover all the G42 experts via the link in our bio.

Co-funded by the European Union | Powered by BEDA | Supported by Creative Europe

09/02/2026

♿️ What if accessibility was where innovation begins — not where it ends?

The Glorious 42 experts are expanding what inclusive design means: from reimagining creative practice without sight, to reshaping public policy, to transforming how we communicate vital information.

🌍 Meet two experts shaping the future of accessible design:

🔹 — Designer, curator, educator, and founder of the International Design Summer School MAD. Since losing his sight in 2020, Rihards has redefined his practice around environmental accessibility and inclusive education. Through projects like DESIGness* and collaborations with the Art Academy of Latvia ( ), Milan, and , he explores how design can empower people with disabilities and reshape public imagination.
🔹 Dr. Teri Okoro — Architect, author, and inclusion consultant. As founder of , Teri leads work at the intersection of accessibility, inclusive design, and equity. A former Mayor of London Design Advocate, currently Expert, and NRAC Access Consultant, she brings lived experience and systemic insight to projects across housing, infrastructure, and public space — always centering dignity, independence, and belonging.

🔗 Discover all the G42 experts via the link in our bio.

Co-funded by the European Union | Powered by BEDA | Supported by Creative Europe

04/02/2026

🌿 Climate crisis, biodiversity loss, resource depletion — the challenges are planetary, and so must be our response.

The Glorious 42 experts in Eco & Planetary Design are reimagining systems, shifting narratives, and creating regenerative solutions that connect people, culture, and the environment.

🌍 Meet three of them:

🔹 Dr. Laura Santamaria — Research Lead at the and founder of . Laura works at the intersection of communication, public imagination, and socioecological change. Her frameworks — Con[text] and Design for Empowerment — help shift cultural narratives and unlock regenerative futures rooted in collective agency.
🔹 Juan L. Roquette — Full Professor at the University of Navarra. An architect and educator, Juan bridges sustainability, scenography, digital fabrication, and the creative arts. His work explores how spatial design can foster wellbeing, cultural transformation, and environmental responsibility.
🔹 Clare Brass — Co-founder and CPO of Moree, and former Head of Sustainability at the . Clare is a pioneer in circular economy and sustainable innovation — from founding the SEED Foundation to leading SustainRCA at the . Her current focus: eliminating single-use plastics through reusable packaging systems.

🔗 Discover all the G42 experts via the link in our bio.

Co-funded by the European Union | Powered by BEDA | Supported by Creative Europe

02/02/2026

💼 Design drives value — not just in products, but in how organisations shape strategy, plan for change, and build resilient systems. In business case development, it becomes a tool for aligning innovation with real-world impact.

🌍 Meet four of experts shaping this pillar:

🔹 — Founder of Architempo and Professor at Lyfe Institute Lyon. Alok works at the intersection of design, innovation, and narrative. With a background in engineering, management, and film, he helps organisations craft strategic roadmaps that connect technology, culture, and storytelling. He’s also active with lobally and founded PechaKucha Night Brussels.
🔹 Prof. Dr. Andrea Augsten — Professor of Management & Design at . Andrea bridges design research and organisational transformation — developing participatory, systemic approaches to innovation across industry, policy, and education. Her work spans foresight, digital transformation, and sustainable change, grounded in both academic and industry experience.
🔹 Enrico Priora — Consultant and Adjunct Professor at . Enrico helps organisations redesign services using emerging tech and design thinking. His work ranges from AI-driven public services to inclusive urban systems — always focused on blending human and artificial intelligence for real-world impact.
🔹 — , Matosinhos, and COO of AIDDEA. With 30+ years of experience across sectors like healthcare, transport, and electronics, Jeremy explores how design, technology, and society intersect — leading collaborative projects that improve products, services, and systems for a more sustainable future.

🔗 Discover all the G42 experts via the link in our bio.

Co-funded by the European Union | Powered by BEDA | Supported by Creative Europe

30/01/2026

📢 Deadline Extended | National Policy Labs

Following feedback from our community, the submission deadline for the National Policy Labs call has been extended to 3 March 2026.

✨ What’s it about?
BEDA members can apply to host one of four National Policy Labs. The Labs will test and further develop the Living Design Policy Framework (LDPF) in close collaboration with public authorities.

🤝 Need more time?
Many of you asked for extra time to connect with national governments, build partnerships and shape strong proposals. We’ve listened — this extension gives BEDA members the space to do just that.

🔗 All details & resources via the link in bio
(or visit: madres.beda.org)

🗓 New deadline: 3 March 2026

Let’s shape the future of national and European design policy — together.

Co-funded by the European Union | Powered by BEDA | Supported by Creative Europe

28/01/2026

🧠 From posthumanist design theory to creative AI ethics, these experts are rethinking our digital future: Who is AI for? What values shape it? And how can systems serve people — not just platforms?

The Glorious 42 are shaping the future of AI & Digital Ethics — making sure emerging technologies are built with responsibility and inclusion at their core.

🌍 Meet three of them — more to come:

🔹 Prof. Dr. Sven Quadflieg — Professor at Hamm-Lippstadt University of Applied Sciences and board member of the German Society for Design Theory and Research. Sven explores how design, theory, and posthumanist thinking can guide more reflective approaches to emerging tech.
🔹 Alessandro Confetti — Data & AI Solution Lead at and adjunct professor at . With a background in philosophy and 20+ years in tech and healthcare, Alessandro explores the intersection of AI, design, and ethics — helping organisations modernise systems and rethink data for public good.
🔹 Nicola Osborne — Manager at the Institute for Design Informatics, . Nicola leads on EDI and partnerships for the Designing Responsible NLP CDT and contributes to , , ekip, and EIT Culture & Creativity — championing ethical, inclusive AI in the creative industries and beyond.

🔗 Discover all the G42 via the link in our bio.

Co-funded by the European Union | Powered by BEDA | Supported by Creative Europe

27/01/2026

Brussels is an important location where many European‑level decisions are made—often in ways that are not immediately visible. This is exactly why the BEDA Board spent two days last week meeting with representatives from the Joint Research Centre Policy Labs, Creative Europe and DG EMPL of the European Commission and also .

As our Board spans 11 European countries, meeting in person is essential for building trust, strengthening collaboration, and ensuring the strategic alignment needed to speak with one voice at the European level. These gatherings allow us to deepen our shared purpose and accelerate the momentum behind our mission.

🙏 A huge thank you to our board members and team for their ongoing work advocating for the integration of design into future programmes and for advancing our value proposition—positioning design as a driver of sustainable growth in Europe.
Christina Melander , Mark Illi, Piotr Swiatek , Prof. Regina Hanke, Bart Ahsmann , Furkan Demirci, François Caspar , Dita Danosa, , Tom Watts, Marika Aakesson , Lars Eriksson, Fleur Fisher and Ēvija Kraukle.

💙 And a big thank you as well to our member , , and for hosting the board at their premises.

Adres

C/o Wallonie-Bruxelles Design Mode (WBDM) Place Sainctelette 2
Brussels
1080

Website

http://www.beda.org/

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