Social Design Days - Urban Culture 8-10 October
კურსის შესახებ
The fifth edition of Social Design Days will be dedicated to Urban Culture and the influence of design and architecture on social environments, trends and subcultures.
The conference will explore how urban and suburban movements shape social life, transform cities and communities, and influence architecture, design, music and the built environment. It will trace the evolution of urban culture through historical movements, iconic symbols, local stories and contemporary creative expressions. Guests from different countries, disciplines and communities will share their ideas through lectures, discussions, workshops, exhibitions, city tours and multimedia experiences.
The full agenda will be published soon.
Additional speakers, participants and sessions will be announced periodically.
Our valued partners: Polish Graphic Design, Polish Institute Tbilisi, Czech Centre Tbilisi, Czech Embassy Tbilisi, TBC Bank, McDonald's Georgia, IED - Istituto Europeo di Design, Tegeta Green Planet, Georgian Sun, Red Bull, Kona Books, Wasteless.
This event is organized in cooperation with the Czech Centre Tbilisi. It is part of the CYCLE UP! project and is co-funded by the European Union under the Creative Europe programme.
Media Partners: Marketer.ge and BMG - Business Media Georgia.
The conference will be held in English.
Full ticket price - 50 Gel
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Conference Schedule
Day I - 08.10.2026 | Highlight: Social Gatherings and Placemaking
11:30-12:00 Participant Registration, Coffee and Fresh Bar
12:00-15:00 Workshop: "Preposterous History of Architecture" - Aleksandra Kędziorek, art historian and researcher. The session is supported by Polish Graphic Design.
15:00-16:00 Book Presentation: "How to Win Elections in Georgia" - Elene Shengelia, artist and photographer, Basa Metreveli, Photographer, Independent Creative Director & Giorgi Avaliani, Co-founder & Creative Director, Holy Motors & Holy Books
16:00-16:30 Official Opening Ceremony of the Fifth Edition of Social Design Days
16:30-17:00 Ubani: Tbilisi and Typography - David Brodsky, artist and architect; Dante Marcantognini, photographer and creative practitioner, Yury Ostromentsky, type and graphic designer and art director and Manana Arabuli, artist and book designer
17:00-18:00 Fabrika Case Study by MUA Architecture & Placemaking - Devi Kituashvili, architect and founding partner of MUA
18:00-19:00 "Together Alone" - Lado Lomitashvili, architect and multidisciplinary artist; Laslo Strong, graphic designer and Mari Lebanidze, visual practitioner working across design, creative direction and publishing
18:00-19:00 Keynote: "City, Sound and Rebellion: The Triad of Raw Sound, Brutalist Architecture and Urban Resistance" - Karl Stocker, social designer and architect
19:00-20:00 Mtkvarze: Between Being and Becoming - Ketevan Gabunia, founder of Mtkvarze and Lasha Kabanashvili, Multimedia Artist, Marketing Director at Mtkvarze
19:00-20:00 POSTRED Keynote: "Shaping Sound: Post-Soviet Echoes, Global Stories" - Zviad Mgebry, composer and creative partner at POSTRED
20:00-21:00 Wine Bar and Cocktail Reception hosted by Georgian Sun and GD Alco
Day II - 09.10.2026 | Highlight: Dark Soviet Heritage and Cultural Centres
11:30-12:00 Participant Registration, Coffee and Fresh Bar
12:00-15:00 Urban Sketchers Workshop & Walking Tour - Nita Gogritchiani, Graphic Designer, Mari Pantsulaia,graphic designer and visual artist, Lali Pertenava, an art critic, curator, and researcher and Naili Vakhania, Graphic Designer & Visual Artist
12:00-15:00 Czech Inspirations: CYCLE UP! Urban safari & design workshop - Osamu Okamura, architect and urbanist, in cooperation with the Czech Centre Tbilisi. It is part of the CYCLE UP! project and is co-funded by the European Union under the Creative Europe programme.
14:00-15:00 Post Functional Emptiness by Industrial Heritage Research Group, Natalia Nebieridze, architect and interdisciplinary artist, Tata Gachechiladze, architect working at the intersection of architecture, heritage & Salome Tabatadze, cultural heritage restoration and memory studies
15:00-16:00 Book Presentation: Georgian Photographer Niko Kalandadze - Ana Barjadze, documentary filmmaker, and Mariam Topchishvili, activist and founder of the Gori Photographers Club
16:00-17:00 "Rustavi's Post-Soviet Urban Transformation: A City in Search of a New Identity" - Tea Kamushadze, anthropologist and researcher
16:00-17:00 Indigo: "History of Becoming" - Nino Lomadze, founder and editor of Indigo and Tamar Babuadze, journalist, researcher, writer and editor-in-chief of Indigo
17:00-18:00 "Challenges in Preserving Disused Soviet-Era Houses of Culture in Georgia" - Gvantsa (Taso) Potskhishvili and Nutsa Papiashvili, wall painting conservation specialists
17:00-18:00 Keynote: "Curating Heritage" - Aleksandra Kędziorek, art historian and researcher. The session is supported by Polish Graphic Design.
18:00-19:00 Gori Art House: A Dynamic Cultural Space and Contemporary Art Gallery - Ana Barjadze, documentary filmmaker, and Mariam Topchishvili, activist and founder of the Gori Photographers Club
18:00-19:00 Brand Approach to Architecture in Georgia - Elene Baratashvili, head of marketing
19:00-20:00 "Russian Worlding: War, the Poisoned Gift and the Dark Reconstruction Complex in Ukraine’s Temporarily Occupied Territories" - Michał Murawski, anthropologist of architecture and cities. The session is supported by Polish Graphic Design.
19:00-20:00 "Monumental-Decorative Mosaics: Soviet-Era Cultural Heritage in Contemporary Georgia" - Ekaterine (Kato) Bakhtadze, artist and researcher
20:00-21:00 Wine Bar and Cocktail Reception hosted by Georgian Sun and GD Alco
Day III - 10.10.2026 | Highlight: History Captured
11:30-12:00 Coffee and Fresh Bar
12:00-15:00 Photobook Workshop - Otar Karalashvili, book artist, illustrator, designer and curator
12:00-15:00 Workshop - Michał Murawski. The session is supported by Polish Graphic Design.
14:00-15:00 Diagonals, Curves and Activism: Acts of Professional Disobedience - Francesca Perani architect, visual designer and educator. Supported by IED - Istituto Europeo di Design
15:00-16:00 Fragments: Photo as a Source - Discussion and Exhibition Presentation by Gabriel Chubinidze, moderated by Otar Karalashvili
16:00-17:00 Sharing Tbilisi’s architecture Archives Lecture and Display - by TAA, Mariam Gegidze, architect and cultural scientist, Natia Abasashvili, architect and Nino Tchatchkhiani, architect & researcher
Permanent Displays, Exhibitions and Reading Spaces
The following curated displays, exhibitions and reading spaces will be accessible to attendees throughout the three-day conference:
Fragments: Photo as a Source - Display
Ubani: City and Typography - Display
Indigo Reading Room
TAA - Sharing Tbilisi’s Architecture Archives
The programme is currently being finalised and will be updated periodically.