The Cyan visual culture festival returns to Split for the fourth time. This is an international festival dedicated to contemporary practices in graphic design, photography, architecture, typography, illustration, animation, and visual communications.
The fourth edition of the festival takes place from 30 September to 3 October 2026. The programme begins on 30 September with a gathering and socialising at the Lui in Morpugova poljana, starting at 2. It continues on 1 October with the opening of the poster exhibition 'Treća smjena' by Mate Žaja at the Kva Gallery at 20:00.
Mate Žaja is a designer based in Split who specialises in branding and the development of visual identities. He is interested in projects related to culture, non-profit organisations, and the underground scene. He works in various media and formats, with print design holding a special place in his practice. He regularly exhibits at domestic and international professional exhibitions and occasionally mentors and assists at design workshops. He is a member of the Croatian Designers' Association and the Redakcija collective.
The main festival programme and lectures will take place at the Croatian House in Split on 2 and 3 October. The lectures on 2 October begin at 18:00, and on 3 October are scheduled from 10:00 to 14:00. Among the speakers are Jonathan Castro Alejos, a graphic designer and multidisciplinary artist from Lima who lives and works in Rotterdam. Since 2023, he has been the artistic director of the Deca Festival in Amsterdam, where he develops its visual identity, and his practice connects graphic design, sound, video, installation, and performance.
The programme also features performances by Allan Dransfield, a photographer, designer, and visual artist from Poland, who creates new narratives through photography, sound, objects, and various media, exploring the relationship between individual and collective experience. The program also features Tea Jurišić/TEA KVAR, a Croatian illustrator and muralist whose work is based on storytelling, surrealism, and humour, with numerous mural and public art projects in Croatia and abroad.
Professor Claudia Pasquero/ecoLogicStudio, an architect and researcher, is one of the leading authors in the field of climate-active architecture and co-founder of the London studio ecoLogicStudio. The studio develops projects at the intersection of architecture, ecology, and biotechnology, including experimental systems that use algae and other living organisms as part of the architectural infrastructure. Rick Banks is a designer from Manchester and the founder of F37 and Anti Average, whose work is particularly related to typography and branding, receiving recognition from D&AD and the Type Directors Club. His work and typographic products have been exhibited and sold in institutions such as the London Design Museum, the Tate Modern, and the MoMA.
David Pearson is a British designer specialising in print-based design, where typography plays a key role. Throughout his career, he has collaborated with names such as Wes Anderson, Ferrari, Hermès, The New York Times, Penguin Books, Rick Rubin, and the V&A. He is a member of the international design organisation Alliance Graphique Internationale and holds the title of Royal Designer for Industry. The studio of Peter, Boštjan, and Aleš Gabrijelčič, based in Ljubljana, has been operating in the fields of architecture, urban planning, and design since 1997. Their approach is characterised by a blend of rationality and poetics, with a strong focus on spatial, historical, technological, and social context. Mark Overden is an author, radio presenter, and consultant specialising in design, cartography, typography, and public transport design, and is the author of more than 20 books.
The festival concludes on 3 October. Following the festival lectures on that day, a concert by the band RØL will take place at the Croatian House, starting at 20:00. The gathering then continues at the Adriatic Social Club from 21:30. The visual identity for this year's festival is by graphic designer Marko Borota, and tickets for the festival programme and concert are available via the Adriatic ticketing system.
The Cyan Visual Culture Festival is organised in collaboration with the Croatian House in Split. The project is co-financed by the City of Split through financial support from the Programmes of Public Needs in the Culture of the City of Split for 2026. Friends of the festival are Adriatic Social Club, Parasol, Lui, Design Hostel, and Kopring. More information about the programme, speakers, and tickets is available on the official website of the festival at www.cyanfestival.com.
