DESINA Festival

In Naples, graphic design is also a way to interpret the city: signs, posters, typefaces, images, and symbols are part of the everyday landscape and reveal how a community communicates and represents itself. It is in this context that DESINA was launched in 2022—the first festival in Central and Southern Italy dedicated to graphic design and visual cultures—with the goal of creating a space for meeting, exchange, and growth for those working or training in the field of visual communication.

The festival explores various forms of design—from typography to illustration, from branding to motion design, from publishing to video mapping—and connects them to art, culture, and society. Conferences, exhibitions, workshops, and events bring Italian and international designers and creatives to Naples, while also showcasing local talent, creating opportunities for exchange among professionals, students, cultural institutions, and the public.

DESINA is, however, also a project deeply rooted in the local community. Its activities take place in various locations throughout the city—from FOQUS in the Quartieri Spagnoli to the Morra Greco Foundation, from the Made in Cloister Foundation to the Academy of Fine Arts—transforming Naples into a vast map of contemporary visual culture. Through this dialogue between the local and international spheres, the festival builds a community founded on sharing, listening, inclusivity, and a sense of belonging, making design not merely a creative discipline but a tool for questioning and transforming the way we view the world.