Grab your diary, cancel any plans, and book the dog sitter because you won’t want to miss this. Yes, the Cheltenham Design Festival is back on 1 – 3 November, and we couldn’t be more excited!

With a stellar programme of speakers, events and workshops, Cheltenham’s popular festival dedicated to design and creativity is set to be the best yet. 

Together with world-renowned design and innovation experts we’ll be raising important questions around the role of a designer in today’s world and the role design plays to improve society, business and our lives now and in the future.

Just like another great festival we know (#glasto), we’ve taken a fallow year (ok, three in this case) but we sure haven’t let the grass grow. 

The Cheltenham Design Festival is a charity event run by the Cheltenham Design Foundation – a small team dedicated to promoting the benefits of design and creativity to people from all backgrounds. Since the last festival in 2016, we’ve been busy putting all our energy into the main work of the foundation and supporting and inspiring young people through the Cheltenham Design Academy which is going brilliantly (more about that here).

Bringing back the Cheltenham Design Festival is something we’ve been wanting to do for a long time and, just recently, put a new team at the helm keen to replicate and build on the success of previous years. 

We think it’s been worth the wait. Our first speakers have just been confirmed and what a lineup we’ve got for you…

Hear from Mike Buzzard, Design Manager at Google and how he changed Google into a more design orientated company. 

Festival favourite Gavin Strange, Designer & Director at Aardman Animations will deliver a fast, fun talk on what being a designer really means in his trademark        creative style. 

We’ve also got Camilla Buchanan, Senior Policy Designer at Policy Lab discussing how she uses design to form better, more effective government policies.

World renowned typeface designer Steve Matteson of monotype will talk about how he brings together classic techniques and new technologies to design better operating systems.

Kassia St Clair, journalist and author of The Secret Lives of Colour will discuss her lifelong obsession with colours and the fascinating relationship we humans have with them.

But that’s not all. Stay tuned over the coming months when we’ll be announcing more speakers, workshops and events – there’s guaranteed to be something to inspire and engage all ages and interests. 

It all takes place at the fantastic Parabola Arts Centre in Cheltenham over the weekend of 1 – 3 November, 2019. Find the full programme here.

Can’t wait? Secure your seat now – we’ve released a limited number of early bird tickets on sale now but be quick as they’re only available at the special price until the end of July – buy tickets here.

All proceeds from ticket sales go toward the work of the Cheltenham Design Foundation, helping us to continue the great work we’re doing.

We hope to see you there!