Discussions about design will kick off the rich event cycle of the Art Academy of Latvia (AAL) for the 2023/2024 academic year. The event program will be launched on May 21 with an introductory event in the form of discussions hosted by the AAL Design Department, followed by the AAL Fashion Show, the annual Design Days exhibition, and concluding with the exhibition of all specialty graduates. Throughout the exhibition period, there will be several lectures, workshops, presentations by international and local guest lecturers, as well as the premiere of last year's AAL Fashion Show film "Scream".

For students, the AAL Fashion Show and "Design Days" exhibition are the culmination of intense long-term work. Therefore, this year, the AAL Design Department invites you to peek into the creative process of students, revealing the synthesis of various design areas and highlighting the importance of interdisciplinary approaches. AAL's new designers invite you to get involved and delve into the creative processes – self-discovery and the ability to immerse oneself in the dimensions of others' worlds, thoughts, feelings, and experiences. For students, this requires emotional openness and a willingness to express personal stories to create an authentic and meaningful design experience.

"Behind success stories often lie significant mistakes, unsuccessful situations, and challenging problems that need to be accepted and overcome. The intimacy of creative work begins with context and understanding, seeking answers and relying on key visionary design principles – empathy, collaboration, and openness," emphasizes Matiss Zvaigzne, head of the AAL Design Department.

The event cycle will be launched on May 21 with an introductory event hosted by the AAL Design Department, which will address important issues for the design industry in a special discussion format, emphasizing the role of design in various industries, the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration, and students' future career opportunities.

On May 30, the traditional AAL Fashion Show will take place in the VEF Quarter, showcasing the work of this year's best Fashion Design specialty students, with a total of 18 collections presented. This year, the collections of the new fashion designers will be dominated by childhood memories and nostalgic personal stories, issues of equality, and creatively sustainable design solutions. Tickets for the event available for purchase here.

The AAL Fashion Show is one of the largest and most significant fashion and design platforms in Latvia, promoting the development of the fashion industry and taking place for the thirty-first time.

From June 6 to July 14, the annual Design Department exhibition "Design Days" will take place at AAL, Kalpaka Boulevard 13, 1st floor hall, showcasing the best student work.

From June 14 to July 14, at both AAL buildings – Kalpaka Boulevard 13 and Kronvalda Boulevard 4, at the AAL Experimental Art Space PILOT, and elsewhere in the city center, the exhibition of all specialty graduates will be open to the public.

Design Days have been held since 2007. They are organized by the Design Department of the Art Academy of Latvia, which has five specialties: Graphic, Product, Interior, Metal, and Fashion Design, with 208 students studying in bachelor's and master's programs in this department. This year, students from the international master's programs Service Design Strategies and Innovations – SDSI will also participate in the exhibition, implemented by AAL.

The events of Design Days and Fashion Shows are supported by the State Culture Capital Fund.