First edition of the ‘8D — Diàlegs en Femení’ cycle

At Elisava we understand design as a tool to think about the present critically and build fairer futures. Therefore, this March 8 is not only a day for claiming, but also a starting point.

On April 8, we start 8D — Diàlegs en Femení, a talk cycle with women that, from design practice, culture, and research, are transforming society.

This initiative is part of Elisava’s 65th anniversary’s programme, a celebration of our path and, mainly, of the voices that carry on promoting new ways of thinking and making design.

8D wants to give women in the world of design a voice throughout the year, not just on March 8. By giving space to these female voices, it creates a space where, in a friendly and relaxed atmosphere, personal and professional experiences related to the proposed topics will be shared. The presentations will cover topics such as Feminism & Design, Motherhood & Work-Life Balance, Communication & Activism, Entrepreneurship, STEM Vocations, Design & Sustainability, Creative Technology & Digital Design (AI and women).

In this new session of 8D – Diàlegs en Femení, we are launching a conversation about motherhood and work-life balance, two realities deeply shaped by the social, labor, and cultural transformations of our time. To speak of work-life balance is to speak of care, of time, of sacrifices, and of privileges, but also of new ways of envisioning work, creativity, and relationships. Drawing on diverse experiences and career paths, this meeting invites reflection on how women sustain, negotiate, and redefine their personal and professional spaces in a context that still poses significant challenges for balancing life and work.

We will be joined by María Fabuel and Ángela Palacios, two professionals active in the fields of creative direction, communication, and the construction of contemporary narratives.

María Fabuel develops her practice from the creative studio Gracias Grecia, where she works on projects that connect strategy, narrative, and creative direction for brands and cultural institutions. With a background in design and experience, her work explores new ways of communicating from a sensitive and critical perspective.

As for Ángela Palacios, she pursues an artistic practice that connects creation, cultural mediation, research, and teaching through a collaborative and collective lens. As a co-founder of the Larre and Fireplace projects, her work explores the relationships between art, critical thinking, and community. Currently, she is part of the Junta de la Plataforma Assembleària d’Artistes de Catalunya (PAAC).

In the second meeting of this cycle, Patricia Luján, from the School of Feminism, and Lyona Ivanova, Illustrator and visual creative, will give a lecture about Communication and Activism with a feminist approach. We will explore how the language, images, and narratives turn into social transformation tools.

Patricia Luján, a publicist and creative director, is a cofounder of the Carlitos y Patricia agency and currently fosters School of Feminism, as well as communication projects with a social approach, such as LaNuestra. She has participated in the development of campaigns for brands such as IKEA or Vueling and balances her professional practice with teaching in creativity and strategy.

Lynona Ivanova is an illustrator, designer, and creative director. Her work includes editorial illustration, animation, and art direction, and she has collaborated with brands, editorials, and cultural projects. She is the author of several illustrated books and has developed her own visual language, recognizable for its narrative sensitivity and aesthetics. She combines her professional practice with professional projects and collaborations within the creative field.

This conversation brings together real experiences about how to communicate with impact, find your own voice, and generate a change from the professional practice, in a local environment connected to global dynamics.

To kick off the series, Ane Guerra, from Agencia Letraherida, and Lucía Vergara, from Après Ski, will give a talk on Feminism and Design. It will feature their impressions on the gender perspective in design, professional experiences from a feminist perspective, design, care and social sustainability, representation and visibility, artistic and cultural practices with a critical eye, among others.

Ane Guerra is a journalist, screenwriter, writer, professor of narrative and creative writing in several master programs at Elisava, and host of the podcast Women at Work by Hey, as well as one of the masterminds behind Agencia Letraherida. Lucía Vergara founded Après Ski in 2009, an accessories and clothing brand based in Barcelona, where she is responsible for design and management, as well as research and art direction. She also designs jewelry and accessory collections and is in charge of the art direction of the campaigns.