Dezeen teamed up with Iceland's largest design fair DesignMarch to livestream a programme of talks by creative leaders exploring the role of design and architecture in effecting change and shaping alternative futures.

To kickstart the festival, a programme of talks took place throughout the day, which was livestreamed from the Henning Larsen Architects-designed Harpa Concert Hall and Conference Centre in Reykjavik, Iceland.

Called DesignTalks, the event was split into three themed sessions moderated by Dezeen's founder and editor-in-chief Marcus Fairs.

The first session explored resilient approaches to design, circular thinking, regeneration and how designers can reconnect with traditional and indigenous craftsmanship.

Amongst the featured speakers was biomimetic and regenerative architect Michael Pawlyn, sustainability pioneer and co-founder of Lendager Group Anders Lendager, and Mexican designer Gabriela Sánchez y Sánchez de la Barquera.

The second session focused on environmental restoration and the notion of rewilding, as well as the design of data, information and digital spaces.

Featured speakers included architectural researcher Stefán Laxness, Pentagram partner and information designer Giorgia Lupi and DOGA managing director Tor Inge Hjemdal, among others.

The third and final session continued the discussion of the digital realm and explored how designers are expanding realities into the digital realm, as well as how speculation on the future can be used as a form of creative and critical reflection.

The talks featured contributions from digital fashion designer and founder of The Fabricant Susanne Vos, Arnhildur Pálmadóttir, founder of architecture practice SAP, as well as speculative architect and filmmaker Liam Young who joined remotely.

The day finished with the official opening ceremony of the DesignMarch festival, which brought together panel discussions as well as individual, group and student design shows.

Now in its 14th year, DesignMarch is Iceland's largest design fair. Curated by Hlin Helga Guðlaugsdóttir, the event covers architecture, fashion, interiors and graphic design.

The five-day fair highlights innovation in Icelandic design and architecture and focuses on themes such as sustainability, the future, regeneration, research and senses.

The full lineup of talks and more information about the festival can be found here. Tickets to the design fair can be purchased via this link.

DesignMarch takes place from 4-8 May 2022 in Reykjavík, Iceland. See Dezeen Events Guide for an up-to-date list of architecture and design events taking place around the world.

Partnership content

This article was written as part of a partnership with DesignMarch. Find out more about our partnership content here.