RM2026 sofia

28.02.2026 Regional Meeting

The International Council of Design (ICoD) is delighted to announce its first-ever Regional Meeting in Balkan Europe, in collaboration with the European Design Festival. The theme, Confessions of a Designer: Design, Decisions and Impact, invites participants to candidly discuss the realities of decision-making in design.

Decision-making is rarely unbiased and constantly changes as our knowledge, values, and accountability evolve. Today, our perceptions of the ‘right’ design choices are influenced by human sensitivity, AI, and institutions. In this meeting, we will explore how we set the criteria, who gets to decide, and what makes them decide. It will also explore how awareness or blind spots affect public life and tangible benefits.

Participants are encouraged to reflect on their design approaches, acknowledging the vulnerabilities and agency inherent in design as a decision-making practice. Through shared confessions, comparative mapping, and dialogue, we will identify patterns, ethical questions, and insights into how design decisions shape institutions, technologies, and collective futures in Balkan Europe and beyond.

Regional Meetings offer platforms for ICoD Members and other stakeholders to discuss shared regional challenges. By connecting these perspectives with international experiences through insights shared and compared across different contexts, they foster dialogue, exchange and a common cause within ICoD’s global design network.

THEME: Confessions of a Designer
Design, decisions, and impact

DATE: 11 June 2026
Held as part of the European Design Festival

VENUE: Soho, Sofia, Bulgaria

Photo credit: Ivan Shishiev / Visit Sofia

PROGRAMME OVERVIEW

MORNING: Framing and decoding design decisions

Welcome & context

Our meeting theme is ‘Confessions of a Designer: Design, Decisions and Impact”. The opening remarks will set the scene and introduce the purpose of the ICoD Regional Meeting. We will explore how decisions are formed, informed, and transformed in design practice throughout the day, specifically against the backdrop of current geopolitical, economic and technological disruptions, including artificial intelligence (AI) as experienced in Balkan Europe.

Keynotes

Three compact keynote reflections will unpack the current phenomena of decision‑making in design – the how, who, and what choices – and how disruptions in knowledge and technology, values, and accountability are evolving to address contemporary uncertainties. Each speaker will address their experiences by ‘confessing’ their biases and how they navigate responsible decision-making according to three topical disruptions: geopolitical, economic, and technological (AI).

Collective Mapping I:  Regional Decision Landscapes (Balkan Europe)

Two months before the event, participants will complete a survey to identify situations and case studies where design decisions are influenced by regional cultural phenomena, institutional frameworks, and societal expectations. By mapping the survey responses, we hope to discover criteria for decision legitimacy and identify tensions or blind spots across Balkan European contexts. The session facilitators will briefly present the survey findings before engaging open interactive discussion with all participants. 

AFTERNOON: Global perspectives and decision practices

Collective Mapping II:  Global practices and emerging intelligence

Building on survey results from the Collective Mapping Session I, we will discuss the development of decision-making in diverse global contexts. We will explore the relationship between human intuition and culturally tailored machine learning. ICoD facilitators will present brief perspectives from other parts of the world followed by participant interaction to compare how AI systems data and design ethics influence decision-making awareness of impact and accountability.

Plenary:  Reflections on decision awareness & growth

This facilitated synthesis gathering will draw insights from both Collective Mapping sessions. Participants will share their thoughts on inclusive and transparent design decision-making and conclude with reflections on enhancing decision literacy.

Closing Remarks

The ICoD President will provide a closing summary highlighting shared learnings and outlining the next steps for embedding decision-making awareness into design practice, education, and leadership.

Photo credit: Ivan Shishiev / Visit Sofia

ACCOMMODATION IN SOFIA

Sofia offers a wide range of accommodation options, from premium hotels to more budget-friendly choices, all within easy reach of the event venues. For the European Design Awards 2026, we have selected a number of partner hotels offering preferential rates for participants, conveniently located either within walking distance of the main venues (Soho & Toplocentrala) or with direct and easy transport access.

Participants are encouraged to book their stay for the period 10–15 June 2026, depending on their travel plans. All reservations are made individually, using the booking code: EDA26

GRAND HOTEL MILLENNIUM SOFIA
A premium hotel offering high-end accommodation within walking distance of the event venues. 89B Vitosha Blvd. (5–7 minutes walking distance to NDK). www.ghms.bg

Rates (BB): Exclusive Room: €160 (single) / €185 (double), Premium Room: €175 / €200, Premium Plus Room: €195 / €220. Availability: subject to availability

Booking: Book directly via the following link (code EDA26 applies):
http://bookings.ihotelier.com/bookings.jsp?groupID=5210236&hotelID=110569

Rate validity: until 26 April 2026

ROSSLYN CENTRAL PARK HOTEL SOFIA
Located directly on Vitosha Boulevard, this hotel offers immediate proximity to the main event venues and the vibrant city centre. 106 Vitosha Blvd. (150 m from NDK).https://centralparkhotel.bg/ 

Rates (BB): Single & Double rooms: 12% dynamic discount off Best Available Rate (BAR)
(Rates vary depending on availability and booking period)

Approximate availability: 40–50 rooms

Booking:
Book directly via the following link using code EDA26:
https://centralparkhotel.book-onlinenow.net/index.aspx?Page=1

Rate validity: until 8 June 2026

HOTEL SVETA SOFIA
A centrally located hotel offering good value accommodation, with direct public transport connections to the event area. 18 Pirotska Street (approx. 1.8 km from NDK) https://hotelsvetasofia.com/

Rates (BB): Single: €64, Double: €74, Approximate availability: 25 rooms

Booking:
Reservations can be made via email using code EDA26 in the subject.
Contact: marketing@hotelsvetasofia.com

Rate validity: until 25 May 2026

HOW TO GET THERE
Sofia is easily accessible via Sofia International Airport (SOF), located approximately 20–30 minutes from the city centre.

By taxi: The most convenient option. Licensed taxis are available outside the arrivals area (approx. €10–15 to the city centre).
By metro: Line M4 connects the airport directly to the city centre (station NDK), with a travel time of around 20-30 minutes.
By bus: Several public bus lines operate between the airport and central Sofia.

All partner hotels are located in central areas with easy access to Soho, NDK and Toplocentrala, either on foot or via direct public transport connections.

Notes for Participants

All rates include bed & breakfast (BB)
Availability is limited and subject to booking deadlines set by each hotel.
As rooms are not pre-blocked, early booking is strongly recommended.

TRAVELLING TO SOFIA

All guests of the European Design Festival can benefit from an exclusive 10% discount on flights with Bulgaria Air.

To receive your discount, please send a request to callfb@air.bg including the following details:

Full name (as in passport)
Travel type (one-way or round-trip)
Route (departure and destination)
Travel dates

Please make sure to include the code MELBA26 in your email, so it can be applied to your booking and help us track the number of guests using the offer.

For further information please contact:

Events@theicod.org